It’s Ready, Set, Read at Guille-Alles this weekend
CHILDREN are being encouraged to get their head into a book this summer, as the Guille-Alles Library launches its summer reading challenge tomorrow.
The free challenge sees children reading six books over the summer holiday, with this year’s theme being Ready, Set, Read.
Last year saw a record number taking part, with more than 1,700 signing up.
While the challenge officially starts on Saturday, parents have already been signing up online.
Head of children and young people’s services Jodie Hearn said the library was excited to be launching another summer reading challenge.
‘It’s always a fantastic way to encourage children to keep reading over the summer, and this year’s theme of Ready, Set, Read ties in brilliantly with the Island Games,' she said.
'I’m sure children will have fun with it – some may even choose to read books about the sports they’ve been watching. We’re looking forward to signing them up.’
This summer’s theme – Ready, Set, Read – invites children to join a superstar team and their animal mascots as they weave their way through a summer obstacle course. The challenge runs until September – children can collect stickers and rewards along the way, and finishers receive a medal and a voucher for a free swim at Beau Sejour. It is aimed at children aged between three and 11, but all are welcome to take part.
Head of marketing Adam Bayfield said he expected the library to be very busy this weekend.
‘They can read anything they like,’ he said.
He said children still enjoyed classics, like Roald Dahl and Harry Potter, but the library had also held an event recently about the Carnegie Medal shortlist and that saw the popularity in those books jump. That included interest in When Shadows Fall by Sita Brahmachari, after the author visited the island as part of the Guernsey Literary Festival.
Mr Bayfield said it was by chance that the national theme for the challenge was sport-related, but he hoped young people seeing the Island Games would be inspired to read more about the sports they had seen.
As part of the summer reading challenge the library is teaming up with the charity Bright Beginnings, repeating a successful collaboration from previous summers.
Reading volunteers from the Bright Beginnings – The Next Chapter programme will be on hand at the library and in various outreach settings, including the Kindred Centre, to provide a friendly face to meet and greet children and listen to them read.
Bright Beginnings literacy programme manager Andrew Bichard said the charity was delighted to be involved in this summer’s challenge.
‘The Ready, Steady, Read theme is so exciting and will help more people to engage with the 2023 Island Games through reading,’ he said. ‘We are extremely grateful to our wonderful volunteers who are looking forward to supporting children with their reading experiences this summer.’
n This year’s challenge starts tomorrow, but parents can already register their children online at www.library.gg/ready and collect their packs from the Children’s Library.
