Join. Borrow. Read. Win! The BIG Summer Read is back!
BIG Summer Read
If you are aged 0-18, join the BIG Summer Read for your chance to WIN!
All you need to do is read and log ten books using the Readbooks website. It is that easy so what are you waiting for?
Prizes this year include a Nintendo switch, VR headset, book and LEGO vouchers, and a family pass to Luna Park.
What is the BIG Summer Read?
The BIG Summer Read is our annual reading challenge for children presented by Public Libraries Victoria and Glen Eira Libraries.
The BIG Summer Read is open readers ages 0-18. It aims to encourage children to read for pleasure and addresses the issue of the 'summer slide'. This refers to the loss of literacy experienced over the long summer break if children are not exposed to books or reading.
The challenge will start on Sunday 1 December 2024 and finish on Friday 31 January 2025.
What are the key dates?
Pre-registration opens Monday 4 November 2024.
Competition opens: Sunday 1 December 2024.
Competition closes: Friday 31 January 2025
All winners will be notified by email on or before 27 February 2024.
Am I eligible to participate?
The BIG Summer Read is open to both independent and non-independent readers ages 0-18.
To enter, you just need to be a Glen Eira Libraries member or live in the City of Glen Eira.
It doesn’t matter if you are devouring books by yourself, or still require the assistance of an adult to enjoy a story, all children are welcome to enter.
Participants can log any book they read, that is read to them, or listened to as an audio.
Do I have to register?
Yes - you do.
You can participate in any of the following ways:
- Head to the Read Books website and register for an account
- Pick up a reading log from your local library, record the books read and fill in your details.
You can of course always check in with a friendly member of staff for more information at any time - we are here to help!
Are there prizes?
Yes! There will be a statewide prize draw to encourage participation.
Glen Eira Libraries is also giving away a bunch of local prizes.
These are:
Ages 0-5
- 3 x $50 book packs
Ages 6-10
- Luna Park Family Pass
- $50 Lego Voucher
Ages 11-14
- Nintento Switch
- $50 Lego Voucher
Ages 15-18
- Virtual Reality Meta Headset
- JBL Portable speaker
All registrations on the ReadBooks website will be automatically added to the local draw.
What books count?
Any book read over the challenge period will count. This includes but is not limited to:
- Picture books (including any read at BabyTime or StoryTime)
- Early Readers
- Chapter Books
- Graphic Novels
- Audio Books
- Books in other languages
- eBooks
- eAudioBooks
eBooks and eAudioBooks can also be counted. Make sure to check out BorrowBox and Story Box Library for lots of great titles.
Also check out LOTE4Kids where you can enjoy the magic of books in Languages Other than English (LOTE) both at the library and at home.
Is there a paper tracker available?
There is a paper reading log available from any Glen Eira Libraries branch, but only entries submitted online through ReadBooks will be eligible for both the local and statewide prize draw.
Paper log entries will only be eligible for the local Glen Eira prize draw.
Are you running any events?
Absolutely!
Friday 29 November, 11am
Carnegie Library and Community Centre
Join us for a Teddy Bears' Picnic to help us launch the BIG Summer Read.
Listen to some bear-y special tales, sing some songs, and have some fun with a craft activity. Don’t forget to bring along your favourite teddy to join you for the morning.
Free event and no bookings required. Suitable for ages 2 and up.
Saturday 7 December, 2pm
Carnegie Library and Community Centre
Join award-winning author Andrea Rowe for a special seaside StoryTime with her new release Amid the Sand Dunes and 2024 CBCA Notable book In the Rockpool.
Andrea will share these two ocean-loving stories with families, inspired by the Mornington Peninsula coastline. Get ready for this high energy interactive StoryTime, followed by coastal inspired craft session.
Suitable for ages 3 and up. Free event and no bookings required. Wait times may apply.
Thursday 5 December, 4pm-6pm
Bentleigh Library and Youth Hub
Join us for a special screening of the whimiscal movie Wonka (PG) and register for the challenge on the spot to receive your sign-up pack. There’ll be free popcorn – and more!
Free event and bookings not required.
Wonka is rated PG. Running time is 116 minutes. Contains mild themes and violence, and some scary scenes. Parents under the age of 12 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
