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Summer Reading Challenge at Wandsworth Libraries

Join the Summer Reading Challenge at your nearest Wandsworth Library for a summer of creative fun with the Marvellous Makers.

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This year's challenge
Reading Recommendations
What's on this summer
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What's this year's challenge?

Join the Summer Reading Challenge 2026 Read to the Beat, starting on 4th July 2026!

Get ready to move to the rhythm of reading as you join a celebration of stories inspired by music, sound, and creativity. Throughout the summer, children will be invited to explore exciting books, collect stickers, and complete challenges as they follow a fun, music-themed reading journey.

Your mission is to read six books all summer long, unlock clues through your reading, and build your own “beat” of stories along the way. As you progress, you’ll collect rewards and help bring the challenge to life through creative activities and library fun.

To help you get started, you’ll receive a special collection pack to log your reading, gather stickers, and track your progress throughout the challenge. 

Discover the Read to the Beat collection

From picture books that ignite their imaginations to stories that will take them on an adventure, browse titles from the Read to the Beat collection below.

Maddy Yip's guide to life

Cheung, Sue, author, illustrator.

Call me lion

Chester, Camilla, author.

Music and how it works: the complete guide for kids

Morland, Charlie, author.

The piano at the station

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

Little house

Balen, Katya, author.

Pop art

Dufresne, Emilie, author.

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger: Toxic Takedown

Falafel, Olaf, author.

The wondrous Prune

Clements, Ellie, author.

Trixie Pickle, Art Avenger

Falafel, Olaf, author, illustrator.

The four curses

Garnish, Jodie, author.

Marvin and the book of magic

Pearson, Jenny, 1981- author.

Nina Peanut is amazing

Bowie, Sarah, author, illustrator.

The secret hen house theatre

Peters, Helen.

Starlet Rivals

Bhandal, Puneet, author.

The book that no one wanted to read

Ayoade, Richard, 1977- author.

How I feel: 40 wellbeing activities for kids

Goddard-Hill, Becky, author.

Clementine Florentine

Harrison, Tasha, author.

I am the wind: Irish poems for children everywhere

How to get involved

Sign up at your local Wandsworth library and you'll receive a Read to the Beat sticker booklet to start the challenge. It's Free!

Borrow some books from the library to get started with your reading challenge, and unlock clues, and build your own “beat” of stories along the way 
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 unlock clues, and build your own “beat” of stories along the way.

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. Early intervention with books gives children a head start over their peers when starting school, so the Challenge helps encourage this by rewarding their book sharing with stickers to go in a collector’s folder.
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. 
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 an origami pack, 
  • For 4 books a pop badge, 
  • and for 6 books you'll receive a medal!
Do I get a certificate?
Children who attend school in Wandsworth will receive a certificate at a special assembly at school in September. If your children don't attend school in Wandsworth or are home schooled, they will receive their certificate when they complete the challenge.
What are the prizes do I get for the mini challenge
Mini challenge children will receive a special mini-challenge booklet to take home. When you've read each book you'll receive a sticker for every 1 book read up to 6 stickers. When you read your sixth book you'll get a special shiny gold sticker!

Join the challenge at a Wandsworth library near you

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