Animal detectives will take centre stage as Suffolk Community Libraries prepares to launch this year’s Reading Quest.
The annual campaign returns for the summer holidays in July with a new theme, Curious Creatures, placing a cast of illustrated animals at the heart of a county-wide push to keep children reading.
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Reading Quest is the largest literacy campaign for children in Suffolk. It is free to take part and open to all ages and reading abilities, though it is primarily aimed at two to 12-year-olds.
The programme aims to counter the drop in reading that often comes when schools close for the summer.
This year’s theme has been developed with Ipswich-born illustrator and author Matt Robertson, who has created a team of characters to guide children through the challenge.
After completing his MA in children’s book illustration at the Cambridge School of Art, Matt went on to write and illustrate numerous children’s books. He won the Lara Jones Award and was awarded second prize in the Macmillan Book Prize.
His debut picture book, Super Stan, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and won the Dundee Picture Book Award. His award-winning Do You Love? series also received the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Award.
Matt said: “I was thrilled when asked to illustrate the characters for this year’s Reading Quest with Suffolk Community Libraries.
“As children across the county dive into the challenge, I wanted to use a team of detective animals to help them on their way to complete the many reading quests,” he said.
The cast of characters includes a polar bear, pig, raccoon, tortoise, fox and pigeon – each presented as a detective working through reading tasks.
He explained that he was inspired by wildlife native to the East Anglian region when creating some of the Curious Creatures.
“It felt important to include some familiar local wildlife found in and around Suffolk, alongside a few more unusual animals that have also made the county their home.
“I hope these playful characters not only support children on their reading journey, but also spark curiosity, imagination and a lifelong love of books.”
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The Reading Quest programme will run throughout the school holidays in July and August in libraries across the county.
Children can sign up at any library and receive their case file from July 18 onwards. All they will need is a library card.
Children are given a free reading passport, which they use to log books and track progress over the summer weeks.
As part of the Reading Quest, children are invited to choose what they want to read and record each book in their passport.
Stickers and activities add a sense of progression, while the character theme provides a narrative that links the experience together.
The approach focuses on keeping reading enjoyable and relaxed.
There is no set reading list and no strict targets, allowing children to take part at a level that suits them. This flexibility plays a key role in maintaining engagement.
By removing pressure, the scheme keeps reading tied to leisure rather than schoolwork.
The Reading Quest has become a regular feature of the school summer break in Suffolk. Each year introduces a new theme, designed to keep the format fresh for returning participants while remaining accessible to first-time readers.
The campaign also gives added focus to efforts across the county and country to build long-term reading habits among children and families, such as the Born & Read in Suffolk campaign and the National Year of Reading 2026.
Regular reading over the summer supports literacy development and helps children return to school ready to Headline sponsor continue learning.
Erin Hamilton, Suffolk Community Libraries early literacy and youth engagement lead, said: “As this is the National Year of Reading, we’d love for Reading Quest to make a real impact this year!
“Thanks to Matt Robertson we have a fun and colourful group of Curious Creatures on board.”
This story is published as part of Born & Read in Suffolk, a year-long initiative highlighting the importance of reading and writing, delivered in partnership with the National Centre for Writing and Suffolk Community Libraries, headline sponsor Sizewell C and sponsor Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority, and supported by Ipswich Town Football Club. Follow the campaign throughout the year in our coverage and on social media using #BornAndRead2026 or get in touch at readingmatters@newsquest.co.uk
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