Still time to take up the summer reading challenge

Libraries across Nottinghamshire are taking part in The Big Friendly Read, the 2016 summer reading challenge which launched in libraries in mid-July and is taking place during the school holidays.

The summer reading challenge invites four to 11 year olds to borrow and read any six library books over the summer.

This annual challenge is produced by The Reading Agency and run in libraries across the country.

It has a new theme each year and in 2016 the challenge is delivered in collaboration with The Roald Dahl Literary Estate to celebrate 100 years of one of the world’s favourite storytellers.

Children sign up at their nearest library to receive a free collector folder to keep a record of their summer reading challenge journey.

As they progress they collect special collector cards to complete their folder.

The cards all feature original Quentin Blake illustrations and explore some of most popular themes in Roald Dahl’s books such as invention, mischief and friendship.

There’s a certificate and medal for every child who completes the challenge by reading six books.

Last year in Nottinghamshire 10,419 children took part.

We hope even more will be inspired to take part this year, as it’s the first year Inspire has delivered the challenge in libraries – just one of the cultural services they now run for Nottinghamshire.

Inspire is a community benefit society which delivers a range of cultural, art, library and learning services on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council.

The summer reading challenge is a wonderful scheme which always attracts thousands of children to take part each year and research shows it helps to boost their literacy skills during the holidays.

The challenge further promotes the value and fun of reading for children within Nottinghamshire’s libraries, with lots of rewards for them to earn on the way.

Children sign up for free at the library and pick up a Big Friendly Read collector folder, with six tempting teaser extracts from some of Roald Dahl’s popular tales that tells them more about the challenge.

Every child who completes the challenge by reading six library books will receive a medal, certificate and a pair of marvellous rainbow glasses.

It’s all free fun and a great way to keep children reading over the summer holidays.

The Big Friendly Read is running in Nottinghamshire libraries until September 11, visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge for details.