AIMED at 4-11 year olds the annual Summer Reading Challenge is simple and fun. And Westbury Library is hoping that this year they can top the 345 children who took part in the challenge last year.
Children are encouraged to read six or more library books of their choice during the summer holidays with collectable stickers and rewards, plus a certificate and medal for every child who completes the challenge.
Children can sign up at their local Wiltshire library from 11th July 2015 – it’s absolutely free and the challenge lasts for 8 weeks.
Every year there is a new theme and this year the Summer Reading Challenge has teamed up with Guinness World Records to establish a “Record Breakers” themed challenge. Collecting stickers as they go, young readers will discover weird, wonderful and wacky records from around the world.
Last year 9,939 children joined the challenge in Wiltshire, 97% said that taking part in the challenge had improved their reading a little or a lot, 57% said it had improved ‘a lot’.
In Westbury, 345 children joined the challenge at the local library. Community librarian, Sabina Edwards said, “Children really do enjoy reading the books, collecting incentives and talking to our fantastic team of volunteers. I would encourage parents to bring their children into the library over the summer so that they can take part in this free scheme. Children who take part will be better and more confident readers by the time they return to school in September.”
Parents have also reported seeing changes in their children’s confidence in reading thanks to the summer challenge.
“The Summer Reading Challenge provided my daughter with the most fantastic incentive to read. She went from being a rather reluctant reader to a super-confident and enthusiastic reader desperate to complete the challenge. It was wonderful to see her still and focussed.” (Parent of 10 year old girl, Trowbridge)
“Daniel has loved choosing his own books and is confident to try new books with big words. This is our first time and we will definitely complete again.” (Parent of 6 year old boy from Devizes)
On days you can’t get to the library, there is still the Record Breakers website: recordbreakers.org.uk, with so much for children to discover and they can keep a record of their challenge too. Children can also recommend books and decide what to read next using the book sorter.
If your child does not have a free library card to borrow books, speak to a member of staff who will be happy to arrange this.
