25 November 2016: We are delighted to announce today that Animal Agents, illustrated by Tony Ross, will be the theme for the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge.

Tony Ross, illustrator of the Horrid Henry series, is published all over the world; his awards and nominations include the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Kate Greenaway Medal, and the Smarties Prize. He was the British choice for the Andersen Medal. His illustrations for the Summer Reading Challenge will feature a variety of clever creatures, specially trained to use their skills and natural instincts to unravel mysteries.

Publishers invited to submit titles

The Summer Reading Challenge, run in partnership between The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians, draws children from across the country into their local library each summer and inspires them to read for pleasure. Children can sign up to read at least six library books over the school holidays and collect incentives along the way. They can use the Summer Reading Challenge website to keep track of the books they've read, write book reviews, enter competitions, chat to other readers and much more.

Each year The Reading Agency invites publishers to submit titles for the Summer Reading Challenge book collections. These are promoted in libraries, on The Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge website and via social media.

The Big Friendly Read, Summer Reading Challenge 2016

The Big Friendly Read, Summer Reading Challenge 2016 linked up with the global year-long Roald Dahl 100 celebrations. It saw 755,208 children participating in the UK, comprising 643,280 children in England, 39,222 children in Wales, and 43,486 children in Scotland, where the Challenge is sponsored by Tesco Bank and called The Tesco Bank Summer Reading Challenge Scotland.

Other key findings include:

· 7,761 Reading Hack volunteers aged 12 to 24 supported the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge
· 43% of UK-based participants were boys
· 68,040 children joined the library as new members during the Challenge this summer
· 25,415 children under 4 took part, using specially produced pre-school materials

Sue Wilkinson, Chief Executive, The Reading Agency says:

"We are delighted that, once again, more than seven hundred thousand children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge at libraries across the UK. This year's figures are slightly lower than last year's, but at a challenging time for library services this is an impressive result. We are looking forward to working with our library partners in 2017 to ensure that the Summer Reading Challenge continues to be an exciting way to keep children reading, via their local library, over the summer holidays."

Sue Ball, Chair of the Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians (ASCEL), says:

"The annual Summer Reading Challenge enables libraries to support parents and carers with their child's reading during the long summer break from school. Children who participate tell us that it makes them feel good about their reading. The Summer Reading Challenge also provides an opportunity for young people to volunteer at their local library and develop new skills that will help them with their college and job applications. Libraries are incredibly proud to be part of the Summer Reading Challenge."

Janene Cox, Executive Member at the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) says:

"The Summer Reading Challenge is an incredibly important programme for Libraries and it enables our workforce to do what they do best: encourage and inspire children to read for pleasure. We are incredibly pleased with this year's results and we are looking forward to working with The Reading Agency to ensure that the Challenge remains an exciting and enjoyable part of libraries' reading activity going forward"

Chris Riddell, Waterstones Children's Laureate 2015-2017, says:

"The Summer Reading Challenge is one of my favourite things - so full of fun and the joy of reading for pleasure. This is what libraries are all about and we need the Summer Reading Challenge more than ever."

Get involved

Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge

Publishers who would like more information about submitting titles for this year's book collections should contact Juliana Oliver on juliana.oliver@readingagency.org.uk