Go on a reading adventure this summer and be part of the reading fun for young people up to 18 years. You can even win prizes!
The Big Summer Read is a free reading club that starts on 1 December 2025 and goes until 31 January 2026.
It’s a fun way to keep up your reading over the summer holidays. If you sign up, you’ll also join other kids and teens across Australia who love reading.
By joining the Big Summer Read, you can:
- track the number of books or number of days you read
- write book reviews and have them published
- try reading-related challenges
- win prizes including book packs, Bluetooth headphones and a Kobo eReader
- enjoy activities at your local library, including comic and graphic novel workshops, during the summer school holidays in January.
It doesn’t matter how fast you read or what kind of books you love.
To enter to win prizes, you just need to read five books or read for five days.
You can read printed books, listen to audiobooks or even listen as someone reads aloud. It all counts.
You don’t need to be a member of Libraries Tasmania to take part in the Big Summer Read. But if you do join Libraries Tasmania, you’ll be eligible to win statewide prizes. Being a member also means you can access eLibrary resources such as eBooks and eAudiobooks for free.
Join the Big Summer Read
Registrations are now open!
It’s free and easy to join: complete the simple registration form on the Readbooks.com.au/bsr website.
Did you register last year for Big Summer Read?
If you registered online last year, you don’t need to register again – just use the same login. It’s all ready for this year’s challenge.
Don’t want to register online?
Don’t worry – you can register and participate by using a paper reading log. You can get a paper reading log at any Tasmanian Government school library or a public library.
Tasmanian Big Summer Read Ambassador
This year we are thrilled to have Tasmanian illustrator Alyssa Bermudez as our Tasmanian Big Summer Read Ambassador. Alyssa will run comic and graphic novel workshops in January as part of the Libraries Tasmania summer school holiday program. Details will be available soon.
About Alyssa Bermudez
Alyssa grew up in New York and now lives in Tasmania. Her vibrant watercolour and digital illustrations have appeared in more than a dozen picture books, on fabric collections and even on stage.
Her debut graphic memoir, Big Apple Diaries, is part of the permanent collection at the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. Her latest memoir, Run Home, explores friendship, resilience and creativity and will be available in early 2026. It has received a Kirkus Star, a Publishers Weekly starred review and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection for 2026.
With a passion for inclusivity and emotional honesty, Alyssa brings her expertise and energy to young storytellers ready to unleash their imagination.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Big Summer Read?
- The Big Summer Read is a free, fun reading club for young people up to 18 years old.
- It runs from Monday 1 December 2025 to Saturday 31 January 2026.
- Participants can log their reading, take part in challenges for a chance to win prizes, write book reviews and enjoy events at Libraries Tasmania during the school holidays in January.
- The Big Summer Read is promoted by Public Libraries Victoria in collaboration with libraries in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.
How do I join the Big Summer Read?
Who can join?
- Anyone aged 0-18 years old at the time of registration and who resides in Tasmania.
- If you’re aged 0-17 years old when you register, you will need your parent/carer permission.
- Check Readbooks.com.au for full Terms and Conditions.
When can I register?
- Sign up anytime between Monday 1 December 2025 and Saturday 31 January 2026. As soon as you register you can start logging your reading.
Where do I register?
- Make sure you log your reading online by 11:59 pm Sunday 31 January 2026 or hand your paper reading log in to your library by 5:00 pm Monday 9 February 2026.
- Sign up online at Readbooks.com.au/bsr or visit your library and staff will help you.
- If you registered online last year, you don’t need to register again – just use the same login.
- If you don’t want to register online or you don’t have access to the internet or a device over summer, you can register and take part by using a paper reading log.
- You can get a paper reading log at any Tasmanian Government school library or public library.
- Track any reading you do from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.
- You can track your reading every day or go back and complete your reading log in one go at the end.
What counts as reading?
- Picture books (including any books read during Rock and Rhyme or Storytime)
- Early Reader books
- Chapter books
- Manga and graphic novels
- Audiobooks
- Books in other languages
- eBooks and eAudiobooks e.g. Libby, Borrowbox, SORA
- Any stories listened to on platforms like StoryBox Hub & Lote4Kids.
- You can even listen as someone reads aloud to you.
What are the prizes?
How do I enter to win prizes?
- To enter to win national prizes, you must:
- Read for five days or finish five books.
- Be a member of Libraries Tasmania or a Tasmanian Government school library.
- Every extra five days, or five books you read, gives you another chance to win!
What can I win?
- This year there’s prizes in different age groups. This means your chances of winning are better!
- For each age group, there is one state and one national prize awarded. Each prize is valued at approximately $250.
- The prizes are:
- 0-4 years old: Picture book bundle pack
- 5-8 years old: Books and activity pack
- 9-12 years old: Bluetooth headphones
- 13-18 years old: Kobo eReader
- Some public libraries are offering additional prizes for reading and attending Big Summer Read school holiday activities. Check with your local library for more information.
Terms and Conditions
The following terms and conditions apply to participate in the Big Summer Read with Libraries Tasmania. Participants must:
- Be registered as a Tasmanian participant on the Readbooks.com.au website or, submit a paper entry to a Tasmanian public library or Tasmanian Government school library by 9 February 2026
- Be 18 years old or younger and reside in Tasmania
- Be available to collect a prize/s from their local library.
Prizes will not be awarded to anyone who does not meet the prize eligibility criteria.
All winners will be notified via the contact email they used to register.
The prizes are randomly selected from all eligible participants, and the decision is final. A copy of the full Big Summer Read Terms and Conditions is available on Readbooks.com.au and at Libraries Tasmania public libraries.
