The summer of sport has made its way into the county’s libraries, because this year’s Summer Reading Challenge takes sports and games as its theme under the title Ready, Set, Read!

The challenge is open to children aged four to 11, and the task is to read six library books during the summer holidays, collecting prizes along the way, and a medal and certificate when they complete the challenge.

But that’s just the start. Libraries across the county are helping families to keep their children entertained during the summer break with dozens of events linked to the challenge, in addition to their regular activities.

We highlight a few of them here, but pop into your local library to find out what’s on and get involved.

Events are free unless stated, but places are limited, so make sure you book a place with your library in advance.

At Malton, free activities include digitally themed games and activities at 2pm on Friday, 4 August; Tom Palmer’s football reading game at 11am on Friday, 11 August; and illustrator Liz Million showing how to draw Human Beans at 2pm on Tuesday, 22 August.

Activities at Pickering include crafting with Serena Partridge at 10.30am on Thursday, 3 August, and at 1.30pm on the same day at Norton Hive there are digitally themed games and activities. Events will also take place at Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside during the holidays, so contact the libraries for details.

Serena Partridge will also host a crafting session at 2pm on Thursday, 3 August, followed by a chance to meet author Tom Palmer on Friday, August 11, at 2pm. That event costs £1.

Activities at Filey library include indoor retro board games on Wednesday, 2 August, for £1, with drawing “human beans” with Liz Million later in the month, at 10.30am on Tuesday, August 22, as well as other events during the month.

Have a ball at Harrogate library on Tuesday, 8 August, at 2pm. Choose a ball to take home after you have given it a full workout on a range of fun challenges. This costs £2. On Friday, 11 August, at 10am and 2pm there will be a Pop-Up Cinema screening of a family film.

Knaresborough library offers junk modelling on Tuesday, 1 August, at 10.30am, a Lego session on Thursday, 9 August, at 10am, games on Thursday, 24 August, at 2.30pm and more.

Among the events at Richmond library are a puppet show at 2.30pm on Tuesday, August 15, and a detective mystery event with author Gabriella Gordon on Saturday, August 19, at 2pm.

Catterick library explores a day in the life of an astronaut with author Mike Barfield on Thursday, 24 August, at 2pm.

Among other events, Selby library offers the Summer Reading Pop-up Book Club at 10.30am on the Tuesday 1, 15 and 29 August.

Skipton library encourages people to get active and celebrate Yorkshire Day and reading on Tuesday, 1 August, at 4pm with Olympic gold medallist and author Danielle Brown. On Tuesday, August 8, from 4pm to 5pm, it will host a drawing and storytelling workshop with Summer Reading Challenge artist Loretta Schauer. Tickets cost £3.

South Craven Community Library, Crosshills, hosts a reading challenge sign-up with sports and games from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday, August 2. On the same day, 10.30am to noon, Settle library will host a tech session with Lego, coding and computers.

At Whitby library, children aged four to 11 can take part in the six-week programme. The scheme encourages children to read six library books over the summer holidays, and the library is supporting the challenge with numerous events.

On Thursday, 3 August, and Thursday, 17 August, from 10am to noon, there will be sporty crafts, offering the opportunity to decorate a sports bag, trophy and mascot keyring for £2 per child. On Thursday, 10 August, from 10am to noon, children can help to build a sports stadium from Lego. On Thursday, 24 August, 10am to 11am, Colebrooke Productions will offer a Ready-Set-Read! cheerleading and dance session. On Thursday, August 31, 10am to noon, Yorkshire Rotters will host their Smoothie Bike and Love Food, Hate Waste activity.

There are many more events than those included here, so pop to your library soon to find out what is on offer.

Learn more about the Summer Reading Challenge.