Presented by The Reading Agency, the Summer Reading Challenge is delivered in partnership with public libraries and funded by Arts Council England. The challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to enjoy the benefits of reading for pleasure over the summer holidays, providing lots of fun as well as preventing the summer reading ‘dip’.

Each year the challenge motivates over 700,000 children to keep reading to build their skills and confidence. This year, the Summer Reading Challenge’s Silly Squad will celebrate funny books, happiness and laughter. Children taking part in the Challenge will join the Silly Squad, an adventurous team of animals who love to have a laugh and get stuck into all sorts of funny books! 

With the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the impact of social distancing on schools and public libraries, the 2020 Challenge will launch in a new digital format designed to keep children engaged and interested in reading. It will support parents and carers with children already at home, offer schools exciting ways to animate remote learning, and provide great content for those back in the classroom. Many wonderful partners are supporting the challenge this year to help us reach even more children than ever. The challenge will run from 5 June to mid-September.

The Summer Reading Challenge website is free to access and features games, quizzes and downloadable activities that incentivise and encourage children to take part in reading related activities. Although public library buildings are closed, libraries will continue to deliver the challenge through virtual services and e-lending platforms. Visit the ‘Find a Read’ section for more information on accessing reading materials at home.

With school life disrupted and many children missing the company of their friends, this year’s fun-filled challenge will be all the more vital as a way of helping parents and carers find fun, family-friendly activities, maintain literacy levels and create a safe space for children to connect with their peers.