Summer Reading Challenge

Every year Northamptonshire Libraries deliver the Summer Reading Challenge for 4 to 11 year-olds.

The Summer Reading Challenge 2023 launches on 8 July.

‘Ready, Set, Read!’ has been developed in partnership with national children's charity the Youth Sport Trust and is focused on reading, sport and play.

The aim is to keep children's minds and bodies active over the summer break, empowering young people to forge new connections with others and unleash the power of play, sport and physical activity through reading.

From 8 July to 9 September, by taking part in the free Challenge, children will be able to join a superstar team and their marvellous mascots as they navigate a fictional summer obstacle course brought to life with illustrations by children's illustrator Loretta Schauer. They’ll also be rewarded with free incentives including stickers!

Learn more about the Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge has been running since 1999 and helps to prevent the summer reading 'dip' that many young people experience during their summer holidays while schools are closed.

With the help of local libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge is accessible to all and provides a fun, free activity for children. In 2022, the Summer Reading Challenge reached 723,184 children and families across the UK, with 608,015 children taking part through their local library service, a 31% increase compared to 2021.

The Challenge also drove 132,223 new children's library memberships which is 40% higher than the 2019 pre-pandemic total.

Last updated 19 June 2023