Summer Reading Challenge
The summer is coming! Let your creativity grow this summer with the 2024 summer reading challenge - Marvellous Makers.
The reading challenge will begin in Leicester libraries on Saturday 29 June and will run until Sunday 15 September.
Little ones can join in too at our weekly Toddler Times - ask at your library for details. You can also borrow books and collect stickers from our children, young people and families centres.
In the meantime keep visiting your local library, borrowing books and reading!
How to take part
Visit your local library three times between 29 June and 15 September 2024 and borrow and read at least six books to complete the challenge. You can also borrow books online from our ebook/eAudiobook collections. It's free to take part.
Sign up to the challenge on your first visit and receive collectibles on all three visits. Plus lots of exciting activities to get involved in. Don't forget to collect your certificate and design your own trophy when you finish the challenge!
There’s lots of free fun in your local library all summer, including:
Launch week: What can you see on Summer Street?
Visit a library in the first week of the holidays, 15 to 19 July, and make a character, creature, object, plant or other feature to add to our amazing summer street scene picture in the library.
Family fun: 22 July to 15 August, 1-4pm
A free fun family afternoon - get creative and join in with drop-in and bookable Marvellous Makers activities. Ask at your library for details and don't forget to borrow a book!
| Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| Monday 22 July | New Parks |
| Tuesday 23 July | Fosse |
| Wednesday 24 July | St Barnabas |
| Thursday 25 July | Pork Pie |
| Monday 29 July | Highfields |
| Tuesday 30 July | St Matthews |
| Wednesday 31 July | Beaumont Leys |
| Thursday 1 August | Evington |
| Monday 5 August | Aylestone |
| Tuesday 6 August | BRITE Centre |
| Wednesday 7 August | Central |
| Thursday 8 August | Rushey Mead |
| Monday 12 August | Knighton |
| Tuesday 13 August | Hamilton |
| Wednesday 14 August | Belgrave |
| Thursday 15 August | Westcotes |
Grown-ups, you could win books!
Grown-ups, be a role model for your children by reading six books too! Borrow and read six books from Leicester libraries in July and August for a chance to win £30 worth of books. To enter, please ask at your local library or complete the online form (the form will be live from 9am on 29 June). See the terms and conditions on our website or ask at a library.
Bookable sessions
Look out for the free, bookable sessions for children age 6+. Activities include:
Simple Science, Lego coding, National Space Centre workshops, active and eco-friendly sessions. Ask at your library for details and to book.
Lego coding workshops for ages 6 and 7, limited spaces, please book.
From 1-2.30pm at:
| Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| 15 July | St Barnabas |
| 16 July | Hamilton |
| 17 July | Central |
| 18 July | Highfields |
| 22 July | New Parks |
| 23 July | Westcotes |
| 24 July | Fosse Centre |
| 25 July | Rushey Mead |
National Space Centre workshops - make a rocket sessions for ages 6 and above. Ask at the library to book a place. Sessions are from 1.30-2.30pm and 3-4pm on:
| Date | Location |
| 22 July | Rushey Mead |
| 23 July | Beaumont Leys |
| 24 July | Belgrave |
| 25 July | St Matthews |
Naturally creative workshops with the Sustainable Schools team, free sessions for ages 6 and 7:
14 August - Drop in at Belgrave 1-4pm
15 August - Bookable workshops at Westcotes
Get Up and Go
Get physically active this summer and beyond with Get Up and Go. Check out our children, young people and families centres’ Facebook page to see what activities, sessions and events are on. Finish off your summer with drop-in activities and the Children’s BookBus at Victoria Park on 21 August.
Children's BookBus
Enjoy storytelling at the Children’s BookBus on Wednesday mornings from 17 July to 14 August at Town Hall Square.
National Play Day - 7 August
Drop-in for activities and storytelling with the Children’s BookBus at Town Hall Square and Central Library.
Be a winner for your school!
Be a champion reader this summer and complete the Marvellous Makers six book reading challenge for the chance to win £100 towards books for your school. The city school with the highest percentage of children completing the challenge will win!
Enjoy our storytellers on YouTube
Watch our marvellous storyteller Hema
Watch our marvellous storyteller Jyoti
Watch our marvellous storyteller Matt
Stay connected
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and sign up to Book News to be kept up-to-date with libraries this summer:
The 2024 summer reading challenge, Marvellous Makers, is produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries and Create, a leading charity igniting change through creativity.
Illustrations by Natelle Quek and logo artwork by Lizzie Everard. © The Reading Agency 2024