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Take reading to the great outdoors with the Norfolk Summer Reading Challenge!

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Children can grow their imaginations with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors, which launches in Norfolk libraries on Saturday 5th July.

Illustrated promotional image for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge by The Reading Agency, titled Story Garden. The title is large and green with playful leaves sprouting from the letters. Across a bright grassy scene under a blue sky, nine animated children are shown gardening and enjoying books. One child is reading while kneeling beside a sprouting plant, another is watering with a blue can, and others are holding potted plants or tools. A girl sits on a mossy boulder with a happy face, and there are cute animated characters including a walking spade and watering can. In the top left corner is The Reading Agency logo in pink and white. At the bottom, it credits: "Story Garden illustrations by Dapo Adeola, illustrations and logo © The Reading Agency 2025."

Developed by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with public libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge is a free activity for children aged 4–11. It’s all about reading for fun, aiming to improve children’s reading skills and confidence over the summer holiday.

Children can read anything they like and collect free rewards for their reading. For under 5s there is a mini challenge, so they don’t miss out.

This year’s theme will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature. They can also join in with free Story Garden activities at their local library.

To sign up to the challenge, just pop into your local library or visit the website. Children will need to be library members – you can do this in a library or online. It’s free of charge and children will receive their own library card for which there are no overdue fees.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge features artwork from award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola, whose stunning illustrations will bring the Story Garden theme to life, creating an enchanting world where children can find magical creatures, plants and flowers to inspire them on their next reading adventure.

Find out more at www.norfolk.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge

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