Winter Reads 2025

Winter Reads

1 November 2025 – 31 January 2026

Complete 6 fun challenges through the winter months for a chance to win prizes, including an iPad!

Winter Reads is a series of exciting reading challenges and events for all ages, taking place across Hertfordshire libraries until the end of January.

You can either work through the challenges we set or change them to suit you.

Here’s how it works:

Pick up your challenge materials from your local library. Adults get a Winter Reads bookmark. Children receive a Winter Reads challenge card.
Complete and record your challenges on your bookmark or challenge card.
Return to your local library to get a stamp or sticker for each completed challenge. Once you finish 6 challenges, you’ll be entered into our prize draw to win an iPad (plus other fantastic runners-up prizes).

As well as being a great way to explore new books, authors and genres, Winter Reads is a brilliant opportunity to read together as a family or with friends.

Events

Children's Winter Reads events

Meet the author – Abiola Bello, Sat 1 Nov, 2–3pm, Hertford Library

Author workshop with Loretta Schauer, Saturday 29 November, 11am – 12pm, Oxhey Library (South Oxhey)

Author workshop with Loretta Schauer, Saturday 29 November, 2pm – 3pm, North Watford Library

Meet the author - Iona Rangeley, Saturday 13 December 2025, 11am - 12pm, Watford Central Library

Author workshop with Matty Long, Saturday 17 January 2026, 11am – 12pm, Royston Library

Meet the author - Robin Stevens, Saturday 31 January, 11am-12pm, Hoddesdon Library

Adults' Winter Reads events

In conversation with Rory Clements, Wednesday 12 November, 6.30pm – 7.30pm, Bishops Stortford Library

An evening with George Bernard Shaw, Wednesday 19 November, 7.30pm – 8.30pm, Welwyn Garden City Library

Meet the author – Jane Thynne, Thursday 20 November, 7pm - 8.30pm, Oakmere Library

Meet the author – Ken Follett, Monday 8^th December 2025, 7pm – 8.30pm, Stevenage Library

Meet the author - Daisy Buchanan, Thursday 29 January, 7pm – 8.30pm, St Albans Library

See all library events

What should I read?

If you’re looking for inspiration on what to read as part of the challenge, chatting with staff at your local library is a great place to start. Make sure to wander round and browse the book displays or at home search our online catalogue.

Don’t forget that digital books and audio also count, so why not have a look at the Winter Reads shelves for adults and children in our BorrowBox collection.

You could also check out our Hertfordshire Libraries Facebook and HertsReads Instagram accounts. We’ll be posting regular ideas and suggestions for each of the challenges, and it’s a great way to get inspired and share ideas!

The challenges!

Adult challenges

Read a book from a Winter Reads display.
Judge a book by its cover: if it looks good, read it!
Read or listen to a book on BorrowBox.
Try a completely new genre.
Read a non-fiction book.
Attend a library event.
Read a page a day during the challenge
Payback! Read a book you couldn’t finish first time around.
Write a review for your library’s display.
Read a book with a one-word title.
Read a book by a first-time author
Wild Card – create your own challenge!

Children’s challenges

Discover a new author.
Lucky Dip: choose a book from a shelf with your eyes closed!
Fact Finder: read a new information book.
Read a book from a Winter Reads display.
Draw a picture of your favourite book character.
Attend a library event.
Read a book with a one-word title.
Write a book review for your library’s display.
Read a book recommended by a friend.
Write your own short winter story or poem.
Read a book for fun, just to make you laugh.
Wild card – create your own challenge!

Terms and conditions

Eligibility

The Winter Reads Challenge is open to all ages. However, you must be a library member. There will be separate prize draws for adults (14+) and children.

Participants must have completed the challenge and filled out a prize draw card by 31 January 2026 to enter.

Each participant can only enter the challenge once.

Challenge duration

The challenge will run from 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026.

Participation

Participants collect their challenge materials from a Hertfordshire library and get their completed challenges stamped by a member of staff.

Books read must be from Hertfordshire Library or e-library.

Participants choose what challenges they would like to complete.

Prize draw

There will be two separate prize draws: one for adults and one for children.

Winners will be chosen randomly using a random generator tool.

The draw will take place on 17 February 2026 and winners will be notified via email by their local library from this date.

Winners have one week to accept the prize and arrange a time for collection. If a prize is not accepted within this period, a new winner will be chosen at random.

Prizes

The grand prizes are 2 iPads, one each for the adult and children’s draws. These have been kindly donated by Bolinda (BorrowBox) and Overdrive.

Runner-up prizes include books kindly donated by publishers and local businesses.

Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other items.

Photo and image consent

Winners will be asked to provide a photo for social media and an image consent form will be filled out on the day.

Providing a photo is not mandatory and winners can refuse to have their photo taken.

General conditions

By participating in the Winter Read Challenge, participants agree to abide by these terms and conditions.

The organisers reserve the right to modify or cancel the challenge at any time without prior notice.

Any personal information collected during the challenge will be used solely for the purpose of administering the challenge and will not be shared with third parties.