Summer Reading Challenge - Print version

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

For younger readers (ages 4 to 7) 

• The Very Noisy House  – Sally Nicholls, illustrated by Gosia Herba
• Music of the Mountains  – Sabrina Shah, illustrated by Manal Mirza
• The Missing Piece  – Jordan Stephens, illustrated by Beth Suzanna
• Busy Little Fingers: Music [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/27746105] – Eva Wong Nava, illustrated by Eleonora Marton 
• Some Bears [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/27921998] – Christian Foley, illustrated by Rob Turner
• Tree Whispers  – Mandy Ross, illustrated by Juliana Oakley
• My Little Drummer  – Sian Radford, illustrated by Gwen Millward
• Bhangra Boogie  – Hena Khan, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
• 1, 2, 3, Do the Unicorn  – Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
• ABC of Opera: Romantic [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/29575940] – Mark Llewelyn Evans, illustrated by Karl Davies 
• Listening to the Quiet  – Cassie Silva, illustrated by Frances Ives
• The Life-Changing Magic of Drumming  – Nandi Bushell, illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier
• The Elephant and the Piano  – Colette Hiller, illustrated by Nabila Adani
• Songs in the Shade of the Cherry Tree  – Nathalie Soussana, illustrated by QU Lan
• The Piano [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/27078909] – Joaquin Camp
• The Rock Family Band  – Robert Tregoning, illustrated by Laura Brenlla
• The Twirly Wiggly Dance  – Farrah Riaz, illustrated by Navya Raju
• Little Sheku and the Animal Orchestra  – Sheku Kanneh-Mason, illustrated by Rekha Salin
• The Wonder  – Tom Percival
• But Dancing is for Girls!  – Gyasi Sheppy, illustrated by Ola Snimshchikova
• Coorie Doon  – Jackie Kay, illustrated by Jill Calder
• Skipping to Sammy’s Beat  – Coral Vass, illustrated by Blithe Fielden
• Marching Band  – Kael Tudor, illustrated by Kate Hindley
• Meet the Mubbles  – Liz Pichon
• Carnival Queen  – Donette Williams-Harry, illustrated by Amélie-Anne Calmo
• All the Wonderful Ways to Move  – Laura Baker, illustrated by Sandra de la Prada
• Doggy Dance Off  – Steve Smallman, illustrated by Robert Starling
• Put Your Records On  – Corinne Bailey Rae, illustrated by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara
• The Big Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/30107611] – Giles Andreae, illustrated by Nick East
• The Paper Piano  – Rachel Ip, illustrated by Natelle Quek

For older readers (ages 8 to 11) 

• I Tell Myself I’m Awesome  – Joshua Seigal, illustrated by Chris Piascik
• Raising the Roof  – Jack Pepper, illustrated by Michele Bruttomesso 
• Girl on the Fly  – Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl
• Be More Olivia Rodrigo
• Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music
• The Color of Sound  [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/30055797]– Emily Barth Isler
• Hari Kumar: Ultimate Superstar  – Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Mamta Singh
• Melody Queen  – Puneet Bhandal
• Glory Days in New Orleans!  – Bïa, illustrated by Fanny Berthiaume
• Gordon Starts a Band  – Alex Latimer
• Isadora Moon and the Pop Stars  – Harriet Muncaster
• Space Band  – Tom Fletcher
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde  – Jeff Kinney
• Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic  – Romesh Ranganathan, illustrated by James Lancett
• Happy Hills: Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/27036186] – Sophy Henn
• The Adventures of Rap Kid  – MC Grammar 
• The Magic Piano: Dahlia and the Land Without Music  – James B Partridge, illustrated by Laura Wood
• Skylar and the K-Pop Head Teacher [https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/book/26973738] – Luan Goldie
• You VS the Poison Plot  – Josh Hicks
• My School Musical and Other Punishments  – Catherine Wilkins, illustrated by Katie Abey
• Running My Own Race  – Abena Eyeson
• Hunt for the Golden Scarab  – M. G. Leonard, illustrated by Manuel Sumberac
• The Piano at the Station – Helen Rutter, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
• Kofi and the Brand New Vibe  – Jeffrey Boakye
• How to Build an Orchestra  – Mary Auld, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli