Read to the Beat with the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge!

Keep reading this summer with the Summer Reading Challenge, which challenges children aged four to 11 years to read up to six books with rewards along the way!

This year's Summer Reading Challenge, run by the Reading Agency, inspires young readers with a Read to the Beat collection of upbeat stories that will engage and encourage them to read up to six books over the summer months, keeping those vital reading skills alive while they also have fun completing the challenge.

This year's official Read to the Beat book collection, below, includes books about musicians, characters discovering music, sound science, cultural traditions, rhythm, storytelling throughsound, breaking down barriers to music, creative expression and following your dreams. 

The Read to the Beat challenge will launch into libraries and online this summer, from 20 June in Scotland and 4 July in England and Wales. Children can sign up at their local library to receive a folder with the information they will need to take part, with stickers and rewards to come as they complete each book.

Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge!