For families

In partnership with The Reading Agency, Hertfordshire Libraries are proud to present this year’s Summer Reading Challenge: Read to the Beat.

The challenge aims to keep children reading throughout the summer holidays and rewards them for reading for pleasure. Your children can sign up for FREE at any Hertfordshire Library from 4 July 2026. The Challenge finishes on Saturday 5 September 2026 (or Sunday 6 September if your local branch is open). 

Children are encouraged to read any 6 library books over the summer holidays. This could include listening to an e-audiobook, reading independently, or reading with parents or carers – any reading is good reading in our book! 

There are also some reading and library related challenges as part of Read to the Beat. These challenges are listed in the packs that children receive when they sign up for the challenge and children can complete them to earn reward stickers if they choose to.

For schools and teachers

The Summer Reading Challenge, presented by The Reading Agency and funded by Arts Council England, is the country’s largest campaign designed to encourage primary-aged children to read for pleasure.

Presented in partnership with public libraries, each summer over 700,000 children across the country take part in this fun and free programme which helps keep children reading over the long summer break and ward off the dip in literacy levels that can result from the time out of the classroom.

Visit The Reading Agency website for more information.