Summer Reading Challenge

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Join the Read to the beat this summer

Join the Summer Reading Challenge this summer

Make the most of the summer holidays with this year's Summer Reading Challenge at Better Libraries. Delivered in partnership with The Reading Agency and powered by Universal music, this year’s theme, Read to the Beat!, celebrates the joy of music and the power it has to move, inspire, and connect us through the magic of reading.

Keep your children excited about books and reading over the Summer and sign them up to the Challenge for FREE.

For children aged 4 to 11 years, the Summer Reading Challenge runs from 4th July to 5th September.

How to get involved

Sign up for free at your local Better library and receive your very own Read to the Beat booklet plus special Story Time Magazine.

Borrow some books from the library to get started with your reading challenge.

Read six library books (or more!) over the holidays and visit the library for every 2 books you read to tell library staff what you've read and collect special stickers to add to your booklet.

Collect all the stickers to complete the Challenge and receive a certificate and medal!

For full Terms and Conditions, please speak to the member of staff upon booklet collection.

Why take part in the summer reading challenge

Can't find what you're looking for?

Fun for all the family

The Summer Reading Challenge is a great time to share and talk about books as a family. Sitting down with a book, newspaper or magazine sets a good example to kids - they will copy you. Children enjoy taking part and many teachers will tell us that they return to school with a new enthusiasm and confidence for reading.

While your children are choosing their books for the Summer Reading Challenge it's a great chance for you to discover the full range of what's on offer at the library. From reading groups to computer access, let us help you make the most of the library.

Encourage a love of reading

Currently, 1 in 5 children in England cannot read well by the age of 11. We know that reading for fun improves literacy.

Reading for pleasure is more important to children’s academic success than their parents’ level of education or socio-economic status.
Embedding a love of reading in children can help their wellbeing later in life. 19% of adult readers say that reading stops them feeling lonely.
Studies have found that those who read for pleasure have higher levels of empathy, greater self-esteem and are better able to cope with difficult situations.

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages around 700,000 children to keep up their reading skills each year.

Includes everyone

At the heart of the Challenge is children choosing and sharing books - in any format - that they like.

If your child is visually impaired or finds printed books tricky, our libraries will be able to help suggest alternatives.
Our collections include large print, braille, and Barrington Stoke titles, and our online collection via the Libby App also has a range of accessibility features like adjustable fonts, including dyslexic fonts, coloured backgrounds, and screen reading capabilities to make reading fun for your family.
The free RNIB Library (which covers braille, giant print and Talking Books) can also be used for the Summer Reading Challenge and throughout the year, and our libraries can help you with this.

Library services are increasingly aware of the needs of children with autism and some libraries run dedicated Autism Friendly sessions, find your library to find out more.

Find a Library

Discover a great story and Read to the Beat!

Discover the Read to the Beat! book collection

Featuring captivating titles for different reading levels, from picture books and early readers to middle grade titles, as well as dyslexia friendly books. The collection includes a mix of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and graphic novels and is guaranteed to get young readers tapping their feet and turning pages.
The books are available to borrow for free from Better Libraries.

Diper Overlode

Kinney, Jeff, author.

Tree whispers

Ross, Mandy.

Space band

Fletcher, Tom, 1985- author.

The piano at the station

Rutter, Helen (Children's author), author.

Melody queen

Bhandal, Puneet, author.

The missing piece

Stephens, Jordan, 1992- author.

Lil' Muffin drops the mic

Ranganathan, Romesh, 1978- author.

Doggy dance off

Smallman, Steve, author.

Listening to the quiet

Silva, Cassie, author.

1, 2, 3, do the unicorn

Robinson, Michelle (Michelle Jane), 1977- author.

Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens. Volume 1

Henn, Sophy, author.

Girl on the fly

Nagadya Isdahl, Nansubuga.

The life-changing magic of drumming: A Beginner's Guide by Musician Nandi Bushell

Bushell, Nandi, author.

Gordon starts a band

Latimer, Alex, author.

The twirly wiggly dance

Riaz, Farrah, author.

Raising the roof

Pepper, Jack, author.

How to build an orchestra

Auld, Mary.

Hunt for the golden scarab

Leonard, M. G. (Maya Gabrielle), author.

The adventures of Rap Kid: A hilarious, high-energy new series from the viral rapping social media sensation

Grammar, MC, author.

Meet the Mubbles

Pichon, Liz, author.

The very noisy house

Nicholls, Sally, author.

Bhangra boogie

Khan, Hena.

Carnival queen

Williams-Harry, Donette, author.

All the Wonderful Ways to Move

Baker, Laura, author.

Running my own race

Eyeson, Abena, author.

The big-time boogie-woogie animal band

Andreae, Giles, author.

Little Sheku and the animal orchestra

Kanneh-Mason, Sheku.

Isadora Moon and the pop stars

Muncaster, Harriet, author.

'But dancing is for girls!'

Sheppy, Gyasi.

Kofi and the brand new vibe

Boakye, Jeffrey, author.

The Rock family band

Tregoning, Robert.

Put your records on

Rae, Corinne Bailey, author.

You vs the poison plot: A Choose Your Path Mystery for fans of interactive adventures like Cluedle, Murdle Junior and gamer kids age 9, 10, 11, 12

Hicks, Josh, author.

My little drummer

Radford, Sian, author.

My school musical and other punishments

Wilkins, Catherine, author.

Glory days in New Orleans!

Bia.

Some bears

Foley, Christian.

The elephant and the piano

Hiller, Colette.

The paper piano: An inspirational picture book for music lovers

Ip, Rachel, author.

Dahlia and the land without music

Partridge, James B.

Marching band

Tudor, Kael.

Skipping to Sammy's Beat

Voss, Coral.

Songs in the shade of the cherry tree: lullabies and nursery rhymes from Ukraine

Soussana, Nathalie.

Rebel Girls rock: 25 tales of women in music

Rebel Girls. author.

I tell myself I'm awesome: poems for your mind

Seigal, Joshua.

Coorie doon: a Scottish lullaby story

Kay, Jackie.

Be More Olivia Rodrigo

Dk.

Join the challenge at a Better library near you

Greenwich libraries Bromley Libraries Dudley Libraries Wandsworth Libraries Lincolnshire Libraries

Keep your child's mind and body active this summer

Why not make the most of all the facilities GLL has to offer? As well as the Summer Reading Challenge, get the kids active with a summer of fun at a Better Leisure Centre near you.

Holiday courses

Dive into the world of swimming, tennis or even gymnastics with a short course over the summer. Whether you're a beginner or looking to level up your sports skills, book your spot now on a holiday short course.

Better Flex Junior Membership

Get ready for an sports-packed summer with a Better Flex junior membership. You'll enjoy one free visit per month and up to 30% off additional visits for junior gym, junior fitness classes and swimming.

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