Youngsters across the High Peak who love reading are being encouraged to sign up to this year's Summer Reading Challenge, which is themed Wild World Heroes.

Libraries throughout Derbyshire are all taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge, which encourages children aged four to 11 to carry on reading and maintain their literacy skills throughout the school summer holidays.

In 2019, more than 7,700 Derbyshire children took part and 135 events were held across the county.

This year’s challenge, run by The Reading Agency, introduces Wild World Heroes who are on a mission to make the town where they live, Wilderville, a cleaner and greener place for the people and animals who live there.

To join the challenge, which runs until Saturday 11 September, children can sign up for free at their local library and they will receive a poster map of Wilderville and stickers. They then choose six books of any kind to read or share. This can include ebooks and eaudio books. Once they have read the books they can return to the library to collect their medal and certificate.

Themed online activities are taking place, via Facebook and Twitter, every week over the summer:
• Monday – storytime
• Tuesday – children’s book reviews
• Wednesday – rhymetime
• Thursday – games/quizzes
• Friday – book share
• Saturday – craft activity
• Sunday – debut authors.

The Reading Agency has teamed up with WWF this year to emphasise the nature-themed challenge which will encourage youngsters to stand up for the planet and care for the environment.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture, Tourism and Climate Change, said: “Our libraries take part in the Summer Reading Challenge every year and thousands of children sign up.

“It’s a great way to keep children reading over the long summer holidays and ensure they maintain their reading skills, and it encourages them to read independently and for pleasure.

“Due to the disruption caused to children and their education by Covid-19, initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge are more important than ever and taking part will have huge benefits for youngsters’ development and educational achievement.”

Entry to Derbyshire libraries is still restricted to ensure social distancing can be maintained and to keep visitors and staff safe.

Details about the Summer Reading Challenge, Derbyshire libraries opening times and information about current restrictions can be found at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/libraries or people can go direct to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk to find out more.

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