Reading & Libraries
The Novels That Shaped Our World
Published on 11th December 2019
The Summer Reading Challenge takes place during the school holidays every summer at a library near you.
The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by The Reading Agency and runs in libraries all over the country.
The challenge, aimed at children aged 4 to 11 year, is to read six or more library books over the summer.
2019 was the 20th year of the Summer Reading Challenge.
Children who take part:
- are more enthusiastic about reading
- maintain their reading level over the holidays
- return to schools keen and ready to learn
- boost their confidence and self-esteem.
To find out more click here
Summer Reading Challenge 2019: Space Chase
Illustrations © Adam Stower for The Reading Agency
Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge was an out-of-this-world-adventure as children helped our super space family, The Rockets track down books that had been nabbed by mischievous aliens.
In Nottinghamshire, 9075 children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge with 5007 going on to read all 6 books to complete their Space Chase mission.
2019 prize draw
In 2019, every child who completed the Summer Reading Challenge was entered into a prize draw, with the chance to win prizes including; LEGO City Space sets, Space themed books, National book tokens and giant rocket pens!
The Space Chase Free Prize Draw was kindly sponsored by arcpartnership
130 children enjoyed an extra prize through this prize draw.
How the Summer Reading Challenge works
- Children sign up at the library to start their Challenge.
- Borrow books from the library - Children choose the books they want to read on their Challenge, recording what they have read in their folder. Library staff and volunteers are on hand to chat to children about books they have read.
- For every book read, children will pick up stickers along with other rewards as they progress through the Challenge.
- Every child who completes the challenge, by reading 6 library books, receives a medal and certificate.
The Summer Reading Challenge will head back into all our libraries in July 2020.
"The Summer Reading Challenge is an excellent idea. It has really helped encourage my two to read, I have never seen them so excited about books. I certainly will encourage them to take part every year and to continue to use the library in the mean time."
"We really enjoy the challenge - it gives a real focus over the Summer to keep reading on a regular basis."
