The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a love of reading for years now. But as technology evolves, so do the ways people engage with books, with audio playing a complementary role to sitting down with a good book. That’s why Spotify is thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with The Reading Agency to provide even more options for families and children to easily find and access books.
Returning on July 5 with the theme “Story Garden,” the Summer Reading Challenge has been a cornerstone of literacy efforts since 1999, encouraging kids to visit their local libraries and dive into new worlds. And to make it a breeze to locate the audio components, we’ve created an official playlist of the Summer Reading Challenge titles that are available within Audiobooks in Premium.
“Many in the Audiobooks team at Spotify grew up doing the Summer Reading Challenge, so it’s an initiative close to our hearts,” said Duncan Bruce, Director of Partnerships & Licensing, Spotify. “Audiobooks are a powerful way to help children discover the joy of books in ways that work for them—at bedtime, in the car, or curled up in the garden. We’re supporting the Summer Reading Challenge’s mission to help spark a lifelong love of books in every child, regardless of background, ability, or learning style. We hope all of these books, in all their formats, spark a love of reading that lasts well beyond summer.”
The Story Garden theme entices young readers to explore the great outdoors through magical tales of nature, imagination, and adventure, with enchanting illustrations from award-winning artist Dapo Adeola. As libraries transform into immersive gardens of discovery, we want to help make these stories accessible to every child, in every format.
The future of reading
Audiobooks offer a powerful way to bridge the reading gap, making stories enjoyable for everyone, including neurodiverse learners, the seeing impaired, and those who may struggle with traditional reading formats. According to the Reading Agency, just one in three children enjoy reading today (a 33% decrease since 2005), making initiatives like this more vital than ever. Last year, the Summer Reading Challenge reached 600,000 children and led to over 13 million book loans. We are proud to support its continued success and help even more children discover the magic of reading.
At Spotify, we know that listening to stories can build comprehension, expand vocabulary, and spark imagination. Audiobooks complement—but don’t replace—print reading. With our official Summer Reading Challenge playlist, families can easily find, stream, and enjoy these inspiring tales of nature and adventure, whether they’re at home on the sofa or exploring the great outdoors.
Dive into the Story Garden with the official Summer Reading Challenge playlist on Spotify. To explore the full Summer Reading Challenge booklist and learn how to sign up, visit summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.
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