What's this year's challenge?
Turn up the volume on reading this summer and Read to the Beat!
With illustrations by award-winning author and illustrator, Harry Woodgate, this years Challenge runs from 4th July to 5th September and invites children to discover the joy of reading through a musical themed Summer Reading Challenge 2026.
With illustrations by award-winning author and illustrator, Harry Woodgate, this years Challenge runs from 4th July to 5th September and invites children to discover the joy of reading through a musical themed Summer Reading Challenge 2026.
How to get involved
A Summer of Fun Activities
As well as joining in with the Summer Reading Challenge, you can also take part in fabulous, fun and free Read to the Beat themed activities at your local library this summer. Follow the Jump to links below to find out what's on when or read our handy FAQs.
Boston Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10am - 12noon. Join up and make a summer reading Zine.
- Saturday 25th July, 10am - 12noon. Meet Katie and her giant African Land Snails.
- Wednesday 29th July, 10am - 12noon. Make a percussion frog.
- Wednesday 29th July, 1.30pm - 3pm. Meet local GLL Literary Foundation author Cheryl Diane Parkinson and find out how to write stories and use a story board to create your own time travelling adventure.
- Wednesday 5th August, 10am - 12noon. Create a Symphony of Art.
- Wednesday 12th August, 10am - 12noon. Make Toots and some of the other Summer Reading Challenge animal characters
- Wednesday 19th August, 10am - 12noon. Craft a microphone and stylish glasses and become a K-Pop star
- Wednesday 26th August, 10am - 12noon. Shake it off and make your own drum and shaker
- Friday 28th August, 10am - 12noon and 1pm - 3pm. Drop in to learn to play percussion instruments including Bot Kit drums, the tambourine and cow bells.
- Saturday 19th September, 10am - 12noon. Celebrate the end of the Challenge at our Certificate Ceremony and Tea Party.
You can also join in our Summer Coding Clubs every Thursday from 30th July to 27th August, 3.15pm - 4.15pm - talk to a member of the team to find out more and book your place.
With the exception of Summer Coding Club sessions, there's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Boston Library team on boston.library@gll.org
With the exception of Summer Coding Club sessions, there's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Boston Library team on boston.library@gll.org
Gainsborough Library
- Saturday 4th July, 9am-1pm - Join up and decorate your own Boombox
- Friday 24th July, 10.30am-12pm - Make a Wind Chime
- Friday 31st July, 10.30am-12pm - Children's Workshop delivered by Wrights Way Sport
- Friday 7th August, 10.30am-12pm - Make a musical themed frame with sponge painting
- Monday 10th August 11am-12pm - Storytime and Draw Along with children's author Helen Hancocks
- Friday 14th August, 10.30am-12pm - Make a slinky dog and a colourful snail
- Friday 21st August, 10.30am-12pm - Craft a microphone and stylish glasses and become a K-Pop star
- Friday 28th August,10.30am-12pm - Make a Drum and a Shaker
- Saturday 5th September, 10.30am-12pm - Join us to celebrate the end of the challenge and collect your certificate and gift bag.
There's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Gainsborough Library team on gainsborough.library@gll.org
Grantham Library
- Saturday 4th July, 12noon - 3pm. Sign up and have a go at our 'Spontaneous' and 'Pick up the Mic' games
- Tuesday 28th July, 10am - 11.30am. Create your own Read to the Beat wind chime
- Tuesday 4th August, 10am - 11.30am. Create a Symphony of Art.
- Friday 7th August, 11am - 12noon. Meet author Mary Auld and find out "How to build an Orchestra".
- Tuesday 11th August, 10am to 11.30am. Crew of Critters craft activity
- Wednesday 12th August, 1.30pm to 3pm. Crew of Critters craft activity
- Wednesday 19th August, 1.30pm to 3pm. Craft a microphone and stylish glasses and become a K-Pop star or design your own K-Pop doll
- Tuesday 25th August, 10.00am to 11.30am. Shake it off and make your own drum and shaker
- Saturday 12th September, 12noon - 2.30pm. Celebrate finishing the Challenge and collect your certificate and medal.
There's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Grantham Library team on grantham.library@gll.org
Horncastle Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10am - 12noon. Sign up and join in our treasure hunt.
- Thursday 30th July, 10am - 12noon. Musical sugar craft cupcake decorating.
- Thursday 6th August, 10am - 12noon. Create a Symphony of Art.
- Thursday 13th August, 2pm - 4pm. Crew of Critters Craft Activity.
- Thursday 20th August, 2pm - 4pm. K-Pop Crafting.
- Thursday 27th August, 3pm - 5pm. Make your own Instrument.
- Thursday 10th September, 4:30pm - 6pm Celebrate finishing the Challenge and collect your certificate and medal.
Spaces for activities are limited so please reserve your childs place with the Horncastle Library team by emailing horncastle.library@gll.org
Lincoln Central Library
- Saturday 4th July, 9.00am - 4pm. Join up to the Summer Reading Challenge
- Thursday 30th July, 10.30am - 11.30am. Create and decorate a wind chime for your garden.
- Tuesday 4th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. Meet children's author, Mary Auld, and make musical mice!
- Thursday 6th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. Create beautiful collages out of song sheet music
- Thursday 13th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. Make a dog and snail and meet Pumpkin the dog, raising funds for disabled animals
- Thursday 20th August, 10.30am - 12.00noon. Craft a microphone and stylish glasses ready to have a sing along with a special K-Pop guest!
- Tuesday 25th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. Create your own percussion, fit for a band
- Saturday 19th September, 11am - 12noon. Collect your certificate and medal from one of our GLL literary foundation authors to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Challenge.
There's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Lincoln Central Library team on lincoln.library@gll.org
To find out more, email the Lincoln Central Library team on lincoln.library@gll.org
Long Sutton Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10am - 12noon. Join up and make your own music Zine.
- Tuesday 28th July, 10am - 12noon. Make your own dream catcher..
- Tuesday 4th August, 10am - 12noon.Create a symphony of art.
- Tuesday 11th August, 11am - 12noon. Explore animal sounds with special guests Zoolab. Please note this event is bookable.
- Thursday 14th August, 2pm - 4pm. Create your own crew of critters inspired by the Summer Reading Challenge animal character
- Thursday 17th August, 2pm - 4pm. Join in our K-Pop party
- Tuesday 25th August, 10am - 12noon. Shake it off and make your own drum and shaker
- Monday 7th September, 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Celebrate finishing the Challenge, collect your certificate and medal and make a speaker for your own device
With the exception of the Zoolab event on 11th August, there's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Long Sutton Library team on longsutton.library@gll.org
To find out more, email the Long Sutton Library team on longsutton.library@gll.org
Louth Library
- Saturday 5th July, 10am - 3.00pm. Sign up and make a shaker
- Wednesday 29th July, 10am - 11.30am. The Sound of Science - in the Sound Lab with Ann Dale
- Tuesday 4th August, 10am - 11am - Are you a curious Kid? Become one of Zoolab's Little Explorers into animal sounds
- Wednesday 5th August, 10am - 3pm. Symphony of Art - create a collage using musical mosaic
- Wednesday 12th August, 10am - 3pm - Crew of Critters Crooners - create a band of Summer Reading Characters
- Wednesday 19th August, 10am - 3pm. K-Pop - embrace the culture of infectious melodies and high-energy dance in our art workshop
- Wednesday 26th August, 10am - 3pm - Oom Pah Pah Musical Instrument Workshop - because that's how it goes
- Friday 4th September, 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Celebrate finishing the Challenge and collect your certificate and medal.
Spaces for some activities are limited so reserve your child's place with the Louth Library team by emailing louth.library@gll.org
Mablethorpe Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10am - 12noon. Sign up and make sound at our Makey Makey activities
- Wednesday 29th July, 10.30am - 11.30am. Rhythm and Tunes - music making and body percussion
- Tuesday 4th August, 12.30pm - 1.30pm. Meet some amazing animals and learn about the sounds they make with our special guests Zoolab.
- Thursday 6th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. Create a symphony of art
- Monday 10th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. Help us create a big animal band for the library foyer
- Wednesday 19th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. K-Pop Day! Design an outfit and dress up a paper doll
- Thursday 27th August, 10.30am - 11.30am. Join us to make drums and percussion frogs.
- Thursday 17th September, 4pm - 5pm. Celebrate finishing the challenge and collect your certificate and medal.
Spaces for activities are limited so please reserve your child's place by emailing the Mablethorpe Library team on mablethorpe.library@gll.org
Market Rasen Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10.30am - 12.30pm. Sign up to the Challenge, make your own clay owl with Oxcombe Pottery and enjoy Barmpot Theatres To the Moon and Back show as part of Wolds WordFest.
- Wednesday 29th July, 2pm - 3pm. The Science of Sound workshop with Ann Dale. Learn all about vibration, pitch, tempo and rhythm and make your own spoon maracas.
- Wednesday 5th August, 2pm - 3pm. Create symphony of art picture reusing music manuscripts. We'll also be joined by special guests, local folk music group Da Capo
- Wednesday 12th August, 2pm - 3pm. Create some arty critters inspired by this years Challenge. Special guest Kate Witney will also lead a singing workshop Telling a Story in Sound
- Wednesday 19th August, 2pm - 3pm. Join the Broadbent Youth Theater for Library's Got Talent and get stage ready making your own K-Pop inspired microphone and star glasses
- Tuesday 25th August, 2.30pm - 4.30pm. Make your own instrument, fit for your band
- Wednesday 26th August, 2pm - 3pm. Meet GLL Literary Foundation author and create your own egg box mice orchestra
- Friday 11th September, 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Celebrate finishing the Challenge and collect your medal and certificate.
Spaces for activities are limited so please reserve your childs place with the Market Rasen team by emailing market_rasen.library@gll.org
Skegness Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10am - 12noon. Sign up and check out The Online Music Symphony
- Wednesday 29th July, 10.30am -11.30am. Shake it off with our Shaker Maker Craft
- Tuesday 4th August, 3pm - 4pm. Meet some amazing animals and learn about the sounds they make with our special guests Zoolab.
- Wednesday 5th August, 10.30am-11.30am. Collage and create a symphony of art
- Wednesday 12th August, 10.30am-11.30am. Animal Magic crafting
- Wednesday 19th August, 10.30am-11.30am. K Pop crafting
- Wednesday 26th August, 10.30am-11.30am. Create your own drum
- Saturday 12th September, 10.30am-11.30am. Celebrate finishing the challenge and collect your certificate and medal.
Spaces for activities are limited and booking is essential, so please reserve your childs place with the Skegness Library team by emailing skegness.library@gll.org
Sleaford Library
- Saturday 4th July, 9am - 12pm. Join up and design a Zentangle musical note
- Tuesday 28th July, 2.15pm - 3.15pm & 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Design a cardboard guitar
- Tuesday 4th August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm & 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Create a watercolour masterpiece on sheet music
- Thursday 6th August, 2pm - 3pm. Meet GLL Literary Foundation children's author, Mary Auld.
- Tuesday 11th August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm & 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Make one of the Summer Reading Challenge animal characters
- Tuesday 18th August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm & 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Make your own K-Pop kit
- Tuesday 25th August, 2.15pm - 3.15pm & 3.30pm - 4.30pm. Create your own drum, fit for a band
- Saturday 12th September, 9am -12.30pm. Celebration Event - Drop in Certificate Ceremony with special guests The BFCH Clansband Drummers workshop from 11.30am-12.20pm
Spaces for activities are limited so please reserve your childs place with the Sleaford Library team by emailing sleaford.library@gll.org
Spalding Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10am - 12noon. Summer Reading Challenge launch with activities and games for all the family
- Thursday 30th July, 10am - 2pm. Summer Fayre day with collage making and fun activities
- Thursday 6th August, 10am - 2pm. Symphony of Music, make an arty music picture and a castanet
- Tuesday 11th August, 2pm - 3pm. Meet some amazing animals and learn about the sounds they make with our special guests Zoolab. Please note that booking is essential for this event
- Thursday 13th August, 10am - 2pm. Make a concertina dog and snazzy snail
- Thursday 20th August, 10am - 2pm. K-Pop day, make a microphone and a pair of superstar glasses
- Thursday 27th August, 10am - 2pm. Musical Day, make a drum and a shaker
- Saturday 19th September, 10am - 12noon. Join us for a tea party to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Challenge
With the exception of the Zoolab event on the 11th August, there's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Spalding Library team on spalding.library@gll.org
Stamford Library
- Saturday 4th July. 10am - 3pm. Join up and decorate a musical note
- Tuesday 28th July. 10am - 11.30am. Make your own Penelope Pigeon fancy dress headband and beak.
- Thursday 30th July, 11am - 12noon. Explore animal sounds with our special guests Zoolab - please book with the team for this event
- Tuesday 4th August. 10am - 11.30am. Make your own Artwork using our old music sheets.
- Tuesday 11th August. 10am - 11.30am. Make your own Toots The Slimy Snail.
- Tuesday 18th August. 10.00 - 11.30am. Make a glittery microphone and star glasses and become a K-Pop star!
- Tuesday 25th August. 10.00am - 11.30am. Make a drum and beat it!
- Saturday 12th September. 2pm - 3.30pm. Celebrate finishing the challenge and collect your certificate and medal.
With the exception of the Zoolab event on the 30th July, there's no need to book, just drop in and join in the fun.
To find out more, email the Stamford Library team on stamford.library@gll.org
Woodhall Spa Library
- Saturday 4th July, 10am - 12noon. Sign up and get creative with your castanets!
- Tuesday 28th July, 2pm- 3.30pm. Listen to the Beat - make your own speaker
- Tuesday 4th August, 2pm - 3.30pm. Create a Symphony of Art
- Tuesday 11th August, 2pm - 3.30pm. Make a Crew of Critters - Create a musical mouse, slimy snail and springy spaniel!
- Tuesday 18th August, 2pm - 3.30pm. K-Pop Week - Make a K-Pop inspired microphone and glamorous glasses!
- Tuesday 25th August, 2pm - 3.30pm. Instrument Week - Decorate a drum and maker a shaker!
- Tuesday 8th September, 3.45pm - 4.30pm. Celebrate finishing the challenge and collect your certificate and medal.
Spaces for activities are limited so please reserve your childs place with the Woodhall Spa Library team by emailing Woodhall_Spa.library@gll.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can take part?
The Summer Reading Challenge is open to children ages 4-11 and encourages them to continue reading throughout the summer holidays.
The Mini Challenge is open to children aged 3 years and younger.
Where can I take part?
You can take part in the Summer Reading Challenge at any of our core libraries in, Boston, Bourne, Gainsborough, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln, Long Sutton, Louth, Mablethorpe, Market Rasen, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding, Stamford and Woodhall Spa.
Some of the Community Hubs in Lincolnshire also run the Challenge, so if you can't get to a core library, you can also join in at the following Hubs: Alford, Bracebridge Heath, Branston, Burgh le Marsh, Cherry Willingham, Crowland, Deepings, Donington, Holbeach, North Hykeham, Pinchbeck, Ruskington, Scotter, Spilsby, Swineshead, Waddington and Welton.. Please note that prizes may differ from those listed for core libraries, contact the Community Hubs direct for more details.
Some of the Community Hubs in Lincolnshire also run the Challenge, so if you can't get to a core library, you can also join in at the following Hubs: Alford, Bracebridge Heath, Branston, Burgh le Marsh, Cherry Willingham, Crowland, Deepings, Donington, Holbeach, North Hykeham, Pinchbeck, Ruskington, Scotter, Spilsby, Swineshead, Waddington and Welton.. Please note that prizes may differ from those listed for core libraries, contact the Community Hubs direct for more details.
How many books do I have to read?
When you sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library you'll choose your reading goal. We recommend reading (or sharing, for younger ones) 6 books or more throughout the summer.
You can choose which books you read but ideally, you'll read books from the library. They can be physical books, eBooks and audio books, they all count. However, if you already own a book that would be appropriate for the Challenge you can read that as well.
You can choose which books you read but ideally, you'll read books from the library. They can be physical books, eBooks and audio books, they all count. However, if you already own a book that would be appropriate for the Challenge you can read that as well.
What are the prizes for completing the challenge?
For every 2 books you read you'll receive a set of stickers for your collectors folder and a prize.
- for 2 books you'll receive a Read to the Beat bookmark
- for 4 books a surprise musical gift!
- and for 6 books you'll receive a certificate and your very own medal!
