Children across Liverpool will be getting musical this summer as part of the nationwide Summer Reading Challenge.

Tied into the ongoing National Year of Reading, Liverpool’s libraries are encouraging families to incorporate books into their summer holidays, allowing children to sign up at any local branch, set personal reading targets, and earn rewards as they progress.

The 2026 theme, Read to the Beat!, is designed to celebrate the joy of music and the power it has to move, inspire, and connect people through literature.

To support the initiative, a specialist collection of 55 books inspired by global music has been curated for all reading levels.

The lineup features picture books, early readers, middle-grade titles, and dyslexia-friendly books, spanning fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and graphic novels to engage young minds.

To supplement the books, musical songwriting sessions will take place at each of the city’s libraries over the summer.

Led by local musician Dan Astles, these workshops will teach children how to use stories and poems to write and record an original song.

Additionally, the libraries will host storytelling and craft sessions in partnership with local organisation Steam Engineers.

These interactive blocks combine a unique story with related craft activities using recycled materials, alongside basic digital coding games.

Parents and guardians can secure places for these activities through the official Liverpool City Council website.

Now in its 27th year, the Summer Reading Challenge aims to inspire hundreds of thousands of young readers across the UK.

During the previous year’s campaign, over 11 million items, including physical books, audiobooks, and eBooks, were borrowed from public libraries nationwide.

Musical Songwriting Workshop Schedule Across Merseyside

The songwriting sessions are divided into specific age groups across the city library network throughout July:

• Kensington Library: Monday 6 July, 4pm – 5pm (Ages 5+)
• West Derby Library: Tuesday 7 July, 4pm – 5pm (Ages 7+)
• Central Library: Wednesday 8 July, 11am – 12pm (Ages 5+)
• Sefton Park Library: Thursday 9 July, 11am – 12pm (Ages 7+)
• Parklands Library: Thursday 16 July, 10:30am – 11:30am (Ages 5+)
• Norris Green Library: Saturday 18 July, 12pm – 1pm (Ages 5+)
• Spellow Library: Saturday 18 July, 2pm – 3pm (Ages 5+)
• Old Swan Library: Tuesday 21 July, 10:30am – 11:30am (Ages 5+)
• Garston Library: Wednesday 22 July, 10:30am – 11:30am (Ages 5+)
• Parklands Library: Wednesday 22 July, 2pm – 3pm (Ages 5+)
• Wavertree Library: Saturday 25 July, 11am – 12pm (Ages 5+)
• Allerton Library: Saturday 25 July, 2pm – 3pm (Ages 7+)
• Toxteth Library: Monday 27 July, 11am – 12pm (Ages 5+)
• Lee Valley Library: Tuesday 28 July, 10am – 11:30am (Ages 5+)
• Childwall Library: Wednesday 29 July, 11am – 12pm (Ages 5+)

Local Leaders Highlight Accessibility of Free Educational Schemes

The inclusion of multidisciplinary activities has been highlighted as a major benefit for local families during the school holidays.

Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Cllr Harry Doyle, said: 

“Getting children into the reading habit early encourages a lifetime love of literature.

“This year we are bringing the Summer Reading Challenge to life using music, crafts and coding all things we know young people love.

“Our libraries are a fantastic community resource and are free to use, so the Summer Reading Challenge is a family activity that costs absolutely nothing.”

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