Children's Summer Reading Challenge
The Summer Reading Challenge, organised each year by The Reading Agency, encourages children to keep reading during the summer holidays. Children set a reading goal and collect rewards for reading anything they enjoy.
Summer Reading Challenge 2024
This year's theme, 'Marvellous Makers', celebrates children's creativity and imagination through reading and creative activities. It has been developed in partnership with the arts charity, Create.
From Saturday 13 July to Saturday 7 September 2024, children of all ages in Thurrock can take part in the challenge by:
- reading library books
- joining free activities at their local libraries
- exploring their creativity through drawing, creative story times, and many other way
We want to inspire children to become storytellers and makers, encouraging them to read for pleasure and develop their creative thinking skills.
The challenge asks children to read books over the summer.
If they read 6 books, they get a certificate and an eco-friendly wooden medal. Children under 4 years-old get a gold sticker medal. If children read 8 books, they receive a limited edition Marvellous Makers bag.
Throughout their reading they can get a special collector's folder and stickers.
It is free to join the Summer Reading Challenge, but children must have their own library card.
It's easy to join the library. Children can borrow up to 14 books to read and, for the Summer Reading Challenge this year, they can choose 3 books per visit to talk about.
Children can talk with our staff and volunteers or be creative by making something or drawing a picture inspired by their chosen book.
The Reading Agency also runs a Summer Reading Challenge online. This is separate to the challenge run by our libraries. Medals, bags, certificates, folders and stickers are only available for those taking part in person at our libraries – while stocks last.
For more information, go to the Summer Reading Challenge.
Summer Reading Challenge school shield
Our Summer Reading Challenge school shield is awarded to the school that has the most students finishing the challenge compared with the total number attending the school.
For a chance to have your school's name engraved on the shield, ask your friends to take part and complete the annual Summer Reading Challenge. Every school in Thurrock, whether big or small, has an equal chance to have its name put on the shield and keep it for the year.
Marvellous Makers' Creation Stations
Drop in to our Creation Stations and the dates and times listed below to take part in craft and colouring sessions. These are 'self-led', which means our library staff won't be directing your creativity. Sessions are for children of primary school age.
A parent or carer must stay with their child during the session.
| Library | Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aveley Library | Colouring fun | Every day the library is open | Any time during library opening hours |
| Belhus Library | Colouring fun | Every day the library is open | Any time during library opening hours |
| Chadwell Library | Let's explore art | Monday 22 July, Tuesday 23 July, Thursday 25 July and Friday 26 July | 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
| East Tilbury Library | Let's make... a summer scrapbook | Thursday 25 July | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Corringham Library | You've been framed – make a photo frame | Thursday 25 July | 2pm to 4pm |
| Chadwell Library | Let's explore outside | Monday 29 July, Tuesday 30 July, Thursday 1 August and Friday 2 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
| Blackshots Library | In The Garden | Tuesday 30 July | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Grays Library | In The Garden | Wednesday 31 July | 1pm to 4pm |
| East Tilbury Library | Let's make... music | Thursday 1 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Corringham Library | Snail rock – paper rocking snail | Thursday 1 August | 2pm to 4pm |
| Chadwell Library | Ukulele with Reg | Monday 5 August | 2pm to 4pm |
| Chadwell Library | Let's get creative with music and sound | Monday 5 August, Tuesday 6 August, Thursday 8 August and Friday 9 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
| Blackshots Library | Roarsome Dinosaurs | Tuesday 6 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Grays Library | Roarsome Dinosaurs | Tuesday 6 August | 1pm to 4pm |
| Tilbury Library | Rhyme Time | Wednesday 7 August | 10:30am to 11am |
| East Tilbury Library | Let's make... a puppet show | Thursday 8 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Corringham Library | Page Saver – origami bookmark | Thursday 8 August | 2pm to 4pm |
| Chadwell Library | Rhyme Time | Friday 9 August | 10:30am to 11am |
| Chadwell Library | Let's explore design | Monday 12 August, Tuesday 13 August, Thursday 15 August and Friday 16 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
| Blackshots Library | Under the Sea | Tuesday 13 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Grays Library | Under the Sea | Tuesday 13 August | 1pm to 4pm |
| East Tilbury Library | Let's make... a model | Thursday 15 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Corringham Library | Catch your dreams – make a dream catcher | Thursday 15 August | 2pm to 4pm |
| Chadwell Library | Let's travel to different places | Monday 19 August, Tuesday 20 August, Thursday 22 August and Friday 23 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
| Blackshots Library | Space Explorers | Tuesday 20 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Grays Library | Space Explorers | Tuesday 20 August | 1pm to 4pm |
| East Tilbury Library | Let's make... a picture | Thursday 22 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Corringham Library | Make a noise – popsicle kazoo | Thursday 22 August | 2pm to 4pm |
| Chadwell Library | Let's share your fun and fabulous summer memories | Tuesday 27 August, Thursday 29 August and Friday 30 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
| Blackshots Library | Let's Get Wild | Tuesday 27 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
| Grays Library | Let's Get Wild | Tuesday 27 August | 1pm to 4pm |
| East Tilbury Library | Let's make... a comic | Thursday 29 August | 10:30am to 12:30pm |
Grays Library's Creative Club
Step into a world of imagination and join us for captivating read-aloud stories and creative crafts. Every book we explore counts toward your Summer Reading Challenge.
Sessions are for children of primary school age. Each session costs £1 per child. You must book in advance and stay with your child during the session.
The August sessions below are now fully-booked but look for extra sessions advertised on Thurrock Libraries social media.
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Make a butterfly suncatcher and flower bookmarks. Reading 'My Butterfly Bouquet' by Nicola Davies | Thursday 1 August | 11am to 11:45pm |
| Make handprint dinosaurs and a dinosaur mask. Reading 'There's A Dinosaur In Your Book' by Tom Fletcher | Thursday 8 August | 11am to 11:45pm |
| Make a paper fish craft and a jellyfish. Reading 'Barry the Fish with Fingers' by Sue Hendra | Thursday 15 August | 11am to 11:45pm |
| Make an alien spaceship and paint the moon. Reading 'Aliens Love Underpants' by Claire Freedman | Thursday 22 August | 11am to 11:45pm |
| Make your own koala and woodpecker. Reading 'The Koala Who Could' by Rachel Bright and Jim Field | Thursday 29 August | 11am to 11:45pm |
After the Summer Reading Challenge
After joining in the Marvellous Makers Summer Reading Challenge, you could win a £30 shopping voucher by taking part in a survey run by The Reading Agency.
The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete. It will ask quick and easy questions about your experience of the Summer Reading Challenge. At the end of the survey, you'll have a chance to enter the prize draw.
To take part, go to Summer Reading Challenge 2024: Have Your Say. The survey will remain open until Monday 30 September 2024.