 Let nature inspire your reading this summer
The Summer Reading Challenge, delivered in partnership with The Reading Agency, is back for 2025.
This year’s challenge is called Story Garden: Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors and will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
Children can sign up at libraries across the borough from Monday 30 June.
The annual challenge encourages children aged four to 11 to read six or more books during the summer holidays.
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge features artwork from award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola, whose stunning illustrations will bring the theme to life, creating an enchanting world where children can find magical creatures, plants and flowers to inspire their next reading adventure.
Children can choose books, eBooks and audiobooks and they will earn rewards for logging their reading.
Those who complete the challenge are presented with a certificate and a medal. We will also be running a programme of free themed events and activities.
Help us with Summer Reading Challenge
We are looking for volunteers to help out with library duties and children's activities at our libraries in Lower Earley, Wokingham and Woodley.
Volunteers would be required to commit to a minimum of three hours and you must be aged 16 to 24.
The closing date for applications is Friday 20 June and you can find out more by emailing us.
 Save the date for return of children's book festival
The Wokingham Children’s Book Festival will return on the weekend of 18 and 19 October.
There will be 13 events, held across Wokingham Library and Wokingham Town Hall, where you can meet authors and learn about their creative process.
Authors include returning favourite Holly Webb, The Histronauts writer Frances Durkin and football fanatic Seth Burkett.
Most workshops are followed by a book signing and tickets remain priced at £3 per person. These will be available via the town council's website from 1 July.
The festival is a partnership project between Wokingham Town Council, our libraries service and Love Wokingham.
 A look back at how horses shaped our future
Caroline Piller is coming to Lower Earley Library to give a talk about the history of Earley and the surrounding area.
The historian and author will be visiting us on Friday 30 May, with her talk starting at 10.30am.
Caroline wrote The Life and Times of Oliver Dixon: A Reading Horseman Remembered, which looks back at the importance of horse dealing prior to the Second World War.
You do not need to book for this event and drinks and biscuits will be available.
You can give back to your community by volunteering at our libraries. We post any new opportunities on our Engage Wokingham Borough website, where you can find out more about the role requirements and get in touch with us to apply. Our latest opportunities include running a book group for visually impaired people at Woodley Library and being a Rhymetime volunteer at Spencers Wood Library.
 Wartime classics help us remember end of conflict
Our libraries were proud to play a part in celebrating VE Day (Thursday 8 May) and the 80th anniversary of the end of conflict in Europe.
The usual sing-a-long session around the piano at Lower Earley Library had a classic wartime theme.
We set up an information board at Wokingham Library, featuring newspaper articles and photos from the time.
There was also a display of recommended reads, featuring books about both world wars.
You can explore our VE Day book collection by reading our blog.
Musical Fridays
We have sessions at Lower Earley Library every Friday from 3pm to 4pm, run by Berkshire Music Trust.
Join us on 13 June, when we will be celebrating the greatest hits from the Swinging Sixties.
Donation brings us closer to library green spaces
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A big thank-you to Re3 for donating compost, which will help us to create green spaces at our libraries in Woodley and Twyford.
We have a Green & Grow Project and will be using plants donated by local allotments to brighten up the areas outside these libraries.
Stayed tuned for more information!
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 Have your queries answered at digital skills sessions
Do you want help with your phone, laptop or tablet? Our volunteers will guide you through your device and the online world.
Sessions are held at libraries across the borough from 10am to 11.30am and are free to attend, with no booking required. Upcoming dates include:
- Woodley Library, first Monday and first Thursday of the month (next events 2 and 5 June)
- Twyford Library, first Friday of the month (next event 6 June)
- Lower Earley Library, second Tuesday and fourth Monday of the month (next events 10 and 23 June)
- Finchampstead Library, second Friday of the month (next event 13 June)
We also have separate digital skills sessions for beginners at Wokingham Library every Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm.
 Free Cosy Coffee Mornings with our volunteers
We host free coffee mornings at our libraries in Lower Earley, Wokingham, Wargrave and Woodley.
These run from 10am to 11.30am and are open to everyone. You can enjoy tea, coffee and biscuits. Join us at:
- Lower Earley Library, fourth Friday of the month (next event 27 June)
- Wokingham Library, fourth Thursday of the month (next event 26 June)
- Wargrave Library, second Wednesday of the month (next event 11 June)
- Woodley Library, second and third Thursday of the month (next events 12 and 19 June)
There is no need to book and you can have a chat with our friendly volunteers.
 Supporting campaign on the benefits of reading
BookTrust and the Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce have launched the Reading Rights report, which aims to make early shared reading a universal experience and a regular part of life for every child.
Reading supports cognitive development, bonding and attachment, emotional wellbeing, school readiness and community connection.
This vision needs change and action and we’re pleased to be supporting the campaign.
News from the world of books and award winners
Check out our Wokingham Borough Libraries blog to read articles on the latest from the world of books.
Our recent articles include winners of the British Book Awards 2025 and Empathy Day.
Patriot by Alexei Navalny was the overall winner of the British Book Awards and the book also won the Non-Fiction Narrative Book of the Year category.
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