Funny books, happiness and having a laugh means Newham Council’s annual Summer Reading Challenge for young people is back despite the Covid-19 lockdown.
Newham’s libraries run the challenge so that children can discover the joy of books and reading with a host of fun activities. This year, because they have had to close in line with Government guidelines, the challenge is beginning online.
The challenge involves The Silly Squad, a team of animal friends who love to go on adventures and get stuck in to all different kinds of funny books. The great colourful characters have been designed by award-winning author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson, who had produced amazing reads such as Amelia Fang and Evil Emperor Penguin. She is well known to Newham children as she is a regular visitor to our libraries, delivering talks and drawing workshops.
Every year children who take part in the challenge receive prizes and rewards for reading. Those who read six books over the summer receive a certificate and medal to celebrate their achievement.
If you are aged four to 11 you can join The Silly Squad on a new adventure by setting your own personal reading challenge to complete between now and mid-September. All you need to do is visit the Summer Reading Challenge website and sign up online where you can keep track of your books, reviews and the rewards you unlock along the way. The website is full of fun video content, games, quizzes, and digital and downloadable activities that children and families can enjoy together.
Children will need their parents’ permission to register. The challenge website is free to use and is a place for children to rate and review their books and work towards their reading goal. There are lots of brilliant books suggested to get you started and tips on how you can keep reading even while schools and libraries are closed.
The annual challenge is delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with libraries and is funded by the Arts Council England.
Newham’s libraries have been closed since March following the Government’s guidelines to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but they have continued to offer a wide variety of online and e-services for young people including online rhyme and story times, e-books, e-audiobooks, and e-comics that you can read as part of the summer challenge. You can follow Newham libraries on twitter @NewhamLibraries