• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Summer Reading ChallengeYOUNG readers are being challenged to bury their nose in a book – with lots of incentives along the way.

The 2016 Summer Reading Challenge gets under way on Saturday, July 16 in celebration of 100 years of the world’s favourite storyteller, Roald Dahl.

The Big Friendly Read will see community hubs and libraries across Middlesbrough inviting children to join in the fun.

The Summer Reading Challenge is a national scheme from the Reading Agency which is free to join and is designed to encourage primary age children to read for enjoyment during the summer holidays.

Children who sign up at their local community hub or library will receive a Big Friendly Read collector’s wallet to record details of library books read during the summer and will receive collector’s cards – some are scratch ‘n’ sniff! – and other incentives along the way.

A limited number of collector’s wallets and cards for children with visual impairments are also available. Every child who reads six books will receive a medal and a certificate.

As part of this year’s challenge local theatre company Less is More are presenting a series of vibrant, grotesque and sickly sweet workshops, all centred round a new piece of Roald Dahl-inspired children’s theatre, The Lambton Worm, created especially for Middlesbrough.

The show will be performed as part of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge Award Ceremony on Thursday, August 25. Participants will get the chance to help create scenery, props, magical words and horrific make-up to inspire the eventual show.

Other exciting activities taking place include Zoolab’s Marvellous Beasts Workshops, George’s Marvellous Medicine science workshops and pottery workshops.

Ruth Cull, Library Development Officer for Middlesbrough Council, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is a great way for children to maintain and improve their reading skills over the summer and I’m sure this year’s Roald Dahl-themed challenge and activities will really encourage children to take on the challenge.

“We’d love to see more Middlesbrough children than ever before take part and invite all children aged 4 to 11 to join the fun.”

Allison Potter, National Literacy Trust Hub Manager in Middlesbrough said:

“The Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic and fun way to encourage young people to get reading and keep on reading.

“Our work through the National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough is informed by our research which shows that enjoying reading is a critical ingredient for children’s future success.

“This love of books begins at home as part of family life, so I encourage all the parents to get involved too and make it a summer of reading for everyone.”

Children can join the challenge at any Middlesbrough library service point from Saturday, July 16.

Full details of all workshops and the performance are available from library service points and on the online summer holiday listings on www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

The Summer Reading Challenge can really make a difference in keeping up children’s reading levels over the long summer break. They can read any type of book they like.

Find out more at https://readingagency.org.uk/children/quick-guides/summer- reading- challenge/

By admin