Record numbers attend ‘Ready, set, read’ project
IT HAS been a record-breaking summer for Guille-Alles Library’s summer reading challenge, with almost 2,000 children having signed up.
The challenge, with a sport-linked theme of ‘Ready, set, read’, saw children reading six books over their summer break, collecting rewards and stickers along the way.
This year’s total number of children taking part was 15% up on last year’s record.
‘It’s been amazing to see so many children and their families getting involved in the challenge and enjoying reading this summer,’ said Jodie Hearn, head of children and young people’s services at the library.
‘We know how important it is for children to keep up reading skills and literacy levels during the six-week break – and of course it’s great fun, too.’
Children who are looking to finish the challenge have until Saturday to hand their books into the library, where they will win a voucher for a free swim at Beau Sejour and a reading challenge medal.
This year’s sporting theme had children join a ‘superstar’ team of cartoon characters and animal mascots, working their way through an obstacle course to the finish line, as they read their books.
‘This year’s sporting theme tied in brilliantly with the Island Games,’ said Ms Hearn.
Local footballer Ross Allen launched the challenge at the start of the holidays.
‘There’s still plenty of time before the finish date next Saturday – if children have completed the challenge I would really encourage them to pop into the library so they don’t miss out on their well-deserved medal.’
The library teamed up with charity Bright Beginnings, repeating their successful collaboration of previous summers.
Bright Beginnings’ reading volunteers, the Next Chapter programme, visited the library as well as various other outreach settings such as the Kindred Centre, to listen to children read and discuss the books they would be reading over the summer.