Summer Reading Challenge 2026

Can you complete the 6 reading challenges including borrow and read  books before 13th September?  If you complete the challenge, you’ll be awarded a special winner’s medal and certificate. You will then automatically be  and be entered into a prize draw to  attend our winner’s event in October and other goodies. 

How does it work?

1. Visit your local library will your library card (you can join for free) and ask to join the Summer Reading Challenge
2. You will be given your special collector card to  log your reading challenges
3. Borrow and read library books. They can be any book you like; stories or fact books, poetry, audiobooks or graphic novels – any book counts!
4. Let library staff know when you have completed your reading challenges and you will be awarded a winner’s medal and certificate in the library
5. If you’re in a Bolton primary school, please let us know which school you attend.  Each pupil that signs up the reading challenge will help their school win the Summer Reading Challenge School’s Competition. The school with the most sign ups (pro rata to school population) will win the Summer Reading Challenge School’s Trophy and a special assembly for the winners.

Summer Activities

Libraries have lots of free activities for you to enjoy during the summer holidays too.  Many will be linked to the read to the Beat theme and advertised on our social media channels.

Summer Reading Challenge Launch Event 

Saturday 18th July 11-3pm, Free

Join us for a day full of music themed storytimes and activities to kick off this year's Summer Reading Challenge.

Summer Stories

Weekly story sessions with our staff. Join in at one of our libraries every week this summer (from 21 July to 30 August)

• Monday - Westhoughton Library, 10.30am 
• Tuesday - Breightmet Library and Little Lever Library, 10.30am
• Thursday - Blackrod Library, 10.30am High Street Library, 12.00pm Harwood Library, 2.30pm, Bromley Cross - 2:30pm
• Friday Horwich Library and Farnworth Library -  10.30am Saturday: Central Library, 2pm (excluding Sat 29th Aug)

Dommy B - The Dinosaurs are Back

A one man adventure with poetry, rap and dance... and lots of dinosaurs!

• Westhoughton Library - Monday 20th July - 10:30am
• Little Lever Library - Tuesday 28th July - 10:30am
• Horwich Library - Friday 7th August - 10:30am
• All sessions are FREE to attend so no need to book!

Mini Challenge 0-3 year old

Children aged 0-3 can also get involved too with their very own Mini Challenge. Ask at your local library or next time you’re at storytime.

What can I read?

You can read any library book you choose.  You can also read digital eBooks and eAudiobooks using our free BorrowBox app. If you read books on Borrowbox, please ask the library for your collector card. Also, let us know when you finish the challenge.

You can join online too

If you can’t make it into a library, you can join online instead on the Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge website. Remember to enter 'Bolton' when asked for more information.

Book review competition

Why not tell us about a book that you’ve really enjoyed?  You can either write or draw about the book. Winners will each scoop a prize of a bag full of books!

Pick up a form at your local library. All entries must be sent to local libraries or emailed to  askboltonlibraries@bolton.gov.uk by Sunday 13th September 2026. Winners will be announced on Monday 21st September via Bolton Library and Museum social media pages and winners will be contacted directly.

Why is reading for pleasure important?

The "summer slide" happens when kids forget some skills and knowledge from school. This is because they don't practice during the summer. This can make it harder for them to catch up when school starts again. Reading in summer keeps brains active and boosts reading skills, which helps prevent this.

Right now, 1 out of every 5 children in England can't read well by the time they are 11 years old. But reading for fun can help children get better at reading and is so important for doing well at school.

Reading for pleasure boosts empathy and kindness. It helps people feel better about themselves and raises self-esteem. Plus, it makes coping with tough situations easier.

Read to the Beat is produced by the Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with public libraries.

Closing date is Sunday 14th September 2026