The BIG Summer Read is Australia’s biggest public library-supported reading challenge. Running from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026, the campaign encourages young readers aged 0–18 years to visit their local library and keep reading during the summer holidays.

Last summer, more than 24,000 Victorian children participated, logging thousands of books and helping to combat the “summer slide” - the loss of literacy skills that can occur when children stop reading over the holidays.

The program is free to join, and participants can log books they read, listen to, or have read to them. Families are encouraged to continue reading aloud to children and track progress through the Read Books website, earning digital badges and entering prize draws.

The program is now open for pre-registration, and books can be logged from Monday 1 December 2025 - register online here.

The Big Summer Read finishes on Saturday 31 January 2026.

It's as simple as: Join. Borrow. Read. Log. Win! 

Three simple steps to join the fun

1. Be a Mornington Peninsula Shire Library member. If you don’t have a membership card that’s ok! You can become a member at any time. Visit us in branch, or sign up online here
2. Join the BIG Summer Read challenge by registering online or filling out a paper log (pick up in branch or from OLiV - Our Library Van)
3. Read and log five (5) days of reading for your chance to win! The more you read, the more chances you get! Every 5 days read = one entry.
   
   

How to log your reading

• You can log your reading through the official website. Log a minimum of 5 days of reading to be eligible to enter the statewide and local prize draws. 
• Prefer paper? Grab a reading log from your local library branch or OLiV - Our Library Van. When you have logged 5 days of reading, return your entry form to library staff. The more you read the more entries you have into the Mornington Peninsula Shire Library prize draw. (Please note, paper tracking will only be eligible for local prizes, not the state-wide draw.)

All children between the ages of 0-18 are welcome to participate.

Independent and non-independent readers can log any book they read – you can read to yourself, out loud, listen to an audio book or listen as someone reads to you!

Bonus - all types of books count including physical books, audiobooks, eBooks, graphic novels, comics and manga. 

For every 5 days of reading you record online at readbooks.com.au/bsr, you’ll automatically receive one entry into both the state-wide and local prize draws.

Every 5 days read = 1 entry

State-wide prizes offered by Public Libraries Victoria:

• Zoos Victoria Membership
• Kobo eReader
• Bluetooth Headphones
• Book Bundles

Local prizes offered by Mornington Peninsula Shire Libraries:

• Envy Prodigy X Complete Scooter
• Envy One Series 3 Complete Scooter
• Book Bundles
• LEGO Creator Packs

Plus, we’re excited to offer additional prizes generously donated by local businesses, such as:

• Arthurs Seat Eagle Family Return Ticket 
• Enchanted Adventure Maze - Children's Tickets 
• Moonlit Sanctuary Family Pass
• Mubble Ice Cream - Gift Vouchers
• Peninsula Cinemas (Rosebud) - Double Passes 
• Rain, Hayne & Shine Farm - Family Passes 
• Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm - Strawberry U-Pick Family Pass 
• Top Fun Shack Rosebud - 4-person Mini Golf Pass 

PLUS visit us in branch and show us you have logged at least 5 days of reading to pick up a free library bag and a lucky dip prize! 

Prefer a paper-tracking form? Pick one up from the library or OLiV (Our Library Van) and you'll be automatically entered into the local prize draws. 

• The Big Summer Read (BSR) competition opens on 1 December 2025 9.00am until 31 January 2026 at 5pm.

•  Library members participating in the BIG Summer Read must be 18 or under (or have turned 19 during the challenge), reside in Victoria and must be able to collect their prize from a Mornington Peninsula Shire Library location. (Prizes cannot be delivered)

• All prize winners will be notified by 28 February 2026.

• To be eligible for the BIG Summer Read prize draw, each entrant must:

  • Register for the Big Summer Read on Readbooks via vic.readbooks.com.au or by returning the paper tracking form 
  • Log at least 5 days of reading on the paper tracking form or online using the Readbooks website between 1 December 2025 and 31 January 2026.
  • Not be an immediate family member of Mornington Peninsula Shire staff member or Councillor.

• Winners will be drawn at random from all eligible entries for the Big Summer Read 2025/2026 program.
• By registering a child for the Big Summer Read on Readbooks, a parent/guardian indicates they accept these Terms and Conditions and give permission for the entry.

• Prizes will not be awarded to anyone who does not meet the eligibility criteria.
• Please note online online entrants will be entered into both the state-wide and local prize draws. Paper entry forms only give you entry into the local prize draws.