Young visitors to Cardiff Bay can enjoy soaking up the sun with their favourite book or the latest children’s bestseller as the Summer Reading Challenge hits the beach.
Just under two weeks into the summer holidays, over 4,000 children in the city have already signed up to this year’s Summer Reading Challenge and Cardiff libraries staff will be at the Cardiff Bay beach this week and next week to encourage even more children to take up the challenge.
The Mythical Maze is the theme of this year’s challenge which takes place every year during the summer holidays when children aged four to 12 are encouraged to read six or more books of their choice. Last year, nearly 5,000 children across the city signed up to the challenge and as its popularity grows, this year it is hoped even more young Cardiff bookworms will get involved in the UK’s biggest reading event for children in libraries.
Along the way, children can collect incentives and rewards as they read their six books, plus a certificate and medal when they complete the challenge at the end of the holidays. More prizes will be up for grabs as part of the challenge too.
Cabinet Member for Community Development, Co-operatives and Social Enterprise, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “The Cardiff Bay beach is a fantastic summer attraction in the city so we’re hoping lots of children will come along to meet staff from our libraries and sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge. Over 4,000 children have already signed up just under two weeks into the holidays which is great news and we’re well on our way to achieving our target for the number of children who complete the challenge.
“Cardiff libraries will be providing a whole host of fun-packed activities throughout the holidays so there’s no excuse to be bored with so much going on. The Summer Reading Challenge is a fabulous way to keep young children engaged with their education over the school holidays while they enjoy themselves at the same time.”
Library staff will be enrolling children on the challenge at the beach as well as offering story-times throughout the day while back in the city’s libraries, there are lots of Summer Reading Challenge events and activities planned for the rest of the school holidays.
Libraries summer events’:
- The Science of Doctor Who: Saturday, August 9, 12pm & 2pm Central Library
- Story Time with Tir Na N-Og Award winner Wendy White (Ages 4+ ): Thursday, August 21, 2pm – 3pm Central Library
- How to write a winning short story(All ages): Saturday, August 2, 1pm Central Library
- Make your own picture book (Ages 6+): Monday, August 11, 10.30am Central Library
- How to be a Fibber Extraordinaire (Ages 6+): Tuesday, August 12, 11am Central Library
- How to write a past life autobiography (All ages): Tuesday, August 12, 2pm Canton Library
- Monsters, Magic and Michelle Briscombe (Ages 6+): Thursday, August 14, 2pm Central Library
- Monsters and Mirrors (Ages 6+):Friday, August 15, 2pm Central Library
- A personal portrait of the Royal Family (All ages): Friday, August 14, 2.30pm Central Library
- The Fiction of TimeTravel (Ages 6+): Saturday, August 16, 12pm & 2pm) Central Library
Places are limited for these events so it’s important to contact Central Library early to book a place on 029 2078 0953. Branch libraries across the city will also be busy over the summer with story time, crafts events and other activities. For details contact your local branch or visit www.facebook.com/summerreadingchallengecardiff and follow them at Twitter @cdfsummerread.
