Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden
1 July – 13 September
Manchester Libraries is inviting you to join 1,000’s of children in this summer’s reading challenge! Can you borrow and read six library books between now and 13 September? Taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge and activities hosted in libraries is completely free.
How does it work?
Ask to join the Summer Reading Challenge any time after our launch on 1 July. When you join, you’ll be given a collector pack and as you read books, you’ll earn stickers to add to your collector card. When you’ve read six books, you’ll be rewarded with a special medal in the library. If you’re 5-11 years old and go to a Manchester primary school, we’ll also send a certificate to school so your friends and teachers can celebrate your success in September!
Mini Challenge for 0-3 year olds
Children aged 0-3 can also get involved with their very own Mini Challenge. Ask for more details when you’re in the library.
What can I read?
This year’s theme is Story Garden and links to nature and the outdoors. The books you choose to read don’t have to be nature-themed though! Your chosen books could be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or a graphic novel – the important thing is enjoying reading. Why not use the challenge to discover a new author or swap ideas about books with friends and family?
You can also read digital eBooks and eAudiobooks using our free Borrowbox app and signing in with your library card – visit borrowbox.com. If you’re reading digitally, please remember to tell the library staff so we can give you your collector card and goodies.
You can join online too
If you can’t make it to a library, you can also join online on The Reading Agency’s website: summerreadingchallenge.org.uk. Remember to enter ‘Manchester’ when asked for more information.
Competition and prizes
When you’ve completed the Challenge, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win book goodies and a £100 voucher. We’ll also have goody bag winners in each of our 22 libraries and library staff will nominate children to receive a Special Effort goody bag too.
Why not enter our book review and art competitions? If you’ve read a great book, please tell us about it! You can either write a review or draw a picture. There are four age categories and each winner will win either a Kindle tablet or art supplies. You can join in at your local library, download the PDF below or join in via this link where you can find all the terms & conditions. 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden Competition
Story Garden free activities in libraries
Our summer activities in libraries start when school’s out. There are a huge range of different things for you to try – from odd sock plant pots, nature experiments and meeting live animals! You can find all our activities and many more on the Loads to Do website (information about the Story Garden activities will be announced towards the middle of July).
Why is reading for pleasure important?
Taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge helps children to keep their brains active and improve their reading skills. This means it will help them to be ready for a new school year and helps to prevents a summer ‘dip’ in reading when children aren’t at school.
Right now, 1 out of every 5 children in England can’t read well by the time they are 11 years old. But reading for fun can help children get better at reading and is so important for doing well at school.
Reading for pleasure boosts empathy and kindness. It helps people feel better about themselves and raises self-esteem. Plus, it makes coping with tough situations easier.
Story Garden is produced by the Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with public libraries.
