Libraries Summer Reading Challenge

Dig into brilliant books and wild stories with the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden.

5 July to 6 September 2025 in all Oxfordshire Libraries.

Step into the magical world of Story Garden! This year's challenge celebrates the great outdoors and explores the incredible connection between storytelling and nature. 

It's a fantastic, free way to entertain your children and boost their reading skills over the summer holidays. Presented by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries.

Let your child's reading blossom this summer and grow a love for books.

How to take part

Children will need to be members of Oxfordshire Libraries – Join online now, it's free!

Starting Saturday, 5 July, children can sign up for the challenge at their nearest library and tell us about the great books they have read.

Children get a bright Story Garden booklet to track their library books. Each time they visit and talk about a book, they earn a sticker. When they finish, they get a medal and a certificate.

There's something extra special this year: all finishers will receive a Golden Ticket for the prize draw to win a fabulous goodie bag full of Story Garden delights from their Library.

Read library books of your choice

Children can set their own reading goal, but we recommend six books over three library visits. 

They can read any library book, including eBooks and eAudio from Oxfordshire Libraries.

Our Story Garden book displays fantastic reading ideas. Dive into the great outdoors with stories and nature.

Mini Challenge

Under 4s have a Mini Challenge with a special collector's folder and stickers. They join in exactly the same way and take part to receive a gold medal sticker and Story Garden certificate. 

All children who finish the Mini Challenge will also get a Golden Ticket to enter a prize draw to win a fabulous goodie bag at their library.

Terms & Conditions – Summer Reading Challenge Prize Draw 2025

  • Entrants are eligible for the Oxfordshire Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge Prize Draw when they complete the Challenge. This means they:
    • have an Oxfordshire Libraries card of their own and
    • have registered for Story Garden in an Oxfordshire library and
    • have received a certificate, medal and Golden Ticket.
  • Valid entries must be written on the official Golden Ticket and include a name, age and contact details.
  • Entries must be submitted to Oxfordshire Libraries by Saturday 13 September 2025.
  • The winners will be contacted by the end of October 2025.
  • Only 1 Golden Ticket per person.
  • There will be two separate prize draws with different prizes: 

0 – 3 years old can only enter the Mini Challenge Prize Draw

4+ years old can enter the Summer Reading Challenge Prize Draw

  • Winners will be selected from the prize draw at random.
  • No cash alternatives to the prizes are available.
  • The guarantor of each winner will be contacted by Oxfordshire Libraries during October 2025 and can choose to accept or decline the prize. Prize winner names will only be announced on Oxfordshire Libraries social media platforms with their guarantor’s permission.
  • Oxfordshire Libraries will only use information supplied for the purposes of administering this competition and in accordance with data protection principles.

Summer Reading Challenge website

If your child is up for an extra challenge or you can't visit a library, The Reading Agency's online Summer Reading Challenge runs alongside the in-library one. 

Children joining the online challenge who reach their reading goal unlock a Story Garden certificate to print and keep.

The Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge website has great book ideas, fun games, exciting competitions and all the latest news. It's available all year round, too. 

Help with Summer Reading Challenge website and the online challenge