Summer Reading Challenge will see Chesterfield children turn detective
Children are being encouraged to turn detective and sign up to this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.
The Animal Agents Summer Reading Challenge 2017 is being run by Derbyshire County Council libraries in conjunction with The Reading Agency and officially launches at Chesterfield Library on Saturday 15 July 2017.
The Animal Agents theme will give children the chance to become detectives and join a host of clever creatures to solve all kinds of mysteries and puzzles over the school summer holidays.
Children who sign up to the challenge will be encouraged to read up to six books over the summer break which will help to maintain their literacy skills, with the Animal Agents theme specifically designed to be fun and exciting.
Each year the Summer Reading Challenge helps to get around 750,000 children into libraries nationally at a time when their reading skills can drop off.
In Derbyshire more than 9,300 children signed up last year, borrowing more than 227,000 children’s library items, with more than 3,200 children taking part in Summer Reading Challenge activities held in our 45 libraries.
Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism, said:-
“Every year thousands of Derbyshire youngsters sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge and it’s a great way to ensure they keep up their reading skills while having fun over the long summer break and use our libraries.
“We know that reading for pleasure improves children’s development and helps with educational attainment, so motivating children to read independently and more frequently has fantastic benefits.”
The challenge runs from 15 July to 9 September 2017 and children can sign up to become an agent at any Derbyshire County Council libraries.
Children taking part in the challenge collect stickers, designed by illustrator of the Horrid Henry books Tony Ross, as they go.
When they have read six books of their choice they get a medal and certificate to mark their achievement.
The official launch event starts at 10am on Saturday 15 July 2017 at Chesterfield Library, New Beetwell Street, and a number of activities will be held between 10am and noon and 1pm to 3pm, aimed at children of all ages and their families. All are welcome to the free event.
