Children across Caerphilly County Borough are being encouraged to discover the joy of reading this summer as Caerphilly Library Service launches the Summer Reading Challenge 2026.
Children across Caerphilly County Borough are being encouraged to discover the joy of reading this summer as Caerphilly Library Service launches the Summer Reading Challenge 2026.
Running until Saturday 12 September, this year’s challenge, Read to the Beat, celebrates the power of stories and music, inspiring children to enjoy reading throughout the school summer holidays.
Delivered by The Reading Agency through public libraries across the UK, the Summer Reading Challenge helps children maintain and develop their reading skills over the long break from school, while building confidence and encouraging a lifelong love of reading.
Children taking part are challenged to read six books over the summer to complete the challenge. Along the way, they will receive a range of rewards, before earning a medal and certificate on completion.
Councillor Carol Andrews, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Communities and Transformation, said…
“Caerphilly Library Service is running the Summer Reading Challenge again in 2026. The theme for this year is Read to the Beat.
The popular reading challenge encourages reading for pleasure over the summer holidays, building reading skills and confidence and helping to prevent the ‘dip’ in reading skills while children are out of school.”
There are also plenty of opportunities for participants to win prizes. Every Caerphilly library will hold its own prize draw, with the winner receiving a kitbag containing a £10 Amazon voucher and a book. Everyone who completes the challenge will also be entered into a borough-wide grand prize draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher.
Throughout the summer holidays, libraries across the county borough will also host a range of family-friendly activities and events linked to the Summer Reading Challenge. Full details will be announced by individual libraries once programmes have been confirmed.
This year’s Read to the Beat theme invites children to turn up the volume on reading with a fantastic collection of books inspired by music from around the world. From stories and poetry to graphic novels and non-fiction, there is something to suit every reading level—and every book can be borrowed free of charge from local libraries.
As part of the National Year of Reading – Go All In (HERE), families are being encouraged to make reading part of their summer adventures by signing up for the challenge at their local Caerphilly library.
For more information about the Summer Reading Challenge, go HEREÂ or speak to staff at your local library.
