The annual Summer Reading Challenge will soon by underway in Merton
Children across Merton are being challenged by animal agents to read six books or more during the school summer holidays.
Merton libraries are supporting the Summer Reading Challenge, an initiative run by national charity the Reading Agency for children aged between four and 11.
This year’s theme is Animal Agents – about a band of furry, slippery and feathered friends who are specially trained to use their skills and natural instincts to unravel mysteries – with a huge helping of fun along the way.
The Summer Reading Challenge begins on July 8 and runs until September 9. It is free to take part and will be running in all seven of Merton’s libraries in Wimbledon, Mitcham, Raynes Park, Pollards Hill, West Barnes, Morden and Colliers Wood.
As well as the reward of a good read, every child who completes the Summer Reading Challenge will receive a medal and a certificate. There are also prizes up for grabs including an iPad, theatre tickets, tickets for the owl experience at Deen City Farm and a family ticket to the Warner Bros Studio Tour London, the Making of Harry Potter.
Merton was the first London borough to launch the library and schools membership scheme which issued every primary school child with a library card to encourage them and their family to visit their local library. This scheme has since been extended to secondary school pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9.
Merton council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Culture, Councillor Nick Draper said: “I know that all over Merton children will be going into libraries, opening books and discovering new worlds alongside the Animal Agents. Kids, I have to tell your parents that the Summer Reading Challenge is important because it helps you to develop literacy skills – but YOU know it’s about having fun, reading the books YOU want to read, and collecting the prizes as you go!”
For more information about the Summer Reading Challenge, visit: www.merton.gov.uk/libraries
June 30, 2017
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