The biggest literacy campaign in the country has kicked off across Suffolk with the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge.
The Summer Reading Challenge runs in all libraries during the summer holidays and is a fantastic way of making reading fun whilst also helping 4-11 year olds to maintain their reading skills over the long break.
The challenge is organised by The Reading Agency and run in libraries across the UK. With the Wimbledon Tennis Championships underway and the Women’s World Cup about to start it’s fitting that this year’s theme is a sporty one. ‘Ready Set Read’ features a superstar team of characters and their marvellous mascots.
Suffolk Libraries has lists of suggested books which fit the Ready, Set, Read theme but any library book counts towards the challenge.
The Summer Reading Challenge is free to take part in and children can now sign up in libraries. Children can collect prizes from the library over the summer as they read more books with the target of reading six books. If they complete the challenge, children will also receive a special certificate.
Reading and literacy skills can drop in young children over the long summer holidays and the reading challenge has been proven to make a difference by encouraging regular reading in a way which is free, fun and engaging.
Erin Hamilton, Suffolk Libraries Children’s Librarian said:
“The reading challenge is always hugely popular and we’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of children into our libraries over the summer. Every year the challenge inspires thousands of children across Suffolk to get their first library card and discover the joy of reading for pleasure. This is a huge reward for us and can only help to drive up literacy levels across Suffolk.”
If a child hasn’t already got a library card, the Summer Reading Challenge is a brilliant time to get one and it’s free and easy to sign up for an account. Last year 7,041 children in Suffolk took part and 3179 new children’s library cards were issued over the summer.
The challenge officially ends on 10 September so children have all summer to complete the challenge. Libraries will have volunteers willing to chat to children about the books they have read and there will be lots of additional activities for children over the summer too.
For more information on how to take part, including some suggested books, visit our Summer Reading Challenge webpage.
It’s a bumper summer for children at Suffolk Libraries as older children can also enjoy activities running as part of the Blank Page programme which is offering creative workshops for 10-16 year olds in nine libraries. Like the Summer Reading Challenge these activities are completely free and are part of a programme of free, fun, engaging and educational activities taking place across the county’s libraries over the summer which can be a massive help to parents struggling with the cost of living.
The Blank Page creative workshops include comic book creation, storytelling, performance, poetry, bookbinding, album creation and lots more. They will run from Monday 24 July to 31 August across the following nine libraries - Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Gainsborough, Chantry, Beccles, Bungay, Great Cornard, Halesworth and Haverhill.
For families with children under the age of five, Suffolk Libraries has also launched a new app called ‘50 Things to Do Before You’re Five’. The app can be downloaded for free on both iPhone and Android, and there is more information about the app on our website.
All 50 activities encourage families to connect, have conversations about the world around them and develop the key skills for a successful start to school. Most of the activities are free and can be done in your local area, whether visiting a favourite park, sharing a story or blowing bubbles in the garden.
Fitting in with the activity theme, Suffolk Libraries is also running a range of free Jumpstart fitness activities which can be enjoyed by adults and children over eight. For the full programme and details on how to book onto a free fitness class, check out our Jumpstart page.
