Summer Reading Challenge 2025

Summer Reading Challenge events in East Lothian Libraries

All events are free, but some may require you to book a space. All children under 8 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible person (aged 14+) while in the library. For more information, booking events, or to check opening hours, please contact your local library.

Keep an eye on the East Lothian Libraries Facebook page, or follow your library’s dedicated Facebook page for all you need to know. You can also find us on Instagram.

We will be adding to this page as more events are confirmed.

 

Story Garden launch party - Musselburgh Library

Friday 20 June, 2:30pm to 4pm, Musselburgh Library

Join us to celebrate the start of a summer of stories, nature, and reading with the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge 2025: Story Garden. Featuring the Musselburgh Library Junior Gardening Club, and local author Tom Nicoll. Contact Musselburgh Library for more information.

 

Dunbar Library

Garden Collage

Saturday 28 June, 11:30am to 12:30pm

Make a garden collage from magazines. Ages 6+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

Decorating Plant Pots

Wednesday 2 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Decorate some plant pots and do some planting. Ages 6+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

Stone Decorating

Wednesday 9 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Paint stones to display in the garden. Ages 6+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

Bracelet Making

Tuesday 15 July, 10am to 11:30am

Make bracelets. Ages 8+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

John Muir Birthplace

Tuesday 22 July, time to be confirmed

Behind the scenes at the museum. Ages 8+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

Cress Heads

Saturday 26 July, 11am to 12noon

Create cress heads to grow at home. Ages 6+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

Sing and Dance

Tuesday 29 July, 10am to 11am

Sing and dance along to our favourite tunes. Ages 6+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

Garden Lanterns

Tuesday 5 August, 10am to 11am

Make some lanterns for your gardens. Ages 6+. Contact Dunbar Library to book.

 

East Linton Library

Flower Mural

From 1 July throughout the summer, during opening hours.

Ages 3+. No booking required.

 

Flower Scavenger Hunt

Tuesday 1 July to Tuesday 15 July during opening hours.

Ages 4+. No booking required.

 

Story Garden story time

Tuesdays at 2:30pm (1 July to 29 July).

A weekly garden-themed story time. Ages 3+. No booking required.

 

Grow your own cress

Tuesday 8 July, 11am to 12noon.

Design a pot and plant some cress seeds. Ages 5-8. Spaces are limited, booking required. Contact East Linton Library to book.

 

Make your own windmill

Tuesday 15 July, 11am to 12noon.

Design and make a colourful windmill to brighten up your garden. Ages 5-8. Spaces are limited, booking required. Contact East Linton Library to book.

 

Summer Scavenger Hunt

Tuesday 22 July to Tuesday 29 July during opening hours.

Ages 4+. No booking required.

 

Flower sheep

Tuesday 22 July, 11am to 12noon.

Create flower sheep. Ages 5-8. Spaces are limited, booking required. Contact East Linton Library to book.

 

Pipe cleaner flowers

Tuesday 29 July, 11am to 12noon.

Make colourful flowers using pipe cleaners. Ages 5-8. Spaces are limited, booking required. Contact East Linton Library to book.

 

Pebble painting

Monday 30 June to Saturday 9 August during opening hours.

Paint a pebble to add to William Snakespeare. All ages. No booking required.

 

Haddington Library

Create your own short story or poem

Monday 30 June – Saturday 5 July, during opening hours

All ages. No booking required.

 

Clay Pot Making

Saturday 5 July, 2pm

Make a pot out of clay. Ages 5+. Contact Haddington Library to book.

 

Outdoor scavenger hunt

Monday 7 July – Saturday 12 July, during opening hours

Pick up a sheet at Haddington Library of things to find outdoors! All ages. No booking required.

 

Sunflower seed planting

Wednesday 9 July, 2:30pm

Plant a sunflower seed and watch it grow over the summer. Ages 5+. Contact Haddington Library to book.

 

Create your own comic strip

Monday 14 July – Saturday 19 July, during opening hours

All ages. No booking required.

 

Big Summer Sketch

Wednesday 16 July, 11am to 1pm.

All ages. No booking necessary. Run by the East Lothian Arts Service.

 

Sing A Round

Wednesday 16 July, 2:30pm

Learn some new songs, share your favourites! Ages 5+. Contact Haddington Library to book.

 

Paired Reading

Monday 21 July – Saturday 26 July, during opening hours

Read a book with the same theme as your grown up (e.g. set in America, books about animals, etc.). All ages. No booking required.

 

Cress Growing

Wednesday 23 July, 2:30pm

Plant some cress and watch it grow! Ages 5+. Contact Haddington Library to book.

 

Design your own book cover

Monday 28 July – Saturday 2 August, during opening hours

All ages. No booking required.

 

Outdoor story and singalong

Monday 28 July, 2.30pm

Meet at Haddington Library then head outside for a story and songs. All ages. Contact Haddington Library to book.

 

Create your own Lego garden

Monday 4 August – Saturday 9 August, during opening hours

Take a picture and show the team at the desk, or make it with Lego in the library! All ages. No booking required.

 

Eco Crafts

Saturday 9 August, 2pm

Come and have some Eco Craft fun! Ages 5+. Contact Haddington Library to book.

 

Musselburgh Library

Bug Hotels

Thursday 3 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Make a bug hotel from juice bottles. Outside in the garden, weather permitting. Ages 7+. Contact Musselburgh Library to book.

 

Stone Painting

Wednesday 9 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Painting stones in the garden (weather permitting). Ages 5+. Contact Musselburgh Library to book.

 

Creative Writing

Thursday 17 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Write a nature themed story. Outside in the garden, weather permitting. Ages 7+. Contact Musselburgh Library to book.

 

Bug Hunt

Tuesday 29 July, 11am to 12noon

A bug hunt in the garden (weather permitting). Ages 5+. Contact Musselburgh Library to book.

 

Big Summer Sketch

Thursday 31 July, 11:30am to 1pm

All ages. No booking necessary. Run by the East Lothian Arts Service.

 

Planter Painting

Thursday 7 August, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Paint our large planters (wear old clothes!). Outside in the garden, weather permitting. Ages 7+. Contact Musselburgh Library to book.

 

North Berwick Library

Story Garden story time

Mondays 2:30pm to 3:30pm (30 June to 4 August).

Join a story outside in the garden (weather permitting). Ages 5+. Contact North Berwick Library to book.

 

Prestonpans Library

Story Garden Thursdays

Thursday 3 July to Thursday 7 August, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Grow a story over the summer holidays as you complete the Summer Reading Challenge. Ages 5+. No booking required.

• Week 1: Plant the story – decorate a jar and plant beans to watch grow in the library over the summer.
• Week 2: Coffee filter flower craft
• Week 3: Grow a story – help us grow a story together, starting with “once upon a time…”
• Week 4: Fork flower craft
• Week 5: Grow a story – continue from week 3 with the middle of our story and create an illustration
• Week 6: Grow a story – the finale of our story together and create an illustration

 

Big Summer Sketch

Wednesday 23 July, 10:30am to 12.30pm

All ages. No booking necessary. Run by the East Lothian Arts Service.

 

Ormiston Library

Big Summer Sketch

Wednesday 2 July, 10:30am to 12:30pm

All ages. No booking necessary. Run by the East Lothian Arts Service.

 

Tranent Library

Make a paper flower craft

Friday 4 June, 2pm to 5pm

A self-led craft. All ages. No booking necessary.

 

Make a windmill

Monday 7 July, 10am to 1pm

A self-led craft session. All ages. No booking necessary.

 

Storytime

Thursday 10 July, 2pm

All ages. No booking necessary.

 

Arm Painting

Friday 11 July, 3pm

Run by East Lothian Arts Service. Contact Tranent Library for more information.

 

Big Summer Sketch

Monday 14 July, 10am to 12noon

All ages. No booking necessary. Run by the East Lothian Arts Service.

Cress growing and pot decorating

Friday 18 July, 2pm-5pm

Contact Tranent Library for more information.

 

Open Book illustrating pictures

Monday 21 July, 10am to 1pm

A self-led craft. All ages. No booking necessary.

 

Afternoon movie

Friday 25 July, 2pm

Contact Tranent Library for more information.

 

Storytime

Thursday 7 August, 2pm

All ages. No booking necessary.

 

Tree of Hope decorating

Friday 8 August, 2pm to 5pm

Decorate our Tree of Hope with drawings of bugs and flowers. A self-led craft. All ages. No booking necessary.

 

Get ready for back to school

Monday 11 August, 10am

Come along and find out how the library can help you get back to school with confidence. Contact Tranent Library for more information.

 

Wallyford Library

Garden Themed Craft

Friday 4 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Ages 5+. No booking necessary. Contact Wallyford Library for more information.

 

Garden Lego Creations

Saturday 5 July, 11:15am to 12:15pm

Build a garden with Lego.

Ages  7+. No booking necessary. Contact Wallyford Library for more information.

 

Garden Collage Craft Session

Friday 11 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Ages 7+. No booking necessary. Contact Wallyford Library for more information.

 

Nature Themed Story Time

Friday 18 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Ages 5+. No booking necessary. Contact Wallyford Library for more information.

 

Bug Craft

Friday 1 August, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Find out about bugs and create your own. Ages 7+. No booking necessary. Contact Wallyford Library for more information.

 

Garden Lego Creations

Friday 8 August, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Build a garden with Lego.

Ages  7+. No booking necessary. Contact Wallyford Library for more information.