Ready, Set, Read! The Summer Reading Challenge 2023

Friday, 7 July 2023 16:45

By David Murphy

Are you ready for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge? Ready, Set, Read! runs from Saturday 15 July to 9 September in our libraries and is all about games and sports.

Children will join a fictional team (and their animal mascots!) as they use their skills to weave their way through a summer obstacle course.

Developed in collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust, the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge will celebrate play and participation, encouraging children to engage in games and sports in any way that best suits them.

Ready, Set, Read! will showcase how reading can be active and engaged and can itself involve teamwork and community. The challenge is brought to life by the acclaimed children’s writer and illustrator Loretta Schauer.

How to take part:

Children can take part in their local library, where they can borrow and read books, ebooks, audiobooks and e-audiobooks of their choosing. They will collect special stickers and rewards for reading. Alternatively, they can take part via the official Summer Reading Challenge website www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk where children can sign up for a free Challenge profile.

The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest reading for pleasure programme for children, presented by the Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries. The challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to keep reading during the school summer holidays. They set a reading goal and can read anything they enjoy.

Public libraries issued more than 12 million children’s books (including ebooks and audiobooks) during last year’s challenge.

The challenge is proven to significantly improve children’s reading confidence, making sure they are ready for their return to school in the autumn. It also gives families the chance to access books and fun family activities throughout the summer – all for free. The challenge reaches around 700,000 children each year, and 75% of children taking part last year improved their reading skills over the holidays.

Keep an eye on Bury Libraries Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BuryLibraries/?locale=en_GB for more fun activities this summer during the Summer Reading Challenge, Ready, Set, Read!