Children's Programmes from The Reading Agency

The Summer Reading Challenge

The annual Summer Reading Challenge, delivered in partnership with public libraries, encourages children aged 4-11 to enjoy the benefits of reading for pleasure over the summer break. It is free for children to join at their local public library or online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.

Children can discover new stories, collect fun rewards, and take part in free creative activities. Each year, the challenge has a new theme, and this year the theme is The Story Garden: Nature and the Great Outdoors. This is all about the excitement of the great outdoors and the power of storytelling to take you on adventures.

With bespoke illustrations by celebrated artist Dapo Adeola, the Story Garden theme will inspire children to get outdoors and tell their own stories in unique ways.

The Summer Reading Challenge School Zone

In the Summer Reading Challenge School Zone you can find information to support your pupils taking part in the challenge. You’ll find resources on The Reading Agency website, and activities on our children’s website, to inspire your students to read and fire up their imaginations.

Reading Sparks

Reading Sparks harnesses the creative power of reading and public libraries to engage families with STEM activities (science, technology, engineering and maths) and build science confidence and capital. We work with public libraries as delivery partners because they are trusted community hubs. They are central to The Reading Agency’s work to unleash the power of reading for people of all ages.

Powered by the Science and Technology Facilities council, Reading Sparks operates all over the UK at participating libraries. Projects such as Lego, Coding and Robotics, and Cosmic Explorers (in partnership with Royal Observatory, Greenwich) provide those libraries with specialist kit and training, as well as resources and book stock lists, allowing them to deliver holiday activities, after school clubs and more.

Find out if your local library is taking part – check the Reading Agency website for details.
Looking for STEM and reading activities? Find Reading Sparks resources here.

Chatterbooks

Chatterbooks started in 2001 and is now the UK’s largest network of children’s reading groups. Groups are run in libraries and schools to generate discussion and bring the joy back to reading. We are currently updating and refreshing our Chatterpacks resources and activities, which will be available via the Chatterbooks resources page. You can also apply to take part in lots of exciting offers and opportunities from our publishing partners, including reading and reviewing sets of books and competitions here.

Reading Well for Children and Young People

Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families. The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.

Discover the official Reading Well for Children booklist here.

Reading Well for Teens recommends expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams. The books have all been recommended by young people and health professionals, and are available to borrow for free from public libraries.

Discover the official Young People’s Reading Well booklist here.