Summer Reading Challenge
Each year Shropshire Libraries join in with the national Summer Reading Challenge for young people, organised by The Reading Agency.
What is the challenge?
Children aged 4 to 12 are challenged to read six books over the summer holidays, and in return they receive rewards and stickers and, those who complete the challenge receive a certificate and a medal. Younger children are not left out as they have the chance to join the Bookstart Bear Club, a year-round scheme available to all 0 to 4 year olds. Both schemes are completely free and really easy to join.
Not only does the challenge offer rewards, incentives and opportunities to engage with each other at library events, but national research has also shown that it prevents the dip in reading ability that can occur over the summer holidays.
For more information follow the link on this page to the national Summer Reading Challenge website.
Circus Stars 2011
Between July and September this year over 2000 children throughout Shropshire took part in the Circus Stars Summer Reading Challenge and more than 50% of them read six books. In addition to this over 2000 people took part in more than 60 exciting Circus Stars events and as an added bonus 15 young people were recruited as Circus Star volunteers and between them they contributed more than 140 hours of their time to the project. Once again, the Summer Reading Challenge has proved to be a resounding success in Shropshire.
Comments on the Circus Stars challenge
Here are some of the comments received from children who took part in Circus Stars:
“I thought that Circus Stars was great. I liked the prizes and the books were fab”.
“I feel really proud!”
“I loved Circus Stars because it gave me a challenge over the summer.”
“I didn’t like the theme but I liked doing the challenge.”
“The books I read this year were very different to what I would usually pick but I enjoyed them all.”
and this is what some of the adults who were involved said:
“The library staff and helpers were all dedicated to giving the children a brilliant time, face painting, crafts, children’s entertainer and storytellers, not to mention sweets, biscuits and drinks. I took my granddaughter along for the event and we both loved it”.
What a fabulous day of activities, we really enjoyed it”.
“You always put on great activity days – this is one of the best ever”.
“What a wonderful atmosphere when I entered the library today”.
“Thank you for today, the circus workshop was fantastic, especially the juggling.”
“My son felt extremely proud of his reading and the added incentive helped.”
“An excellent scheme. My daughter loves libraries and selected books she may not have otherwise noticed.”
“This years SRC subject has been one of the best, and we have been joining in for years”.
“It’s great to have the Reading Challenge in the summer holidays. We have fun, enjoy the books and learn new things.”
“An excellent way to show children that reading can be a ‘summer escape’. We always look forward to and are stimulated by the challenge. The graphics this year were particularly excellent. The librarian’s enthusiasm is much appreciated.”
“The challenge was brilliant. We had fun choosing the books as well as talking about the stories. It’s a terrific motivation and a lovely shared experience.”
“It’s a wonderful scheme which has really encouraged both of my children to read for themselves.”
The Summer Reading Challenge 2012
In 2012, the Summer Reading Challenge will be part of the London 2012 Festival. The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements. The 2012 challenge aims to reach one million children nationally to promote the fun and freedom of reading and in Shropshire Libraries will contribute to that aim by once more providing an exciting Summer Reading Challenge for children across the county.