WESTBURY library is inviting children across the county to sign up and read six books as part of ‘Animal Agents’, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.
The summer reading challenge invites 4-11-year-olds to borrow and read any six library books during the summer holiday period.
This year’s theme is ‘Animal Agents’, a detective agency staffed by clever animals who are out to crack a case at the library with a little help from their friends. Tony Ross, the UK’s best-selling children’s illustrator and the artist behind Horrid Henry, has created this year’s exclusive artwork.
To take part in Animal Agents, children need to visit their local library, where they will be given a membership card, and then, once they’ve read their first book, they’ll receive a collector folder to keep a record of their reading journey. As children read their selected library books, they can collect stickers that will help them to crack the clues and assist the Animal Agents to crack the case.
Animal Agents was launched in libraries across Wiltshire on Saturday 15th July and runs until Saturday 9th September.
Wiltshire Council is hoping to exceed last year’s participation, which saw almost 10,000 children sign up for the ‘Big Friendly Read’ challenge and read 42,110 books.
Parents and carers embrace the challenge as it makes a real difference improving reading ability and confidence levels. A local parent said, “The summer reading challenge is brilliant for kids to help improve their reading and gives them a challenge over the summer holidays. All the kids I know really enjoy doing it.”
There will also be a range of children’s activities in a number of Wiltshire libraries over the summer to celebrate the summer reading challenge.
John Thomson, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for libraries said, “This is an incredibly popular and successful annual reading activity for children and we welcome more participants taking part this year. I would also like to thank all the volunteers who give their time and energy to help support this valuable reading programme that we know helps to improve the literacy of many children.”
