There is still time to join this year's Summer Reading Challenge!

With fewer than two weeks to go of the national Summer Reading Challenge, Wirral’s libraries are encouraging children to take part before the Summer is over.

This year, with almost 2500 youngsters signed up just half-way through the Summer Reading Challenge, Wirral’s young readers look set to break local records!

The Summer Reading Challenge tasks school age children to borrow and read at least six books from the library before Monday 4 September.

The theme this year is sport-related and called ‘Ready, Set, Read!’. Delivered in partnership with the Reading Agency and the national children’s charity, the Youth Sport Trust, this year’s reading challenge aims to encourage children to exercise physically – as well as exercising their minds reading – over the summer break.

Cllr Sue Powell-Wilde, Chair of Children, Young People and Education committee for Wirral Council, said:

“Last year around 2700 of Wirral’s young people took part in the Summer Reading Challenge. This year, the borough’s bookworms had nearly surpassed that figure by just half way through the challenge!

“To all the parents and carers out there, not only is reading a great way to keep your family busy and entertained, it’s also fantastic for kids. With language development, understanding and relationship building listed as just some of the benefits for young busy brains.

“I would encourage parents and young people to get down to their local library and take part in the challenge or, if they’re already enrolled, take out more books and make sure they complete it while there’s still time.”

Any book borrowed from the library counts towards the target, but in keeping with the ‘Ready, Set, Read!’ theme, there are a range of sports and physical activity-related recommended books chosen to inspire young people.

Once signed up at the local library, children will get a special collector folder. As they read each book and progress towards completing the challenge, they will be rewarded with stickers, certificates and medals.

For those who aren’t able to take part through their local library, it is possible to sign up and complete the challenge online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk. The website also includes more information about the challenge, recommendations of books, video interviews with authors and ideas for related activities to take part in.