We have lift off! Libraries across Denbighshire are getting ready to launch children into orbit for an inter-galactical adventure that will keep them reading throughout the school summer holidays….with the 2010 Summer Reading Challenge.
And it’s all free fun, which is out-of-this-world news for parents! The Summer Reading Challenge is just one of many exciting schemes public libraries are developing to help children love reading. So mums, dads and carers, pop down to your local library and find out more!
Each year the Summer Reading Challenge to children is simple. They’re encouraged to read six or more books of their choice during the holidays with collectable incentives and rewards, plus a certificate or medal for every child who completes the Challenge. Children can sign up at their local library from July 1st and all materials are absolutely free.
The Challenge will be launched in Denbighshire on June 30th when top children’s author and illustrator Shoo Rayner (pictured) will visit Ruthin and Rhyl libraries to meet local children and countdown to the launch.
The 2010 Summer Reading Challenge has a space theme. Called Space Hop, it will enable children to boldly go to new worlds, to discover the joy of reading and nurture a life-long love affair with reading and books.
An interactive Space Hop (www.spacehop.org.uk) website has also just launched, linking children with top authors and illustrators, and giving them space to talk about their favourite books and to share reading ideas. Space Hop also promotes their local library as a place of wonder for children, where librarians can offer them invaluable advice and guidance to help them on their mission.
Bethan Hughes, Reading Services Manager, Denbighshire Library Service. “Once again this year, our libraries will be welcoming thousands of children to take part in Space Hop. Research shows that children really enjoy taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s a great way to keep them entertained over the holidays, but more importantly, children who take part read more books and read more widely than those who don’t, with potentially life-changing results”. Bethan M Hughes, Reading Services Manager, Denbighshire Library Service.
Councillor Pauline Dobb, Lead Member for Libraries, said: “I am delighted that Denbighshire is the top performing authority in Wales and 8th in the whole of the UK for the proportion of children completing the Summer Reading Challenge. It shows that our libraries offer a high quality popular service to children and families in our community.”
“The Summer Reading Challenge is one of the largest creative reading opportunities available to children in the UK. It introduces children to one of the best free resources for their minds that they have on their doorsteps – the local library – and focuses on the development of skills that are vital for their life chances and life skills – reading.” Alan Yentob, creative director of the BBC.
The Summer Reading Challenge is an immensely popular and successful reading initiative. Now in its twelfth year it involves up to 750,000 children aged four to 11 years via the UK library network. It is created and run by The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to inspire more people to read more, and is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and children’s publishers.
