Read to the Beat with the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge!

A brand-new harmony of books and beats is coming to Derby Libraries this summer for the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge – ‘Read to the Beat’! The annual challenge is delivered by the Reading Agency and public libraries, and it’s completely free to take part.

This year – which is the National Year of Reading – it will be in partnership with Universal Music Group UK, celebrating the joy of music and the power it has to move, inspire, and connect us – all through the magic of reading.  Read to the Beat is brought to life with illustrations by award-winning author and illustrator, Harry Woodgate.

The challenge kicks off on Sat 4 Jul and runs until Sat 29 Aug. To complete it, children are challenged to read six library books of their choice over the holidays. Whether they prefer fiction, fact books, joke books, picture books, audiobooks, or eBooks, everything counts – as long as it is borrowed from the library.

Children can sign up for the Challenge by popping into their local library. The only requirement is that you’re a library member but don’t worry if you haven’t joined yet! It’s easy to join when you come to the library – and completely free.

While the Summer Reading Challenge is primarily aimed at children aged four to 11, older and younger siblings are welcome to participate.

As well as taking part in the challenge, children and their families can enjoy free events across Derby Libraries from Mon 27 Jul. These interactive sessions are specially designed to bring the ‘Read to the Beat’ theme to life, blending the magic of storytelling with the energy of music, hands-on art, creative poetry, and rhythm-based play – perfect for parents looking to keep their children inspired and entertained throughout the holidays.

Councillor Sarah Chambers, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Public Safety, said:

We’re thrilled to launch this year’s Summer Reading Challenge in our libraries. Music and reading both have an incredible power to spark imagination, making ‘Read to the Beat’ incredibly exciting – especially during the National Year of Reading.

While the school holidays are a time for fun, this free challenge is a fantastic way for families to keep kids inspired and confident, helping them maintain their reading skills through the joy of books. With brilliant free events happening right across the city, I encourage every family in Derby to pop into their local library, sign up for free, and discover the magic waiting for them.

Whilst the school summer holidays are a well-deserved break for children, their reading can 'dip' if they do not have regular access to books and encouragement to read for pleasure.

The Summer Reading Challenge helps children maintain their reading skills by:

  • Encouraging reading for pleasure; this is one of the most important contributory factors in a child’s reading ability
  • Offering them a wide range of stories and fact books to read.  This has a positive impact on a child’s reading ability, range and motivation
  • Boosting their confidence with reading which leads to a more positive attitude towards reading and learning.

Evidence shows that children who enjoy reading are likely to score highly on reading assessments and those who use libraries are twice as likely to be above average readers.

Details of Derby’s Summer Reading Challenge events  are available on the Derby Libraries website. All events are free but places are limited and booking ahead through your local library is essential. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

There are more reading ideas and fun themed activities available on the Summer Reading Challenge website.