Isle of Wight libraries will be firing up children’s imaginations with Marvellous Makers — this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.
As well as encouraging youngsters to keep reading over the summer holidays, the challenge will also inspire them to express themselves through creative arts.
Free to join
The challenge runs throughout the holidays in all 11 Island libraries, including community libraries run by volunteers, and it’s free to join.
Children aged four and over can join the main challenge, but there’s a special mini-challenge for younger children, so nobody misses out.
Smelly stickers
Every child who joins the main challenge will receive a free fold-out poster. As they read books, they earn fun prizes and stickers — including the ever-popular smelly stickers.
When they have read six books, they’re rewarded with a medal and certificate.
Competition time
Every child who wins a medal will have the opportunity to enter an additional competition and can put forward a review or picture of their favourite book.
There will be prizes for the top ten who will receive book tokens, museum free entry tickets and free swimming passes at Medina and The Heights, courtesy of 1Leisure.
Jones-Evans: Even struggling or reluctant readers can take part
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for libraries, said,
“The annual Summer Reading Challenge is great fun, but it also plays an important part in keeping children’s literacy levels up over the summer, a time when they traditionally drop.
“At the heart of the challenge is the principal that children choose their own books, which helps them see reading as a pleasure.
“Any books count: fiction or non-fiction, easy or hard, old favourite or new author. Even struggling or reluctant readers can take part and receive a reward for reading — a great boost to their confidence.”
Free activities
Alongside the challenge, Island libraries will be holding a wide range of free creative activities across the holidays, to inspire children to make and create.
Children can sign up for Marvellous Makers throughout the holidays in any Island library. It’s a fun challenge to last you through the summer, and it doesn’t cost a penny!
Find out more
More information is available on the council’s website and children can also visit the Summer Reading Challenge website (summerreadingchallenge.org.uk), to set their own goals, rate and review their books to unlock badges, play games, and enter competitions.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
