Children across County Durham are being encouraged to read as many library books as they can this summer.
Durham County Council has launched the Summer Reading Challenge across all 39 of its libraries.
Held in partnership with The Reading Agency, the challenge invites children aged from four to 11-years-old to choose a reading goal for the summer holidays and collect rewards as they read.
Youngsters can also take part in a range of activities happening across the venues, from storytelling sessions to poetry performances; face painting to drawing workshops; Viking workshops to the chance to get hands-on with bugs and reptiles.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said:
“Reading is an excellent hobby and an important skill to have. For children, it helps develop their thinking and literacy skills, sparks their creativity and boosts their wellbeing.
“The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to keep reading during the summer holidays, ensuring they are ready for a great start to the autumn term when they go back to school.
“We’ve combined the reading challenge with some fantastic activities over the six weeks’ holidays to give families fun things to do together while helping to nurture the joy of reading.”
The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Read to the Beat’, inspiring children to explore the connection between stories and songs.
And children will be able to do just that during Durham Brass festival, from 12 to 19 July, as some of the county’s libraries will have musical craft activities linked to the festival’s popular street bands.
There will also be a special performance at Clayport Library on Saturday 18 July, coinciding with the festival’s Streets of Brass event.
Children who wish to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge can sign up at their local library.
All events and activities during the challenge are free to attend, but places must be booked in advance, and children must be taking part in the challenge.
Places can be booked directly with each library. A list of the county’s libraries can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/libraries
Readers can also follow @CountyDurhamLibraries on Facebook for updates.
