The much-loved Summer Reading Challenge returns to Manchester libraries to motivate children to keep reading during the summer months.
Launched at a special event with Dapo Adeola, author and children’s book illustrator, and the official illustrator of the Summer Reading Challenge, 180 children from three schools joined in the special event at Manchester Central Library.
The popular yearly book fest for young readers is back with a challenge that brings the outdoors indoors with a Story Garden theme. Children will be encouraged to take their imagination into enchanted woods or outdoor adventures or find out amazing facts about bugs, bees, and plants.
The Challenge encourages children aged 4-11 to discover the joy of books and to keep up their reading habits during the school holidays, often a time when children forget some of the skills and knowledge that they have acquired during the school year. By encouraging reading as a fun activity, it keeps their brains active and boosts reading skills, making it easier when they start back to school in September. And the very young won’t miss out, there’s even a mini-challenge for babies and toddlers up to 3 years old.
Taking part is easy. Visit a local library and accept the challenge to read any six library books, either from the Story Garden collection or any book (which also includes digital or e-audio books from the free Borrow Box app) and pick up a special collector card to log the summer reading books.
A series of free activities linked to the Story Garden theme will be on offer during the school holidays in libraries, encouraging children to get involved in the Challenge. There is also the chance to win goody bags every week throughout the summer.
And children can keep those creative juices flowing by writing or drawing reviews of the books they’ve read and be in with the chance to win a kindle tablet, book bundle or art supplies. If they finish the challenge by 13 September, children will receive not only a special winner’s medal and certificate for commitment to reading but also the chance to be entered into the grand prize draw with the opportunity to win a £100 toyshop voucher and a bundle of books!
The Summer Reading Challenge is just one of the child centred activities that Manchester promotes as part of its work towards becoming a Unicef recognise Child Friendly City.
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:
“The Summer Reading Challenge is an incredibly important and popular event in libraries and fits with our year-round Read Manchester work across communities to promote the many benefits of reading and literacy. Last year we had more than 5,500 children take part, which is just incredible and reassuring that children still love to read, a skill that will take them far and hopefully will stay with them throughout their lives. “Every year a new theme draws children into a web of creativity and imagination, and we hope it will be the beginning of a journey of a lifelong love of books. “It couldn’t be easier to get involved, parents and children just need to visit their local library, grab some books, start reading and get involved in some of the wonderful events that libraries will host over the summer.”
For more information on the Summer Reading Challenge and to check out free events visit Summer Reading Challenge Check out what’s on offer on Loads to do
The Summer Reading Challenge is a national initiative that encourages young readers aged 4 – 11 across the country to borrow and read books from the public library. The Story Garden is produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with public libraries.
