Summer Reading Challenge - Print version

Coming Soon: 2026 Summer Reading Challenge – Read to the Beat

Coventry Libraries are excited to launch the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, a free and fun programme for children aged 0 to 11. Each year, children are invited to sign up and enjoy reading up to 6 books over the summer holidays.

About the challenge

This year’s theme, Read to the Beat, celebrates music, sound, poetry and storytelling. It encourages children to explore their creativity, use their imagination, and express themselves through reading and playful activities inspired by rhythm and sound.

How to take part

From Saturday 4 July, children can visit any Coventry Library to:

• collect their free Summer Reading Challenge booklet
• start gathering stickers as they read and complete their challenge

Children can return to the library twice more over the summer to collect additional stickers and track their progress. The challenge is designed to be inclusive and children don’t need to be confident readers to take part. Parents and carers can share books with younger children (including those aged 4 and under) to help them join in and collect stickers.

What can children read?

Coventry Libraries offer a wide range of books for all interests and abilities, including:

• picture books
• early reader titles
• comic-style books
• books on hobbies such as sports and crafts

Rewards and prizes

Children who complete the challenge will receive a small reward and will also be entered into a library prize draw.

Learn more

Find out more about Read to the Beat by watching the official introduction from The Reading Agency .

Get creative

As part of the challenge, why not create your own poem or rap and send to your local library? For inspiration, check out a special poem written by Coventry’s Young Poet Laureate, Diamond Kayode-Osunlana.

Can you hear that?

Something is starting

It’s been alive for a while now

But it’s only just stirring, waking up

I’m saying, we’ve been passed the torch

Don’t put up a fight

It’s our birth right

And it’s essential, no indispensable

That we fan the flame, keep it alight

Because sometimes,

A flame is all you can see 

In the dark of the night 

This light guide and reminds us

Of ages past, who we were

This light revels and tells us

Of future stories, of everything we will be

This light of creativity is no mystery

This age of originality is a democracy

Everyone has a voice 

So let your sound be loud and heard all around

Because it’s shaping history 

You can hold the world in your hands

If you give yourself the chance

I mean, you could dance with pirouettes and leaps

Like in ballet

You could sit at the piano playing keys

Like Tchaikovsky 

You could paint a portal to another place Like Monet

You could write about life,

Look it in the face

Like Dostoyevsky 

You could even sing like Beyoncé

With riffs and harmonies and melodies and-

Can you hear that?

Because it’s closer than you think.

Listen to the sound of the new age

As you read the words on your page.

Read to the Beat book collection

Read to the Beat book collection coming soon