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Summer Reading Challenge

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Why Summer Reading?

Running from the 1st of December 2025 until 31st of January 2026, the Summer Reading Challenge is designed to encourage children and teens to keep their reading skills up over the long summer break ready for the new school year.

Good news!

The Invercargill Licensing Trust (ILT) is helping to sponsor book prizes again this year- so that each child or teen who completes the Reading Challenge can pick a free book to keep!

Curious about what ILT does for the Invercargill community?

Check out their story here

The Summer Reading Challenge Pamphlets:

This year we have 3 different age group pamphlets:

  • Tamariki Ages 0-5 years
  • Tamariki Ages 6-11
  • Rangatahi Ages 12-18

Each pamphlet contains 20 days of reading or activity challenges.

Complete all 20 challenges, fill in your details on the back of your pamphlet and bring it into the library to collect enter prize draws and to collect your free book.

Prize books will be available to pick up from Invercargill or Bluff Public Libraries from the 3rd of January 2026.

Tamariki Ages 0-5 years

The Tamariki Ages 0-5 years pamphlet contains 20 challenge spaces to complete (16 reading challenges and 4 activity time challenges).

What to do:

Reading challenges:

Read at least one book for each of the 16 blue spaces in this pamphlet - you can read on your own, with the help an of adult or have a story read to you.

Activity Time challenges:

For the 4 purple spaces, you can pick any activity from the ‘Activity Challenge’ list attached to your pamphlet.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Tamariki Ages 6-11 years

The Tamariki Ages 6-11 years pamphlet contains 20 challenge spaces to complete (15 reading challenges and 5 you choose challenges).

What to do:

Reading time challenges:

Read for a minimum of 15 minutes per day for each of the 15 blue Reading Time challenge spaces. Choose whether to do an activity challenge or more reading, for the 5 green You Choose spaces. See the Activity Challenges attached to the pamphlet for activity options to choose from.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Rangatahi Ages 12-18

The Rangatahi Ages 12-18 years pamphlet contains 20 challenge spaces to complete (15 reading challenges and 5 you choose challenges).

What to do:

Reading time challenges:

Read for a minimum of 20 minutes per day for each of the 15 yellow Reading Time challenge spaces. Choose whether to do an activity challenge or more reading, for the 5 blue You Choose spaces. See the Activity Challenges attached to the pamphlet for activity options to choose from.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Prize Draws:

This year we have 4 Prize draws:

  • Minecraft pack: Paladone Minecraft torch light & Minecraft light up LCD watch.
  • Pokémon pack: 12” Pikachu plush & Pokémon Pikachu mug.
  • Sea life pack: Sea lion LED Night Light and Wild Republic 20’’ sea turtle plush.
  • $60 Warehouse Voucher

By completing your pamphlet, you will receive 2 tickets to enter any 2 prize draws of your choice.

Terms and Conditions:

  • The Summer Reading Challenge runs from the 1st of December 2025 until 31st of January 2026.
  • Pamphlets must be handed in by 6pm on Friday 31st of January 2026 at the latest.
  • Prize books will be available to pick up from Invercargill or Bluff Public Libraries from the 3rd of January 2026.
  • There is a limit of 1 Summer Reading pamphlet per child or teen.
  • You will need to complete all 20 challenges to earn your free book.
  • Each challenge space in your pamphlet represents a day, and you can only complete one challenge per day.
  • Prize books will be available to pick up from the 3rd of January 2026.
  • For young readers, challenges can be completed with the help of parents or guardians. For example, building a fort or reading together.

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