The annual Summer Reading Challenge is back which means that children and their families have the chance to get involved in this hugely popular event to encourage children to keep reading during the summer holidays.
Launching today, 1 July, as part of a series of three events across the week, more than a hundred eager Year 1 and 2 pupils at Wythenshawe Forum Library enjoyed a football-themed reading activity - Footy Fairy tales - to coincide with the World Cup. With live music, super songs and fabulous characters, this engaging storytelling show combined the excitement of the football stadium with the magic of a good story, to prove once and for all that the beautiful game has something for everyone.
And “Read to the Beat” the overarching theme for the Summer Reading Challenge this year is all about connecting reading with music, rhythm and creativity.
This popular book challenge has run in Manchester Libraries for more than 20 years and encourages children aged 4 -12 years to keep reading during the summer holidays helping to activate their imaginations and prevent the dip in literacy over the long summer holidays.
This year Manchester Libraries will be promoting the challenge to schools across the city to encourage pupils to sign up and visit their local library to borrow books and complete the challenge, helping children feel ready to return to school in September as well as supporting Year 6 pupils as they prepare for high school.
To date the programme has been a great success and there are high hopes that the numbers signing up this year will surpass 2025's challenge, which saw 4,079 children join the challenge, with 1,995 reading six or more books.
Children are encouraged to discover the joy of reading as a fun activity. They collect stickers and rewards along the way and can take part in a range of activities and events throughout the summer to bring reading to life with book review and drawing competitions, lucky draw giveaways including goody bags and for the overall winner of the Challenge a £100 voucher.
The Summer Reading challenge runs from 1 July to 12 September and is free to take part in at all Manchester libraries. It launches as the city celebrates being officially recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City, reinforcing Manchester's commitment to ensuring every child has the chance to thrive and enjoy their local community. Families, carers and teachers are encouraged to visit their local library, explore the programme of events, and sign children up to take part.
Taking part is easy, families, carers and teachers are encouraged to visit their local library, explore the programme of events, and sign children up to take part in the challenge. Children are encouraged to set their own reading goals, with Manchester Libraries recommending reading four or more library books. Any child who reads four books will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a prize. The challenge also includes digital and e-audio books available through the free BorrowBox app. Find more information at Summer Reading Challenge 2026 Summer Reading Challenge 2026.
Councillor Shazia Butt, Executive Member for Culture, Libraries and Leisure said:
"The Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic way to keep children engaged, learning and having fun throughout the holidays. By encouraging reading for pleasure, we’re helping young people across Manchester build confidence, develop vital skills and get ready for the next stage of their education. And remember children the choice is yours - read whatever book that you want to, it's all about reading for pleasure. We are hoping for even greater numbers joining the challenge as we have expanded our work with schools as part of wider education recovery efforts."