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Summer Reading Challenge

In North Yorkshire, the Summer Reading Challenge will take place from Saturday 4 July 2026 to Saturday 12 September 2026.

Turn up the volume on reading this summer

This summer, North Yorkshire Libraries in partnership with The Reading Agency invites children to discover the joy of reading through Read to the Beat! - the music themed Summer Reading Challenge for 2026.

With a fantastic collection of books inspired by music from around the world, children can explore stories, poetry, graphic novels and non-fiction for all reading levels. Best of all, the books are free to borrow from your local library.

As part of the National Year of Reading, libraries are encouraging families to make reading part of their summer adventures. Children can sign up at the library or online, set their reading goals and enjoy rewards along the way.

Read to the Beat launches in North Yorkshire on Saturday 4 July. You will be able to find full details of over 250, often free, events on this page or on individual library Facebook pages.

Summer Reading Challenge events

Catterick community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Summer Reading Challenge launch 4 July 10am to 1pm Kickstart your summer of reading with games, activities and plenty of book-inspired fun. -
Music session 24 July 2.15pm Discover rhythm, beats and musical fun in this lively hands on percussion workshop. -
Author visit 5 August 1pm Meet award winning author, Gareth P Jones, for a fun-filled session packed with stories, creativity, music and laughter inspired by Ministry of Minimusicals. -
Musical craft session 13 August to 20 August 2pm Get creative with a fantastic mix of music and recycling in this fun interactive craft session.  -
Zoolab 20 August 2.30pm 'Cacophony of Chaos' - get up close with amazing animals in this wild and noisy interactive Zoolab experience exploring sounds, habitats and creatures from around the world. -

 

Colburn community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Summer Reading Challenge launch 4 July  10am to 12 noon Kick start your summer of reading with games, activities and plenty of book-inspired fun as we launch this year's Summer Reading Challenge. -
Author visit 5 August 3pm Meet award-winning author, Gareth P Jones, for a fun-filled session packed with stories, creativity, music and laughter inspired by Ministry of Minimusicals. -
Craft session 13 August 10.30am Get creative with a fantastic mix of music and recycling in this fun interactive craft session. -
Zoolab 20 August 12 noon Cacophony of Chaos'- get up close with amazing animals in this wild and noisy interactive Zoolab experience exploring sounds, habitats and creatures from around the world. -

Derwent Valley BRIDGE community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Launch event - author visit 4 July 3pm to 4pm Author visit to celebrate start of the Summer Reading Challenge. Free event
Love science 20 July 1pm to 2pm, 2.15pm to 3.15pm and 3.30pm to 4.30pm Themed science workshops. Suitable for ages 4 plus.  Booking required - £3 per child
Rock star readers craft morning 30 July 10.30am to 11.30am Drop-in session.  Suitable for all ages. £3 per child. No booking required
Kathy Seabrook fun music for under fives 6 August   For the under fives, but older siblings welcome. £3 per family. Booking required
Rap school afternoon session 21 August     Free event - booking required

Easingwold community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Traditional fairground games with Easingwold Lions 18 July 10am to 12pm Outdoor event. Traditional fairground amusements: treasure hunt, roll the ball, beanbag and bucket, and the infamous splat the rat. Fun for all the family. Free event - no booking required
Sing along with Martyn Cresswell 28 July 10am to 11am Help bring a storybook alive with music, rhythm and singing. Suitable for ages 4 to 7. Free event - booking required
Junk music with Chris Geeson creative clubs 8 August 2pm to 3.30pm Turn that old junk into an awesome music machine. Suitable for ages 9 to 13. Free event - booking required
CD animals with Chris Geeson creative clubs 14 August 10am to 12 noon Use old dics and other scrap materials to make a fun animal face, cute crafty creature or scary monster. Suitable for ages 4 to 11. Free drop-in event - allow for 30 minutes to complete your session
Making giant books with Chris Geeson creative clubs 26 August 10am to 11.30am Create a giant book from scrap, card and paper. Base the cover detail on your favourite book or make up your own. Suitable for ages 6 to 13.  Free event - booking required

Filey library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Summer Reading Challenge launch  4 July  10.30am  - Free event
Rock n clay legends' clay rock band characters 8 July 10.30am Make your own bandmate from clay or a musical instrument. Suitable for all ages. Free event
Recycle rockstars 22 July 10.30am Design and create your own musical instrument using junk. Suitable for all ages. Free event
Music therapy 24 July 1.30pm - Free event
Adult Learning Services family fun 30 July 2pm to 4pm - Free event
Craft CD creations 31 July 2pm to 4pm Upcycle old CDs into something new. Suitable for all ages. Free event
Rainbow fish 5 August 10.30am to 11.30am Under fives stories and rhymes. Free event
GROW Scarborough cress punk heads 12 August 2pm Plant cress seeds to grow a punk head. Free event
Matilda musical theatre workshop 15 August 10.30am to 12.30pm Learn part of the script, sing 'Revolting Children', and explore simple choreography and stage movement. Session ends with live mini performance. Suitable for ages 6 to 11. £3 charge
The hungry caterpillar 22 August 10.30am to 11.30am Under fives stories and rhymes. Free event
Marmalade Atkinson workshop and book signing 'The Sleepless Nights of the Boy with No Eyelids' 28 August 1pm to 2.30pm Story telling and rhyming workshop, with book signing. £10 per child, plus £3 per subsequent child in family

Fountains Abbey

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Storytime at Fountains Abbey 24 July , 31 July, 7 August, 14 August, 28 August and 4 September 10.30am to 12.30pm Join us among the ruins and green spaces for stories, imagination, and a little library adventure in the fresh air! Entry fee to Fountains Abbey required

Fountains Abbey is located at Fountains, Ripon, HG4 3DY.

Grassington hub and community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Sound trail 4 July to 12 September   Collect a nature sound trail and see if you can hear all the sounds before the end of the summer. Complete the sound trail and you will be entered into a prize draw to win an annual pass to Ripon Museums. Free event

Great Ayton Discovery Centre

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Kirkleatham animals 5 August to 5 September 10am to 12.30pm Kirkleatham animal sanctuary will visit with a range of animals, such as snakes, spiders, ducks. Which one will make the most noise? -

Harrogate library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Try a musical instrument 7 July 3.30pm Try out a variety of stringed instruments under the guidance of professional musicians from Harrogate Music School. Free event
Expressive mark-making 11 July 2pm to 3pm Respond to music with a variety of materials and create your own piece of artwork. Free event - booking required
Library cinema 22 July  10am Enjoy a family film at our pop-up library cinema. Suitable for children aged 4 to 11 and their families. Free event -booking required
Musical party at the library 27 July 10am to 11.30am Enjoy a variety of musical games and activities.  £2 per child - booking required
Family crafts with Adult Learning 30 July 10am to 12 noon This engaging family learning session invites young children and their parents or carers to explore the much loved story 'The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch' by Ronda and David Armitage through a series of creative, story linked craft activities. The course encourages children to deepen their understanding of the text while developing fine motor skills, language, creativity, and confidence in retelling the story. Families will work together across four themed craft stations, each designed to bring the seaside setting and the humorous events of the story to life. Free event - book online through Adult Learning
Make a musical rainforest 4 August 2pm to 4pm Create the music of the rainforest using simple crafts. £2 per child - booking required
Library cinema 19 August 10am Enjoy a family film at our pop-up library cinema. Suitable for children aged 4 to 11 and their families. Free event

Helmsley community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Minion pencil holder craft with Chris Geeson creative clubs 28 July 10am to 12 noon Celebrate the new Minion movie by making your very own Minion pencil holder. Free drop-in session
Sock puppet craft with Chris Geeson creative clubs 25 August 10am to 12 noon Turn an old sock into a puppet using scrap materials.  Free drop-in session

Knaresborough library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Read to the Beat junk modelling 28 July 10.30am to 11.30am Use your imagination to turn junk into sound. Suitable for primary school age children. £3 - booking required
Nidd Action Group water colour workshop 4 August 10am to 11am Join local artist James McKay from the Nidd Action Group and discover the sounds and rhythm of the river in this water colour workshop. Suitable for ages 8 to 11 years. Free event - booking required
Read to the Beat with Promoting Yorkshire Authors Group 12 August 10am to 12 noon Join our local authors for a morning of stories and craft. Family friendly. Free drop in event
Doodle day 25 August 10am to 4pm Join us for a day of doodling! Family friendly. Free drop in event
Lego day 1 September 10am to 4pm Get creative at our library Lego day. Family friendly. Free drop in event

Mashamshire community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Sound trail 4 July to 12 September   Collect a nature sound trail and see if you can hear all the sounds before the end of the summer. Complete the sound trail and you will be entered into a prize draw to win an annual pass to Ripon Museums. Free event

Mobile library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Takeaway musical craft 20 July to 28 August Mobile library timetabled stops Collect a free bag full of musical craft and activities to enjoy over the summer and help us decorate our Mobile library with musical bunting. -

Nidderdale Plus community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Sound trail 4 July to 12 September   Collect a nature sound trail and see if you can hear all the sounds before the end of the summer. Complete the sound trail and you will be entered into a prize draw to win an annual pass to Ripon Museums. Free event
Vinyl painting craft 24 August 3pm to 4pm Turn old records into colourful works of art - perfect for young artists! Free event - booking essential

Northallerton library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Summer Reading Challenge launch event 4 July 10am to 1pm Arts and crafts. -
Storytime and crafts at the Secret Garden (behind Northallerton High Street) 22 July 10am Outdoor crafts. -
Rap workshop 12 August 10am to 12 noon Indoor activity. -
Storytime and crafts at the Secret Garden (behind Northallerton High Street) 19 August 10am Outdoor crafts. -

Storytime and crafts takes place at the Secret Garden which is located at 179 High Street, Secret, Northallerton, DL7 8JZ.

Pickering library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
World cup fever 18 July  10am to 1pm A morning of free football fun with crafts, games and activities. Free event - no booking required
Monday fun club 20 July to 24 August 10am to 11.30am Creative activities every Monday through the holidays. Different activity every week from designing a bookmark, colouring suncatchers to creating a supersized Pickering-on-Sea artwork. Seaside-themed Lego competition with prizes on 24 August. Programme available on our library Facebook page or posters in library. Free event
Tuesday board game club for 7 to 14 year olds 21 July to 25 August 10.30am to 12 noon Learn to play different board games each week. Suitable for 7 to 14 year olds. Free event - no booking required
Adult Learning Services family craft - 'The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch' 31 July 10am to 12 noon Engaging family learning session for young children and their parents/carers to explore the story 'The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch' by Ronda and David Armitage through a series of creative, story linked craft activities. The course encourages children to deepen their understanding of the text while developing fine motor skills, language, creativity, and confidence in retelling the story. Families will work together across four themed craft stations. Free event
Matilda the musical workshop 20 August 10.30am to 12.30pm Learn part of the script, sing 'Revolting Children', and explore simple choreography and stage movement. Session ends with live mini performance. Suitable for ages 6 to 11. Free event - booking required

Richmond community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Music session 24 July  11am to 12.30pm Drumming with Bryony. -
Author visit 5 August 10.30am to 12 noon Meet award-winning author, Gareth P Jones, for a fun-filled session packed with stories, creativity, music and laughter inspired by Ministry of Minimusicals. -
Read to the Beat 11 August 10.30am to 11.30am Craft session. -
Rap workshop 12 August 2pm to 4pm Indoor activity. -
Zoolab 20 August 10.15am to 11.30am Cacophony of Chaos'- get up close with amazing animals in this wild and noisy interactive Zoolab experience exploring sounds, habitats and creatures from around the world. -

Ripon Community House

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Birthday party at Ripon toy library 30 July  11am to 12 noon Head to Ripon Community House at 10am for their stay and play. We will be there from 11am reading lots of birthday themed story books. Free event - no booking required

Ripon Community House is located at Sharrow View, 75 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LE.

Ripon library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Musical crafternoon 4 July  12.30pm to 1.30pm Help us decorate the library for this year's Summer Reading Challenge. Free event - no booking required
Sound trail 4 July to 12 September   Collect a nature sound trail and see if you can hear all the sounds before the end of the summer. Complete the sound trail and you will be entered into a prize draw to win an annual pass to Ripon Museums. Free event
Lego club 18 July 11am to 12 noon We will bring the Lego - you bring the imagination! Fun session of building and creating. Free event  - no booking required
Musical doodle day 21 July 10.30am to 11.30am Bring your ideas, grab a pen, and let your imagination run free. All ages welcome. Free event -  no booking required 
Vinyl painting craft 29 July 10.30am to 12.30pm Turn old records into colourful works of art - perfect for young artists! Free event - booking required
Fancy dress disco 6 August 5pm to 6.30pm Whether you are a bookworm or a big dance fan, get your party shoes on and come along, read and dance to the beat. Free event - booking required
Sing along film showing of Matilda the Musical 20 August Show starts at 11am until 1pm Step into a world of courage, cleverness and catchy tunes. Special library screening - the perfect mix of books, bravery and brilliant music! Film rating:PG Free event - booking required
Song writing workshop 27 August 10.30am to 12.30pm A fun chance to turn your ideas into your very own song - no experience needed. Perfect for ages 9 to 12. Free event - booking required

Ripon Walled Garden

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Bug-fest storytime at Ripon Walled Garden 23 July and 26 August 10.30am to 12.30pm Enjoy stories, explore books, and discover the fascinating world of bugs - perfect for little nature lovers! Free event - no booking required

Ripon Walled Garden is located at Palace Road, Ripon, HG4 3HN.

Sherburn and villages community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Sign-up Saturday - Character hunt and musical mural 4 July 9.30am to 12.30pm Make a musical ‘note’ of yourself and add to the giant stave …will we create an opera, a ballad, or an anthem? Suitable for ages 4 to 11. Free event - no booking required

Stokesley community library

 

Event Dates Time Event details Booking information
Upcycled instruments session 4 August 1.30pm Craft session. -

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