Record-Breaking Summer Reading Challenge Starts In The East Riding

East Riding Libraries are making final preparations for the start of the Summer Reading Challenge 2015, which launches on Monday (20 July). The theme for the 2015 Challenge is Record Breakers.

The Summer Reading Challenge is co-ordinated by the Reading Agency and takes place every year during the summer holidays. Children aged four to eleven can sign up at their local library and read six library books of their choice. Along the way, they can collect stickers and other rewards – all FREE, and this year all related to Guinness World Records™.

Councillor Richard Burton, the council’s portfolio holder for civic wellbeing and culture, said: “The annual Summer Reading Challenge is a great way to help children to discover the pleasure of reading and I am delighted that all our libraries will be taking part once again this year. It can help young children avoid what we call ‘the summer holiday dip’ in their motivation to read and learn, and of course the Challenge boosts their desire to read at home, and maybe try something different.”

From an educational perspective, the Summer Reading Challenge is extremely beneficial for children to maintain and improve literacy levels over the summer period.

Brian Blount, assistant headteacher of Tickton Primary School, said: “Traditionally, children’s reading levels can dip during the summer period, meaning the first few weeks of the autumn term can be that bit more difficult.

“The Summer Reading Challenge is such a fun way of encouraging children to read for pleasure and with the focused sessions and activities at the library each week; it provides a really constructive summer project.

“East Riding Libraries have provided us with all the resources we need to promote this great initiative, so we’re confident a lot of the children will have signed up.”

Participants can go to any UK library running the Summer Reading Challenge during the programme, meaning those holidaying in the UK can even keep up with the challenge by popping into any library while away.

The launch on Monday follows an energetic weekend at many East Riding libraries and schools which hosted ‘pledge events’ for this year’s Challenge. In this nationwide Guinness World Record ™ attempt.

Children pledged to visit a library this summer and read, whilst adults pledged to encourage children they know to read. The library stall at Bridlington Seafood Festival attracted 381 pledges, and overall East Riding Libraries collected 2595 pledges.

The Reading Agency are now collating the nationwide evidence of everybody who made a pledge, to send the total figures to Guinness World Records™ to see if a national World Record has been set for the numbers of people pledging to join a reading campaign.

Helping to run the Challenge this year will be over 25 volunteers, who have been recruited specially from all over the East Riding.

Anybody wanting to take part in The Summer Reading Challenge must book a place by coming along to their local East Riding Library to sign up as soon as possible, to avoid disappointment, as places are limited.