Let your children get caught up in an epic adventure in the library – it’s Mythical Maze – the Summer Reading Challenge 2014.
Children are encouraged to read six or more books of their choice during the summer holiday, and with posters, stickers (some of them are scratch and sniff!) and other incentives to complete the challenge, it’s a highlight of the holiday for thousands of children. Teachers often comment that children who take part return to school as more fluent, confident readers.
“Hundreds of children have already joined the challenge and we’re looking forward to welcoming many more,” Bethan M. Hughes of Denbighshire Libraries said. “Last year over 4,600 Denbighshire children took part – the highest percentage reach of any county in the UK. The challenge helps children develop a love of reading for pleasure and enables them to choose what they read.
“On Monday July 21st we’re also giving children the chance to take over and to help run the library for the day – scanning and stamping the books in and out, helping to serve customers, and creating displays of their favourite books. At Rhyl Library children’s author Damian Harvey will be leading children around the Mythical Maze and helping them to get started on the challenge.”
Over 810,000 children took part in the challenge in the UK last summer – there is a different theme every year and children can read whatever they like – picture books, audio books, joke books, fact books – they all count.
Log on to the Mythical Maze website and your children can keep track of their progress online, rate the books for other readers and get tips on what to read next. This year there’s even an app that brings illustrator, Sarah McIntyre’s amazing creatures to life!
Taking part is FREE and the Summer Reading Challenge is just one of many exciting schemes public libraries offer to help children develop a love of reading, gain confidence and get new skills.
Mythical Maze is organised by The Reading Agency and local libraries with the support of the Welsh Books Council and Welsh Government.
Call in to your local library or visit welshlibraries.org to find out more.
