Kids Jam Out with Books in the 'Read to the Beat' Summer Challenge!

A summer reading challenge with a musical twist has started at the Guille-Allès Library in St Peter Port, Guernsey. The library team is inviting children to take part in the 'Read to the Beat' challenge, where the goal is to read six books during the summer holidays. Each year, nearly 2,000 children join the challenge, earning stickers and rewards as they read. When they finish, every child receives a medal and a voucher for a free swim at Beau Sejour. The library has filled its shelves with music-themed books and planned special activities and events to make reading even more exciting.

The challenge is designed for children aged three to eleven, but everyone is welcome to participate. Families can sign up at the library or online, and the challenge runs until Saturday, 12 September. Throughout the summer, there will be music-related events to help bring the 'Read to the Beat' theme to life. The library wants children to discover how stories and songs can go together and make reading more fun.

The library is working with the children's charity Bright Beginnings and its literacy program, The Next Chapter. Volunteers from the charity will talk to children about the books they enjoy, listen to them read, and celebrate their progress. Andrew Bichard, the charity's literacy coordinator, says the challenge is a great way to inspire children to read and that reading can really help children become more confident and do better in school. Jodie Hearn, who leads the library's children and young people's services, says they are making the challenge extra special this year because 2026 will be the National Year of Reading. She believes the challenge is a fantastic way to keep children reading during the holidays, which is important for their learning and wellbeing. Most of all, she says, it's a lot of fun. The library hopes many children and families will join in and enjoy a summer full of reading and music.