This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, supported by your local library and the Reading Agency, is entitled The Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors.

It runs from 5 July to the 13 September and is FREE to all children between the ages of 0 and 11. They need to make just 4 visits to the library and read a minimum of 6 books, collecting stickers along the way and receiving a certificate and medal when they have completed the challenge.

We also have a number of activities that you and your child can engage in  throughout the holiday that are not only free but require a minimum of materials.

Research indicates that reading levels can decline during the summer holidays, a phenomenon often referred to as the “summer slide”.  This decline is more pronounced in children who do not engage in regular reading activities over the break.  Some studies even suggest that students can lose up to two months of reading skills during the summer.  By encouraging your child to participate in the Challenge you can help to avoid this “summer slide”.