Still time to sign up for Reading Challenge

More than 3,000 children in Plymouth have signed up for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge so far – and there’s still time to join in.

Organised by The Reading Agency in partnership with local libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge encourages four to 11-year-olds to read six or more library books or eBooks during the school summer holiday.

This year, young readers are being encouraged to explore some of the real-life achievements featured in the Guinness World Records books.

Councillor Jon Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transformation and Customer Services, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is always really popular and it’s a great way to encourage reading during the summer holiday. Record Breakers has something on offer for children of all ages and reading levels.”

Libraries across Plymouth launched the challenge with a pledge day, which was part of a national attempt to set a Guinness World Record for ‘the most pledges received for a reading campaign’.

Although the nationwide total of almost 80,000 wasn’t quite enough to achieve the record, hundreds of local families joined in Plymouth’s celebrations and made 900 reading pledges. More than 740 children also took part in dance workshops led by Elim Dance.

Guinness World Records Editor in Chief, Craig Glenday, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages come together to launch the Record Breakers Summer Reading Challenge; to see so many excited faces and so many new people going to the library as a result. Books have always been at the heart of everything we do, and we’re thrilled to be able to support an initiative that gets kids into libraries and picking up books.”

Sue Wilkinson, CEO, The Reading Agency, said: “At The Reading Agency we believe that everything changes when we read. For lots of families, the Summer Reading Challenge is the highlight of their summer: it makes reading fun and improves children’s reading range, motivation and confidence. We hope more children than ever to sign up this year at their local library.”

The Summer Reading Challenge runs until Saturday 12 September. Children can sign up for free at their nearest library and will receive a poster on their first visit to track their reading over the summer.

For more information visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/recordbreakers, call 01752 305900 or email library@plymouth.gov.uk.