This summer, libraries across Islington are celebrating Read to the Beat, the Summer Reading Challenge theme for 2026, with a fantastic programme of music-inspired crafts, dancing, creative workshops and family activities. Children can make their own instruments, get moving with Bollywood dance sessions, meet exotic animals and enjoy lots of free activities throughout the summer holidays.

All activities are free. Most sessions are drop-in, but some activities may have limited spaces. Please contact your local library for more information.

Don’t miss:

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends

Get up close to some amazing creatures and learn more about the natural world with Ranger Stu’s popular animal encounters.

• Wednesday 29 July, 11am – Finsbury Library
• Wednesday 29 July, 2–4pm – Central Library
• Friday 31 July, 11am – N4 Library
• Friday 31 July, 2–3pm – West Library
• Wednesday 5 August, 11am – South Library
• Wednesday 5 August, 2–3pm – Archway Library
• Thursday 6 August, 11am – North Library
• Thursday 6 August, 2pm – Mildmay Library

Bollywood Dancing with All About Dance UK

Join All About Dance UK for energetic Bollywood dance workshops.

• Monday 27 July, 2–3pm – Archway Library
• Tuesday 28 July, 2–4pm – Mildmay Library
• Thursday 30 July, 2pm – North Library
• Wednesday 5 August, 2.30–3.30pm – Lewis Carroll Library
• Thursday 6 August, 2–3pm – Finsbury Library
• Monday 10 August, 2–3pm – Central Library
• Thursday 20 August, 2–3pm – Cat and Mouse Library

Archway Library, Hamlyn House, Highgate Hill, N19 5PH

Tambourine
Wednesday 22 July, 2.30–4pm
Come and make and shake your own tambourine.

Bollywood Dancing
Monday 27 July, 2–3pm
Get dancing Bollywood style with All About Dance UK.

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Wednesday 5 August, 2–3pm
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Banjo Making
Monday 10 August, 2.30–4pm
Join us to make and play your own banjo.

Maracas
Wednesday 19 August, 2.30–4pm
Decorate your own musical shakers and take them home.

Mini Drum Kit
Friday 28 August, 2.30–4pm
Create and play your very own mini drum kit.

Cat and Mouse Library, 277 Camden Road, N7 0JN

Chicken Sound Maker
Tuesday 21 July, 2.30–4pm
Make a fun chicken sound maker using a paper cup and string.

Card Shaker
Tuesday 28 July, 2.30–4pm
Create a colourful card shaker using paper and beads.

Rain Maker
Thursday 6 August, 2.30–4pm
Make a relaxing rain maker using card, foil, rice and washi tape.

Free Drawing with Music
Thursday 13 August, 2.30–4pm
Create artwork inspired by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Bollywood Dancing
Thursday 20 August, 2–3pm
Get dancing Bollywood style with All About Dance UK.

Tambourine
Tuesday 25 August, 2.30–4pm
Make and decorate a fantastic tambourine.

Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, N5 1PF

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Wednesday 29 July, 2–4pm
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Music Shaker Workshop
Monday 3 August, 2–4pm
Create your own musical shaker.

Bollywood Dancing
Monday 10 August, 2–3pm
Get dancing Bollywood style with All About Dance UK.

Make a Music Band
Wednesday 12 August, 2–4pm
Create your own musical band inspired by books and instruments.

Music-Themed Fan Craft
Wednesday 19 August, 2–4pm
Create and decorate a fan inspired by books and music.

Origami Piano and Squeezebox
Friday 28 August, 2–4pm
Make miniature musical instruments using origami techniques.

Finsbury Library, 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Wednesday 29 July, 11am
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Paper Bowl Tambourines
Friday 31 July, 2–3.30pm
Make a tambourine using paper bowls and dried pasta.

Make Your Own 3D Trumpet
Monday 3 August, 2–3.30pm
Create a colourful trumpet to take home.

Bollywood Dancing
Thursday 6 August, 2–3pm
Get dancing Bollywood style with All About Dance UK.

Make a Music Shaker
Monday 10 August, 2–3.30pm
Create your own musical shaker.

Rubber Band Guitars
Wednesday 19 August, 2–3.30pm
Create a one-string guitar from cardboard and see if you can play a tune.

Snail Shakers
Thursday 27 August, 2–3.30pm
Make a fun snail-shaped shaker.

Lewis Carroll Library, 166 Copenhagen Street, N1 0ST

Musical Greeting Cards
Friday 24 July, 11am–12.30pm
Make a greeting card with musical bells hidden inside.

Paper Plate Tambourine
Wednesday 29 July, 2.30–4pm
Create your own paper plate tambourine.

Bollywood Dancing
Wednesday 5 August, 2.30–3.30pm
Get dancing Bollywood style with All About Dance UK.

Create Your Own Band Diorama
Wednesday 12 August, 2.30–4pm
Build a miniature band and stage in a creative 3D diorama.

Institute of Physics Workshop
Wednesday 19 August, 2–4pm
A special science-themed session from the Institute of Physics.

Pirate’s Parrot Craft
Monday 24 August, 2.30–4pm
Make a colourful pirate’s parrot using craft materials.

Mildmay Library. 21–23 Mildmay Park, N1 4NA

Bollywood Dancing
Tuesday 28 July, 2–4pm
Get dancing Bollywood style with All About Dance UK.

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Thursday 6 August, 2pm
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Musical Instrument Craft
Tuesday 11 August, 2.15–3.45pm
Make a paper plate tambourine or spin drum.

Music Badge Making
Tuesday 18 August, 2.15–3.45pm
Create and customise your own music-themed badges.

Music Zine
Tuesday 25 August, 2.15–3.45pm
Produce your own music-inspired zine to share with friends.

North Library, Manor Gardens, N7 6JX

Craft Guitar
Thursday 23 July, 2pm
Make and decorate your own cardboard guitar.

Hand Drum
Tuesday 28 July, 2pm
Create your own hand drum using paper and beads.

Bollywood Dancing
Thursday 30 July, 2pm
Get dancing Bollywood style with All About Dance UK.

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Thursday 6 August, 11am
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Kazoo Craft
Thursday 6 August, 2pm
Make and decorate your own kazoo.

Maracas Workshop
Thursday 13 August, 2pm
Make colourful maracas and start your own percussion band.

Pan Pipes
Tuesday 18 August, 2pm
Create rainbow pan pipes and play your own tunes.

Rainmaker Shaker
Thursday 27 August, 2pm
Make a rainmaker and create the sound of falling rain.

N4 Library, 26 Blackstock Road, N4 2DW

Rainmaker Craft
Friday 24 July, 2pm
Make your own rainmaker and enjoy the soothing sounds it creates.

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Friday 31 July, 11am
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Panpipes Workshop
Wednesday 5 August, 10am
Make your own set of musical panpipes.

Institute of Physics Workshop
Wednesday 5 August, 2–4pm
A special science-themed session from the Institute of Physics.

Dancing Paper People
Friday 14 August, 2pm
Create paper figures that appear to dance and move.

Paper Plate Tambourine
Wednesday 19 August, 2pm
Create and decorate your own tambourine.

Make a Microphone
Monday 24 August, 2pm
Make a pretend microphone and sing along to your favourite tunes.

South Library, 115–117 Essex Road, N1 2SL

Paper Plate Shaker
Wednesday 29 July, 2–3.30pm
Decorate and make your own musical shaker.

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Wednesday 5 August, 11am
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Piano Craft
Wednesday 12 August, 2–3.30pm
Create your own piano-themed money box.

Musical Masterpiece
Wednesday 19 August, 2–3.30pm
Paint and create artwork inspired by music.

Musical Bookmarks
Monday 24 August, 2–3.30pm
Make a bookmark inspired by your favourite musical instrument.

West Library, Bridgeman Road, N1 1BD

Musical Shaker Craft
Thursday 23 July, 2.30–4pm
Create a musical shaker using a cardboard tube and popcorn kernels.

Meet Ranger Stu and his Animal Friends
Friday 31 July, 2–3pm
Meet Ranger Stu and some amazing animal friends.

Jellyfish Windchimes
Tuesday 4 August, 2.30–4pm
Create colourful jellyfish-inspired windchimes.

Design Your Own Boombox
Thursday 13 August, 2.30–4pm
Build a cardboard boombox complete with speakers and controls.

Button Castanets
Thursday 20 August, 2.30–4pm
Create your own castanets and make some noise.

Tribal Rain Stick
Saturday 29 August, 2.30–4pm
Create and decorate your own tribal rain stick.