BIG Summer Read 2025-26

cartoon logo of big summer read with characters at the bottom with a blue sky and white clouds in the background

Looking for something BIG to do these summer holidays?

If you are aged 0-18, the Big Summer Read is for you!

Pick up a book, graphic novel, ebook or audiobook to get started. Record 5 books or 5 days of reading and you can enter a prize draw to reward your efforts!

The challenge runs 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.

Prizes

Darebin Libraries prizes include a Bear and Birch $100 voucher, Fairfield Books $50 vouchers, Family passes for Reservoir Leisure Centre and Family passes for Bundoora Park Farm.

National and State prizes include Zoos Victoria memberships, book bundles, Bluetooth headphones, and Kobo eReaders. 

Winners will be drawn randomly from participants who complete the challenge and enter online or submit paper reading logs at a Darebin Libraries branch. 

Read more about the prize draw and terms and conditions. 

All you need to do is: 

  1. Pick up a reading log and summer reads at your local library or register online at readbooks.com.au. 
  2. Read at least five books or for five days this summer.
  3. Log your books or reading time in your reading log.
  4. Drop in at your local branch to get your next haul of books and get involved with Big Summer Read activities!
  5. Submit your reading log either online by 11:59pm Saturday 31 January 2026 or hand in your reading log at your local library by 5pm Monday 9 February 2026. You will then go into the prize draw!
  6. Read even more for more chances to win! For every additional five books or five days of reading, you will receive one additional entry into the prize draw.
  7. Collect your certificate of participation from your Darebin Libraries branch.

Prize draw and terms and conditions

Darebin readers between the ages of 0-18 automatically enter the local, statewide and national prize draw by: 

  • having a Darebin Libraries membership (or their parent or guardian has a membership), and 
  • reading for at least five days or reading at least five books, and
  • submitting a record of their reading online via ReadBooks between 1 December 2025 and 11.59pm, 31 January 2026, or
  • submitting a completed paper reading log at a Darebin Libraries branch between 1 December 2025 and 5pm, 9 February 2026.

ReadBooks registration can only be completed by individual readers aged 13+, or with consent from a parent or guardian 18 years or over. 

No late entries will be accepted. 

Winners will be determined by a random draw and notified by email or phone after 28 February 2026. 

Visit the Big Summer Read competition page for other Terms and Conditions including information about the statewide and national prize draws and the ReadBooks platform.    

Paper Reading Logs 

Darebin City Council (“Council”) collects, holds and manages personal information under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). Darebin City Council is collecting personal information via reading logs for the purpose of administering the Big Summer Read (BSR) 2025–2026 Challenge which includes registering your child, confirming library membership with our service, confirming age eligibility and making contact if they are successful in winning a prize. This information will be used solely for this purpose by Darebin Libraries and will not be disclosed to any other party unless required by law. If you do not provide this information, Council is unable to enter your child in the Big Summer Read (BSR) 2025–2026. See Privacy Statement City of Darebin for further information. 
 

 

 

 

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