Summer Reading Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge is here to keep you reading throughout your summer holidays. Whether you’re chilling at home, travelling by plane or car or relaxing by the sea or pool, there are plenty of brilliant books to keep you entertained.

The challenge is aimed at primary school-aged children and it’s run by The Reading Agency. The challenge launched in Scottish libraries on Saturday 24 June and will launch in English and Welsh libraries on Saturday 8 July.

Ready, Set, Read!

This year The Reading Agency has partnered the Youth Sport Trust for ‘Ready, Set, Read’. This is a sports and games-themed challenge that aims to keep minds and bodies active over the summer holidays.

How Does it Work?

You can sign up for the free Summer Reading Challenge by visiting your local library. (Top tip – check out the Library Zone at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/library-zone to nd your local one.)

Staff or volunteers at the library will give you a special collector folder. Then you set a reading goal and borrow books of your choice to read during the summer, collecting stickers and rewards as you go. Some libraries will also be holding themed activities that you can get involved in.

Your goal can be to read as many books as you like and you can choose whatever ones interest you. That means fact, ction, poetry, graphic novels and joke books are all included. Even ebooks and audiobooks count!

Read your chosen books wherever or whenever you like. As you work through the challenge, you’ll help the ctional superstar team (and their marvellous mascots) weave their way through a summer obstacle course. Once you meet your reading goal and complete the challenge you’ll receive a certi cate or a medal.

If your library isn’t running the challenge, you can also take part online. Ask your parents or carers to sign up for free at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

What To Read?

If you’re not sure what you want to read, try asking library staff and volunteers for help discovering new books.

On the Summer Reading Challenge website, you can also check out the Ready, Set, Read Book Collection. This is a selection of books chosen by an expert group of readers especially for this challenge. It’s a great place to look for book recommendations. Here are some of the suggested reads.

Move Like a Lion (Radzi Chinyanganya)

Call the Puffins (Cath Howe)

The Adventures of Team Pom: Squid Happens (Isabel Roxas)

Fall Off, Get Back On, Keep Going: 10 Ways to be at the Top of Your Game (Clare Balding)

The Amazing Edie Eckhart: The Big Trip (Rosie Jones)

A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy (David Solomons)

Last Girl In: Kerry-Ann Fights to Stay in the Game (Cheryl Diane Parkinson)

Book Sorter

If we haven’t mentioned something you like the look of there’s also a Book Sorter tool on the Summer Reading Challenge website. You add the type of books you’re interested in and it suggests some books you might enjoy. Check it out here, summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book-sorter

Whatever books you choose, have a fantastic summer of reading!