Children's reading can 'dip' during the long summer holidays. The annual Summer Reading Challenge helps get three quarters of a million children into libraries each year to keep up their reading skills and confidence. Because everything changes when we read.

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the long summer holiday.

There is a different theme each year. Children can read whatever they like - fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books - just as long as they are borrowed from the library.

Children receive special rewards each time they finish a book and there's a certificate for everyone who completes the Challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all primary school aged children and is designed for all reading abilities. Schools work with local libraries and give out information to encourage children to take part, and most libraries run Summer Reading Challenge linked early years activity for pre-schoolers.

The theme for the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge is Animal Agents, illustrated by the UK's best-selling children's illustrator Tony Ross.

This summer there's something peculiar happening at the local library - and that's where the Animal Agents come in!

From solving the case of the graffiti writing to the strange case of a missing lunch, children will join in the fun with the Animal Agents by reading along. As children read library books on the Summer Reading Challenge, they will receive a host of stickers, some with mysterious smells. By collecting these clues in their detective folder, young readers will help the Animal Agents find out what's really been going on behind the scenes!

• Most libraries in Scotland will start the Challenge on Saturday 17 June 2017.
• Most libraries in England and Wales will start the Challenge on Saturday 15 July 2017.
• Regional variations will apply. Your local library will be able to confirm when the Challenge will begin in your area.
• There is not an official end date for the Challenge. Each library authority will set their own finish date. Please check with your local library to find out when the Challenge will finish in your area.

The RNIB National Library Service makes a selection of Summer Reading Challenge book collection titles available in accessible formats (Braille, Audio and Giant Print) for children who are visually impaired, or have visually impaired parents/carers. This material can also help children with learning disabilities and dyslexia.

In Scotland the Challenge runs as Tesco Bank Summer Reading Challenge Scotland. We're very grateful to Tesco Bank for our partnership with them on the programme since 2011 as part of their community programme. Their support has led to a 30% increase in participation in Scottish libraries over the last three years.

Get involved

• Head to your local library during the summer holidays and enroll. It's completely free and anybody can take part.
• If you're a parent or carer join us on our Facebook page for all the latest news
• Children can chat, get reading recommendations and enter competitions on our Summer Reading Challenge website
• If you're a teacher take a look at our resources to help you support children's reading for pleasure
• Measure the impact of the Summer Reading Challenge where you are, using the Reading Outcomes Framework Toolkit

"The Summer Reading Challenge is a wonderful initiative - what could be better than getting our children into libraries? I can't recommend it highly enough. My son has always been a listener but now he's also a reader."

"I find the Summer Reading Challenge really fun - my brother and I see it as a challenge and we work against each other to see who could read the six books the fastest."

Summer Reading Challenge facts

• Research shows that taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge can help children keep up their reading skills during the long summer holiday
• Over 750,000 children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge 2016