West Sussex Library Service’s popular Summer Reading Challenge is back.
This year’s theme is Read to the Beat, a celebration of reading and music. This national initiative is provided by The Reading Agency and developed in partnership with Universal Music Group UK for 2026. Brought to life by award-winning illustrator, Harry Woodgate, Read to the Beat encourages children to explore the link between storytelling and sound.
Pre-registration is open from Monday 15 June and the Summer Reading Challenge starts in your local West Sussex library on Saturday 4 July, running until Saturday 12 September. It’s free for families to take part and a great way to encourage reading for pleasure during the long summer holiday. Children can also become library members for free or refresh their library card if it’s their first visit for a while.
Once registered online for the Challenge at libraries.westsussex.gov.uk/src, children receive a special code word. They then reveal this to staff at their local library to get a Read to the Beat sticker booklet and bespoke Summer Reading Challenge edition of Storytime magazine. The main Challenge is aimed at children aged 4-11 years, whilst under-4s can take part in the Mini Challenge.
Children taking part in the Challenge will have access to a wide range of books -including stories, comic books, audiobooks, information books about many topics, and not forgetting downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks! They will have all summer to enjoy books and achieve personalised reading goals, returning to the library several times to discuss the books they have been reading with Summer Reading Challenge Volunteers, collecting stickers and other exciting rewards along the way.
There are fun activities in libraries throughout the summer too, including a Character Hunt with a prize draw, and events which tie ‘books and beats’ together. Children who finish the Challenge by Saturday 12 September will be rewarded with a Read to the Beat certificate and medal! Even our youngest readers will receive a certificate and gold medal sticker.
Grown-ups may also like to pick up a few books for themselves on their family visit to the library. Research shows that children enjoy reading and improve their skills when adults around them read too. If you are looking for book inspiration, browse libraries.westsussex.gov.uk/reading to find your next great read.
With 2026 being the National Year of Reading, families are encouraged to ‘Go All In’ on whatever excites and interests them. Sing from the rooftops – it’s nearly Summer Reading Challenge time!
