Read to the Beat: Audiobook Adventures for the Summer Reading Challenge
Since I was sixteen, I have worked part-time in my local libraries, singing to children, advising young adults on the best book series to sink their teeth into, and, every summer, handing out The Reading Agency’s magical little booklets for the Summer Reading Challenge.
The Summer Reading Challenge is a free annual initiative in partnership with libraries across the UK that encourages children to keep reading throughout their summer holidays. The scheme is aimed at primary schoolers, though there are also mini booklets for nursery-age children. Each child sets a goal for how many library books, e-books or audiobooks they want to finish over the summer and win prizes to add to their collector’s folder along the way. There are digital prizes to win, too, and a wealth of at-home resources online for parents to use to entertain the family.
The scheme started in 1999, but every year the shiny stickers and mini prizes and characters created for the year’s theme feel fresh and exciting. This year’s theme, Read to the Beat, illustrated by Harry Woodgate, celebrates the connection between stories, music and creativity.
Audiobooks, then, are especially thematic this year. There are a wealth of on-theme titles available on Libby, accessible here, and our catalogue at Listening Books includes:
- Lil Muffin Drops the Mic – Romesh Ranganathan
- Skylar and the K-pop Headteacher – Luan Goldie
- Running My Own Race – Abena Eyeson
- The Color of Sound – Emily Barth Isler
- Rock War – Robert Muchamore (#1 in series)
- Boot Camp – Robert Muchamore (#2 in series)
- Gone Wild – Robert Muchamore (#3 in series)
- Rockstar Detectives – Adam Hills (#1 in series)
- Rockstar Detectives: Murder at the Movies – Adam Hills (#2 in series)
- The Chance to Fly – Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz
- Ellie Pillai is Brown – Christine Pillainayagam
- Echo – Pam Munoz Ryan
- Rise Up – Stormzy
- Steady for This – Nathanael Lessore
- I Was Born for This – Alice Oseman
Audiobooks are a wonderful option for the busyness of summer; children can listen during the travel days or while relaxing on holiday; while drawing or crafting or brushing their teeth before bed. Furthermore, audiobooks help children with print disabilities, dyslexia or other barriers to reading to participate. As well as a general love of reading, the scheme aims to encourage literacy development, and listening to stories particularly helps children to broaden their vocabulary and comprehension.
Ready to take on the Summer Reading Challenge? Get started by:
- Signing up to your local library or Listening Books.
- Setting a reading goal.
- Browsing the Listening Books collection on Libby here or the website
- Choosing your first audiobook and borrowing it.
- Enjoying a summer full of stories.
There is still plenty of time to join this year’s scheme. Explore our specially curated Libby collection and discover your next audiobook adventure!
Blog written by volunteer Aimee Ross.
