The Summer Reading Challenge 2025 ‘Story Garden’ takes reading to the great outdoors
Children under 12 years can join in the Summer Reading Challenge at Cheshire West and Chester Council’s libraries from Saturday 5 July.
This year’s theme is Story Garden - Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors.
This exciting new theme will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
The Challenge is a great way to enjoy reading in all formats, over the summer holidays. Whether it be a book from the library or an eBook or eAudiobook from the digital collection, there's something to suit everyone’s interests and reading abilities.
From animal handling to moon-rock handling, stone-arrow making to facepainting, the Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge events will provide plenty of opportunities for children to explore their imagination and unlock their inner maker through the power of reading.
Children from 4 to 12 years can join the Summer Reading Challenge at their local library or online from “Sign-Up Saturday”, Saturday 5 July, and get a collector’s pack, by visiting:
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for a Fairer Future, Councillor Lisa Denson said:
I know lot of children across the borough look forward to the Summer Reading Challenge and I hope many more will take part this year. The aim of the challenge is for children to read six books over the summer, or whatever target they wish to set themselves, visiting libraries to join the Challenge. There will be a certificate and a medal for those who complete the Challenge. Children under four can join in the fun too with the Mini Challenge.
Children joining the Challenge will be given free entry to Hayrack Church Farm and discounts to Climbing Hut and the Deva Roman Experience. The first people to join the Challenge will also be given Brio family swimming passes while stocks last.
As well as the medal and certificate, children who complete the Challenge will be entered into a prize draw (of one per library) for a bug hotel and the book “50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾”. Under 4s will be entered into a draw for a plush Gruffalo toy.
Events in libraries include:
- drawing lessons with children’s illustrator Nick Sharratt (illustrator of the “You Choose” and “Shark in the Park” series),
- animal handling with Animals Takeover, minibeasts handling with BugFest,
- science experiments with Fun Science,
- facepainting, circus skills with Leek Circus Academy,
- stone-arrow making with Wilderness Tribe,
- and creative writing with Matt Whelan.
Students from Cambridge University will bring their “CHaOS” Cambridge Hands On Science sessions to Ellesmere Port, Lache and Little Sutton libraries.
Booking will be at the library from Saturday 5 July or via Ticketsource from Saturday 26 July.
In addition, libraries will be putting on their own crafts and story-time events. Ellesmere Port libraries will be hosting an additional programme of “Touch the Moon” space sessions in association with the National Space Academy and UK Research and Innovation (Daresbury laboratories).
Cllr Denson added:
Adults and those over 12 are not forgotten either. With our Adults Read Two promotion entrants just need to read two books between 5 July and 7 September to be in with a chance to win £50 of book vouchers through our prize draw.
The Summer Reading Challenge has been running since 1999 and helps to prevent the summer reading 'dip' that many young people experience during their summer holidays while schools are closed. With the help of local libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge is accessible to all and provides a fun, free activity for children.
Last year, 4,649 children took part, with 121,745 children’s books being read across the borough during the holidays.
For more information, visit:
It is free to become a member of the library. You can join in person, online or over the phone. It only takes a minute or two to join, and you don’t need to bring any ID with you, so its quick and easy. The approval of a parent or guardian is needed for children to join. It is free for under 16s to ask for books to be delivered from other libraries.
Once you have joined, you can borrow books, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers access free wi-fi and computers and enjoy free refreshments and social activities. You can also borrow an iPad if you need to use one at home.
Find out more: