Story Garden - The Summer Reading Challenge 2025

Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors - is coming to a library near you this summer!

 

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge will inspire children to tap into the world of imagination and reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.

 

Children will join our wonderful characters, created by the brilliant children’s illustrator Dapo Adeola, whose stunning illustrations bring the Story Garden theme to life; creating an enchanted world where children can find magical creatures, plants and flowers to inspire their next reading adventure.

 

The challenge runs from Saturday 19 July to Saturday 6 September in all Essex libraries and mobile libraries.  There will also be a special early joiners’ day on Saturday 12 July.

 

There are six stickers for children to collect over the summer.  They earn them by telling us about the books they have read, writing us a book review, creating a piece of art inspired by their book or attending a library event. After collecting six stickers, they earn their certificate and medal. A ribbon to show off their medal can be bought from the library (while stocks last) for 50p each.

 

Children can read any library book of their choice; fiction, non-fiction, picture books or books they share with parents and carers – they all count.  Children under four are not forgotten, with a special version of Story Garden just for them.

 

Sola

 

Sola is a keen gardener and loves seeing things she’s planted grow and blossom. She reads all kinds of books and enjoys telling her friends all about the latest thing she’s read and finding out about their favourite books too.

 

Jake

Jake loves exploring the outdoors, finding secret spots and digging around to find hidden treasures. He is really into comics and graphic novels about magical adventures.

 

Robyn

Robyn feels most at home in the woods or a forest. She loves the calm and quiet, and getting away from everything, and coming up with imaginative games to play. She loves mystery stories and trying to figure out the solutions herself before she gets to the end.

 

Priya

Priya enjoys visits to the playground, running around with her friends and climbing trees. Her favourite kind of books are action/adventure tales, preferably with dragons.

 

Jess

Jess is a super-keen footballer. She’s a member of the team that plays in her local park every weekend whatever the weather. She likes reading books about inspirational people.

 

Rhys

Rhys loves going for long walks. When he’s on his own he likes having the time to clear his head. If he’s with his friends, it’s a great chance to chat and catch up. He particularly likes reading poetry books.

 

Jamal

Jamal likes being in his garden, finding a comfortable spot where he can sit and read a book whilst enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. He particularly likes books with fun facts and learning new things.

 

The Summer Reading Challenge is delivered by libraries and produced by The Reading Agency. It is open to all children, free of charge.

 

Keep up to date with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge by following Essex Library Services on Facebook, X and Instagram, @EssexLibraries