The Summer Reading Challenge is back, and for 2021 it’s inspiring young readers to stand up for the environment.
Just in time for the summer holidays, The Summer Reading Challenge returns encouraging children aged 4-11 across the UK to discover the joy of the written word and keep up their reading habits during the school holidays.
Taking place between 5 July – 18 September, the Challenge is run annually by national charity The Reading Agency with support from the UK public library network, with 95% of UK public libraries taking part.
Each Challenge has its own theme and this year The Summer Reading Challenge has teamed up with the WWF to bring us the Wild World Heroes. Reading challenges will help young readers progress through the fictional world of Wilderville, and along the way help the Heroes tackle real-world environmental issues engaging them to think about what they can do to help at a local level.
The Challenge aims to tackle the summer reading ‘dip’ during the school break by encouraging children to set themselves a personal reading goal to achieve over the summer holidays. Readers are motivated to complete The Challenge with activities and competitions that celebrate the benefits of reading.
We also have a pilot scheme of 40 primary schools that have signed up to join all their pupils to both the library and The Summer Reading Challenge automatically. The 16,000 children at these schools will be joined by thousands of others across the city who are also invited to join the Challenge.
The Summer Reading Challenge is to read 6 library books and receive a certificate and medal, with incentives along the way. Readers can look forward to online drawing sessions, live read-a-longs with award-winning authors, and a prize draw. There is also a mini challenge for the Under 4’s, so the whole family can get involved.
Children are also given the opportunity to review the books they read throughout the challenge, and the four best reviewers stand to win a bundle of new books and a Kindle Fire.
Young readers can join through their local library where they will receive a free joining pack, which includes a Wild World Heroes collector poster and stickers. You can also sign up online to earn rewards, play games, and keep track of any books read.
Find out more about the summer reading challenge
Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar, Manchester City Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, said:
“Inspiring children to read outside of term-time is vital, not only in growing their knowledge, but also in maintaining their personal well-being. Each year The Summer Reading Challenge helps to deliver this by creatively sparking the imagination of young people and driving a passion for reading.
“We are excited to see The Challenge returning to schools and libraries across the UK with an important message of how our young people can be engaged in making a positive effort in helping our environment. Throughout the holidays Manchester libraries will be on hand to ensure that parents and children can make the best of their summer break and combat the reading ‘dip’ with creativity and learning.”
