This Summer we invite you to take part in our reading challenge! Our lovely team of booksellers have put together a summer-themed bingo which should inspire you embark on new reading adventures over the holidays. Complete 6 prompts to be in with a chance of winning one of our limited edition goodie bags! 

Are you up for the challenge?

Let us know if you've completed the challenge by the last week of August, so you can collect your reward on Saturday 30th of August.

If you're in need of some inspiration, we've put together some suggestions to help guide you through each prompt. Our suggestions range from picture books up to teen and YA, but feel free to join in even if you're an adult! 

Mystery book

• I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (picture book)
• What's That Noise by Charlie Higson & Nadia Shireen (picture book)
• Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson (picture book)
• Sherlock Bones and the Mischief in Manhattan by Tim Collins (early reader) 
• Watts & Whiskerton: Buried Bones and Troublesome Treasure by Meg McLaren (early reader)
• Reggie Rabbit: Robbery at the Masqued Ball by Swapna Reddy and Becka Moor (early reader)
• Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens (chapter book)
• The Secret Lives of Women Spies by Charlotte Philby (chapter book)
• Murder! By Narwhal! by Alex T. Smith (chapter book)
• Tidemagic by Clare Harlow (chapter book)
  
• Catch Your Death by Ravena Guron (teen/YA)
• A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (teen/YA)
• HappyHead by Josh Silver (teen/YA)
• Rune by Carlos Sanchez (graphic novel)
• Another Kind by Trevor Bream and Cait May (graphic novel)
• Peculiar Woods: The Ancient Underwater City by Andres J. Colmenares (graphic novel)

Shells on the cover

• Sharing a Shell by Julia Donaldson (picture book)
• The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson (picture book)
• Pip and Posy: The Friendly Snail by Camilla Reid and Axel Scheffler (picture book)
• Emerald and the Magic Shell by Harriet Muncaster (early reader)
• The Shell Keepers by Truly Johnston (chapter book)
• Max and Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island! by Jamie Smart (graphic novel)
• Officer Clawsome: Lobster Cop by Brian "Smitty" Smith and Chris Giarrusso (graphic novel)
• Birtle and the (Very) Unwelcome Garry by Tara J. Hannon (graphic novel)

Book by author who shares your initials

• If your initials are "P. B." you could read a book by Pamela Butchart
• If you can't find an author with your exact initials, you can try to read a book where the author or one of the characters shares your name!

Book set on an island

• The Great Green Island by Becky Colvin (picture book)
• The Famous Five by Enid Blyton (early reader)
• Call the Puffins! by Cath Howe (early reader)
• Meet the Mubbles by Liz Pichon (early reader)
• The Secret of Golden Island by Natasha Farrant (chapter book)
• The Island at the End of Everything by Kieran Millwood-Hargrave (chapter book)
• The Way to Impossible Island by Sophie Kirtley (chapter book)
• The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle (chapter book)
• Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean (teen/YA)
• The Island by C.L.Taylor (teen/YA)
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (teen/YA)
• Island of Whispers by Frances Hardinge and Emily Gravett (graphic novel)

Book set in a foreign land

• Anna Hibiscus' Song by Atinuke and Lauren Tobia (picture book)
• Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (chapter book)
• The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell (chapter book)
• Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan (chapter book)
• The Explorer by Katherine Rundell (chapter book)
• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (teen/YA)
• Mexikid by Pedro Martin (graphic novel)
• Sisters by Raina Telgemeier (graphic novel)
• Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen (graphic novel)

Poetry or verse book

• Nature Trail by Benjamin Zephaniah (picture book)
  
• How to Grow a Unicorn by Rachel Morrisroe and Steven Lenton (picture book)
• Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg (picture book)
• Fairy Tales Gone Bad: Zombierella by Joseph Coelho (early reader)
• The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems edited by June Crebbin (early reader)
• Werewolf Club Rules! by Joseph Coelho (early reader)
• Love that Dog by Sharon Creech (chapter book)
• Michael Rosen's A-Z: The best children's poetry from Agard to Zephaniah (chapter book)
• The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow and Joe Todd-Stanton (chapter book)
• The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan (teen/YA)
• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (teen/YA)
• The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (teen/YA)

Read outside

• This can be any book, so long as you read it outside!

Book with a sunny cover

• Hello Summer by Jo Lindley (picture book)
  
• Sun by Sam Usher (picture book)
• The Sun Thief by Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater (picture book)
• Splash Day! by Nick Sharratt (early reader)
• Holes by Louis Sachar (chapter book)

Book that makes you laugh

• Oi Frog! by Kes Gray (picture book)
• Brenda's Revenge by Sarah Tagholm (picture book)
• Octopus Shocktopus! by Peter Bently and Steven Lenton (picture book)
• Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure by Alex T. Smith (early reader)
• Gordon the Meanest Goose on Earth by Alex Latimer (early reader)
  
• The Toilet Ghost by Pamela Butchart (early reader)
• A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents by S.A. Reyhani (chapter book)
• Kid Normal by Greg James and Chris Smith (chapter book)
• The Unfortunate Wishes of Nelly Young by Beth Garrod (chapter book)
• Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green (teen/YA)
• What Happens Online by Nathanael Lessore (teen/YA)
• The Reluctant Vampire Queen by Jo Simmons (teen/YA) 
  
• Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart (graphic novel)
• Nina Peanut by Sarah Bowie (graphic novel)
• Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens by Sophy Henn (graphic novel)

Book with sea creatures

• Alba The Hundred Year Old Fish by Lara Hawthorne (picture book)
• The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson (picture book)
• Emerald and the Magic Shell by Harriet Muncaster (early reader)
• My Friend the Octopus by Lindsay Galvin (chapter book)
• Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (teen/YA)

Book featured on our BOTM

• Wolf in the City by Rachel Tilda Wolf (picture book)
• The Shell Keepers by Truly Johnston (chapter book)
• Chronicles of Wetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment by Anna James (chapter book)
• Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed by Eve Wersocki-Morris (chapter book)
• Peregrine Quinn and the Cosmic Realm by Ash Bond (chapter book)
• Murder For Two by Niyla Farook (chapter book)
• Pablo & Splash by Sheena Dempsey (graphic novel)
  

You can find the full list of our Books of the Month on our Instagram and Facebook!

Non-Fiction

• Hello Fossils & Shells: Little Guides to Nature (5+)
• The Sea Below my toes by Charlotte Guillain (7+)
• Oceanarium by Ocean Conservation Trust (9+)

Book set by the sea

• Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon (picture book)
• The Boys by Lauren Ace (picture book)
  
• The Ocean Gardener by Clara Anganuzzi (picture book)
• What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside by Julia Donaldson (picture book)
• Adventuremice: The Ghostly Galleon by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (early reader)
  
• The Tale of Truthwater Lake by Emma Carroll (chapter book)
• Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange (chapter book)
• Cruise Ship Kid: Thief At Sea! by Emma Swan(chapter book)
• Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (teen/YA)
• Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood (teen/YA)
  
• Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! by Ben Clanton (graphic novel)
• InvestiGators: All Tied Up by John Patrick Green (graphic novel)
• Dog Man 11: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea by Dav Pilkey (graphic novel)

Activity book

• Sticker Dolly Dressing Mermaid Kingdom
• Isadora Moon: The Summer Fun Activity Book
• Holiday Activity Book

Book that involves travel

• Kafka and the Doll by Larisa Theule (picture book)
• Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (picture book)
• The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar (picture book)
• Big Sky Mountain by Alex Milway (early reader)
• Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant (chapter book)
• Murder on the Safari Star by M. G. Leonard (chapter book)
• Naeli and the Secret Song by Jasbinder Bilan (chapter book)
• The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliott (teen/YA)
• The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud (teen/YA)
• A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos (teen/YA)
• Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol (graphic novel)
• Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian by Tim Probert (graphic novel)
• Messy Roots by Laura Gao (graphic novel)

Read near water

• This can be any book, so long as you read it near a pool, lake, or the beach!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Happy reading!