Children encouraged to fire up their imaginations in the Summer Reading Challenge

This summer, children aged 4-11 can visit Wiltshire Council libraries to join the 'Marvellous Makers' Summer Reading Challenge and fire up their imaginations through the power of reading.

The challenge, produced by the Reading Agency and delivered by libraries, is to read at least six library books over eight weeks during the summer and receive rewards along the way.

The Summer Reading Challenge aims to prevent the ‘summer reading dip’ many children experience over the holidays when they aren't in school and is a free and fun way to keep young minds active. In partnership with The Reading Agency and Create, a leading arts charity, this year's challenge also celebrates kids' creativity and storytelling abilities.

Children can register for the challenge now, and it runs until Saturday, 7th September.

When registering, children will receive a special poster to record their reading and a Marvellous Makers sticker. When they’ve read four books, they’ll be given an origami activity sheet and on completion a badge and certificate.

Children can start to collect stickers and other prizes from Monday 29th July.

Children can choose any book and can also read eBooks or listen to audiobooks. Although the challenge is to read six books, this number is flexible, especially for children who struggle with reading or are reading longer books.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Libraries, said: “We hope that many children will again be inspired to take part in this popular and important reading programme, which has proved to make a real difference to children’s reading skills and attitudes to reading. Last year we received a lot of great feedback from parents and carers on the impact the challenge had on their child’s reading. It also encouraged children and their families to join the library with access to thousands of books to borrow for free.

“Through our Business Plan we strive to empower our communities to stay active and ensure children get the best start in life and the Summer Reading Challenge, alongside our other reading promotions for children, are one of the many ways we are supporting our communities to thrive in these areas.

“I would like to thank all the volunteers and library staff for helping to make what is shaping up to be another successful summer of reading, through their support of listening to children’s book reviews and reading written reviews, giving out prizes and encouraging children to continue with the challenge.”

Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: "The Summer Reading Challenge sparks children's creativity and imagination through reading. Developed with Create, this year's 'Marvellous Makers' theme will inspire kids' inner storytellers and makers. We're thrilled to work with libraries to provide an engaging environment for exploring new ideas through books and activities."

Children can also sign up to the challenge online at https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/.

Here, they can use the Book Sorter to discover new books, find fun reading activities and active challenges, play games, watch videos and write book reviews.

For children who want a further challenge and those older than 11 there is the Story Adventurers’ Club, a personal reading challenge where children set their own reading goals, with the target to read 100 books.

Packs of Summer Reading Challenge materials will also be given to children taking part in Wiltshire Council’s summer FUEL programme, a free holiday activity and food project that offers participants the opportunity to take part in a range of fun activities during school holiday periods.