Chance to be a Record Breaker with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge

Middlesbrough Libraries are getting ready to encourage young readers to explore some of the astonishing real-life achievements and world records featured in the Guinness World Records Books as part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2015.

A special launch event takes place on Saturday, July 11 at Middlesbrough Central Library from 11am to 1pm.

An on Monday (July 13) Middlesbrough Libraries will be collecting pledges from children and teachers at Green Lane Primary School as part of the attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for the most pledges received for a reading campaign.

The children will pledge to visit the library and read over the summer and the adults will pledge to encourage children to read. The record breaking attempt is taking place across the country from Friday, July 10 to Monday, July 13.

The Summer Reading Challenge is a national scheme from the Reading Agency which is free to take part in and is designed to encourage children aged four to 12 years to read for enjoyment and prevent their reading levels from ‘dipping’ over the summer holidays.

Children who sign up are encouraged to read six or more library books of their choice during the summer holidays, collect stickers to chart their progress and will receive a certificate and medal when they complete the challenge. Every child from Middlesbrough who reads four books will receive a voucher for a free swim at either Middlesbrough’s Neptune Centre or Rainbow Centre.

By joining the challenge, each child could also become a Guinness World Records title holder as this year’s challenge is attempting to achieve the most pledges received for a reading campaign. Families in Middlesbrough can make their pledge when children sign up for the challenge at the fun launch event at Middlesbrough Central Library on Saturday, July 11. Fabulous local illustrator Liz Million will be there to help children create a super long cartoon strip and other amazing record breaking drawings.

Throughout the summer holidays, there will be fun craft sessions and record breaking Wii challenge sessions taking place in libraries across Middlesbrough. Every child who completes the challenge will be invited to an award ceremony when Sunderland-based circus company, Circurama will perform a hilarious show called ‘The Big Jump’ starring Pablo Fantastico and Charlie Odd Sox who will take a comical look at what it means to be a world record holder.

The Middlesbrough Reading Campaign is supporting the scheme by offering the reward of an author visit to two schools to celebrate the children’s achievements: one with the highest percentage of children joining the challenge and one with the highest percentage of children completing the challenge.

Ruth Cull, Development Officer for Middlesbrough Libraries said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is a great way for children to maintain and improve their reading skills over the summer and this year’s Record Breakers theme will really encourage children to challenge themselves.

“We’d love to see more Middlesbrough children than ever before take part in the challenge and invite all children aged four to 12 to join the fun.”

Allison Potter, Manager of the National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough, said: “During the summer holidays not all children read as much as they do during term time, so the Summer Reading Challenge is a great incentive for children to join their local library, participate in fun activities and enjoy reading whilst hopefully helping to set a new Guinness World Record too.”