The Summer Reading Challenge

[Gemini]

I have talked about this on chat a few times, as I am involved in it in my volunteer role at my local library.
It is a national scheme, and takes place each year.
Children can sign up for it and do it online if they prefer, but many still like to come into the library to register, talk about the books and collect their stickers.

The main challenge is for children aged 5 to 12. There is also a mini challenge for the under 5's.
The challenge is to read 6 books of the child's choice over the summer. I had two children in today who had completed their six books , and my GS1 has completed his as well.
Under 5's just need to look at the books or have them read to them. They get a booklet and sticker of their choice for each book read, and a gold medal sticker for completing six.

The main challenge has a poster and different rewards to collect for each book finished. Three stickers to go on the poster, a bookmark, a paper game and in the end a medal on lanyard and a certificate.

When they return the most recent book to the library, they come and tell us about it and show us what score they have given the book. There are 6 spaces on the poster with room for book title and author for each one, and 3 leaf symbols. When they have read the book they colour one, two or three leaves to rate it.
A little girl who had read The Naughtiest Girl in the School by Enid Blyton gave me a very full review of it. I actually heard it a couple of years ago with my GD as an audio book, but if not I would definitely know the story now. She enjoyed it a lot but gave it two stars out of three as there was bad language in it (I wonder what it was??!!)

Some children tell you the whole story, some just say 'It was about a boy called X and I enjoyed it and gave it 3'
They all speak very quietly! It seems to make them very shy. I suppose because we are not their teachers and they don't know us at all. We are very friendly and encouraging but they are quiet!
MY GS1 is hoping to come in to our library next week so I can give him his medal, he doesn't know the meaning of a quiet voice

Today I signed up a family of two little girls, one of them under 5.
I gave a bookmark to two girls who reported on their second book each. Two brothers came in who had finished their 4th, 5th and sixth books since their last visit to the library, so completed the challenge. I gave them each a sticker, paper game, medal and certificate!

I think it is a good way to keep children reading over the summer break and is a free, fun summer holiday activity.

[Oma]

It is brilliant Gem , a great way to get them reading ,
Both mine were avid book readers , DD still is and is never without a book , she prefers a real book rather than a Kindle
DS hardly ever reads now but as a child he never had his nose out of a book , he read all the Lord of the ring books when he was about 8 . shame he isnt a book reader now .

The GC are book readers but GS2 isnt into it as much as GS1 and GD

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, what a brilliant challenge. When i was a youngster i always had a book on the go.

I wonder what the bad language was in the Enid Blyton book.
Maybe the little girl misread something.

[Daisy]

Gem - I'm so glad this scheme is running. My GDs did it last time (I can't remember if it was done last year or if I'm thinking of the previous year).

I must ask them if they're doing it this year, although GD1 also has 6 books to read from her new school. But she's never got her head out of a book, so she could do both!

They adore going to the library anyway, and the staff are great.

Hehe - we'll all have to read The Naughtiest Girl in the School to see what the naughty words are!

It must give you a lot of pleasure to have the children come to you with the books they've read, Gem.