2025 Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden - Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors
H&F Libraries are once again working in partnership with the Reading Agency this year, to deliver the Summer Reading Challenge! Children aged 4-11 can visit any library in the Borough to join the adventure and discover the magical world where stories grow!
The Challenge will run from Saturday 5 July, until Sunday 14 September and Children will be awarded with prizes, a medal and a certificate should they complete it!
H&F Libraries are offering a range of activities and events to help support the initiative. Check out the listings below!
Askew Road library Summer Reading Challenge events
Wednesday 6 August, 2pm
Story Hunt with John Kirk
Join storyteller John Kirk as he returns to LBHF as part of the Summer Reading Challenge! This year, John will be hunting for stories in the Reading Challenge Story Garden during an interactive family friendly storytelling session exploring the most important elements of story; character, plot, setting and purpose.
For ages 4+
To book your free place, please email library.admin@cahf.org.uk
Avonmore library Summer Reading Challenge events
Thursday 14 August, 2pm
Cat and Hutch Drama Workshop: Greta and the Giants
Join professional storytellers Cat and Hutch for an interactive drama workshop!
Learn how a little action can go a long way in this fun-filled drama workshop inspired by Greta and the Giants by Zoë Tucker and Zoe Persico. This workshop encourages imaginative play and creative fun by using movement, voice-work and roleplay!
For ages 4-7
To book your free place, please email library.admin@cahf.org.uk
Fulham library Summer Reading Challenge events
Wednesday 23 July, 11am
ZooLab workshop
Join ZooLab, for an interactive animal encounter session, exploring the connection between storytelling and the natural world, encouraging children to explore the great outdoors while respecting its inhabitants!
For ages 4+
To book your free place, please email FulhamLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk
Thursday 24 July, 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Ladybird Bug Garden
Come along and make your very own plate Ladybird!
For ages 4+
Wednesday 30 July, 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Birdhouse Craft
Join us for this beautiful bird feeder craft to make & decorate!
For ages 4+
Thursday 31 July, 11am
Cat and Hutch Drama Workshop: The Secret Explorers
Join professional storytellers Cat and Hutch for an interactive drama workshop!
The Secret Explorers are a band of brainiac kids from around the world, each with a special skill. In this workshop we follow Ollie, the rainforest expert, and journey into the rainforests of Borneo, discovering its unique ecosystem, on a mission to rescue a baby orangutan!
For ages 6-9
To book your free place, please email FulhamLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk
Tuesday 5 August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Caterpillar Plate Craft
Creepy caterpillar craft!
For ages 4+
Wednesday 6 August, 11am
Story Hunt with John Kirk
Join storyteller John Kirk as he returns to LBHF as part of the Summer Reading Challenge! This year, John will be hunting for stories in the Reading Challenge Story Garden during an interactive family friendly storytelling session exploring the most important elements of story; character, plot, setting and purpose.
For ages 4+
To book your free place, please email FulhamLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk
Monday 11 August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Busy Bee's Bottle Craft
Join us for this brilliant bee craft, using recycled plastic bottles!
For ages 4+
Wednesday 20 August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Build a Toadstool
Come along and make a crafty toadstool garden!
For ages 4+
Thursday 28 August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Caterpillar Leaf Craft
Come along and make this caterpillar plate craft, inspired by the children's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar!
For ages 4+
Hammersmith library Summer Reading Challenge events
Tuesday 8 July, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Rainbow & Sun Crowns Craft
For ages 4+
Tuesday 15 July, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Fairy Fun Craft
For ages 4+
Tuesday 22 July, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Beautiful Bookmarks Craft
For ages 4+
Wednesday 23 July, 2.30pm
Cat and Hutch Drama Workshop: Greta and the Giants
Join professional storytellers Cat and Hutch for an interactive drama workshop!
Learn how a little action can go a long way in this fun-filled drama workshop inspired by Greta and the Giants by Zoë Tucker and Zoe Persico. This workshop encourages imaginative play and creative fun by using movement, voice-work and roleplay!
For ages 4-7
To book your free place, please email HammersmithLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk
Friday 25 July, 11am
ZooLab workshop
Join ZooLab, for an interactive animal encounter session, exploring the connection between storytelling and the natural world, encouraging children to explore the great outdoors while respecting its inhabitants!
For ages 4+
To book your free place, please email HammersmithLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk
Tuesday 29 July, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Toadstool Houses Craft
For ages 4+
Friday 1 August, 11am
Story Hunt with John Kirk
Join storyteller John Kirk as he returns to LBHF as part of the Summer Reading Challenge! This year, John will be hunting for stories in the Reading Challenge Story Garden during an interactive family friendly storytelling session exploring the most important elements of story; character, plot, setting and purpose.
For ages 4+
To book your free place, please email HammersmithLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk
Tuesday 5 August, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Bees Craft
For ages 4+
Tuesday 12 August, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Crazy Carrot Craft
For ages 4
Tuesday 19 August, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Frisky Frogs Craft
For ages 4+
Thursday 21 August, 12 - 1pm
Story Garden: Story-writing Adventure
Explore Learning tutors will coach children to plant the seeds of a great idea and grow a magical story!
For ages 5-11
To book your free place, please call Explore Learning on 020 8090 1216
Tuesday 26 August, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Crawling Caterpillar Craft
For ages 4+
Thursday 28 August, 12 - 1pm
Story Garden: Story-writing Adventure
Explore Learning tutors will coach children to plant the seeds of a great idea and grow a magical story!
For ages 5-11
To book your free place, please call Explore Learning on 020 8090 1216.
Shepherds Bush library Summer Reading Challenge events
Saturday 5 July, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Reading Challenge Launch and Craft
Join us for an afternoon of fun as we celebrate the start of the Summer Reading Challenge with arts and crafts!
For ages 4+
Tuesday 8 July, 3.45pm - 4.45pm
Dried Flower Bookmark Craft
Calling all young readers and artists! Join us for a bookmark making event where imagination meets creativity. Children will get the opportunity to create bookmarks using dried flowers.
For ages 4+
Saturday 12 July, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+
Tuesday 15 July, 3.45pm - 4.45pm
Decorate your own Flowerpot
A blooming fun summer craft event for children. Get ready to dig into your creativity. Children will paint and decorate their own flowerpot with seeds to grow over the summer. It's the perfect blend of art and nature!
For ages 4+
Saturday 19 July, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+
Tuesday 22 July, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Mini House and Garden Craft
Join us for a hands-on arts and craft session where we will be creating a mini house and garden!
For ages 4+
Wednesday 23 July, 11am
Cat and Hutch Drama Workshop: Rajiv's Starry Feelings
Join professional storytellers Cat and Hutch for an interactive drama workshop!
The session will explore the complex emotions we all feel but cannot always name, taking inspiration from the book Rajiv's Starry Feelings by Niall Moorjani. Cat and Hutch will look at the themes within the book through different drama games including vocal exercises, character exploration, devising and storytelling!
For ages 4-6
To book your free place, please email ShepherdsBushLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk or call 020 8753 3842
Friday 25 July, 2pm-3pm
Zoolab workshop
Join ZooLab, for an interactive animal encounter session, exploring the connection between storytelling and the natural world, encouraging children to explore the great outdoors while respecting its inhabitants!
For ages 4+
To book your free place, please email ShepherdsBushLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk or call 020 8753 3842
Saturday 26 July, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+
Tuesday 29 July, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
There's a Bug on my Leaf Craft
Calling all little nature lovers! Join us for a fun and creative craft session where you design your very own bug on a leaf. Stand back and watch it come to life.
For ages 4+
Friday 1 August, 2pm
Story Hunt with John Kirk
Join storyteller John Kirk as he returns to LBHF as part of the Summer Reading Challenge! This year, John will be hunting for stories in the Reading Challenge Story Garden during an interactive family friendly storytelling session exploring the most important elements of story; character, plot, setting and purpose.
For ages 4+
To book your free place, please email ShepherdsBushLibrary@lbhf.gov.uk or call 020 8753 3842
Saturday 2 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+
Tuesday 5 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Paper Cup Sunflower Craft
Explore how a flower grows from seed to sprout, to full bloom! This session will show each stage, step by step, with this colourful craft.
For ages 4+
Saturday 9 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+
Tuesday 12 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Cotton Bud Daisy Craft
Let's enjoy an afternoon of fun as we transform ordinary cotton buds into beautiful daises!
For ages 4+
Saturday 16 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+
Tuesday 19 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Nature Frame Craft
Bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home as we make nature themed picture frames!
For ages 4+
Saturday 23 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+
Tuesday 26 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Garden Creepy Crawlies Craft
Unleash your imagination and explore the tiny world of bugs, beetles and butterflies with our creepy crawlies craft session!
For ages 4+
Saturday 30 August, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Summer Craft
Join us for a fun filled session of summer arts and crafts! Children will explore their imagination with hands on activities including paper crafts and colouring.
For ages 4+