Summer Reading Challenge

Summer Reading Challenge returns to Cheshire East libraries

Organised by The Reading Agency in partnership with local libraries across the UK, the theme this year is Wild World Heroes, a celebration of nature and action for the environment.

The Summer Reading Challenge takes place every year during the summer holidays and it's easy to get involved. You can sign up at your local library then read any library books of your choice to collect special stickers along the way -- all for free! There is a certificate and a medal -- or a medal sticker for under 3s -- for everyone who finishes the challenge.

Libraries will also be running various events alongside the challenge to add to the fun.

Children's reading can 'dip' during the long summer holidays if they do not have regular access to books and encouragement to read for pleasure. This can also have a knock-on effect for schools, which can then be playing catch-up in the new term.

The disruption of education caused by the pandemic, has made this challenge even greater. The Reading Agency's annual Summer Reading Challenge helps by getting children into libraries regularly over the summer, with thousands more taking part online.

Summer Reading Challenge 2021 started in council libraries across the borough on Saturday and runs all the way through the summer, until early September.

This year, for the first time, families can pre-register their children by phone. Residents simply need to call their local library and staff will then go through the registration details with them and get their packs ready for collection.

The restrictions as a result of the pandemic meant that the 2020 Summer Reading Challenge took place entirely digitally in the borough's libraries. Despite this, Cheshire East had the biggest number of children taking part and completing the challenge in the whole of the North West. The borough's young people also topped the charts for the number of books read.

To know more about the Summer Reading Challenge, click here. or pop in to your local library.