Ready, Set, Read!
This summer, children aged 4-11 can visit Gateshead Libraries to join a superstar team and their marvellous mascots and get involved in a Summer Reading Challenge themed around the power of play, sport, games and physical activity.
Through taking part in the Challenge, with free materials from Gateshead Libraries and online via the Challenge website, children will be encouraged to keep their minds and bodies active over the summer break. The characters - brought to life by children's author and illustrator Loretta Schauer - navigate a fictional summer obstacle course and track their reading as they go, rewarded by free incentives including stickers.
Join the summer reading challenge
Through activity challenge cards from the Youth Sport Trust, and an exciting themed book collection, the Summer Reading Challenge aims to keep imaginations moving over the school holiday. By participating in the challenge, young people will have the opportunity to explore new reading material, develop skills, and discover new interests.
The Summer Reading Challenge has been running since 1999 and helps to improve children's reading skills and confidence over the summer holidays, ensuring they are ready for their return to school. With the help of local libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge is accessible to all and provides a fun, free activity for children. In 2022, the Summer Reading Challenge reached 723,184 children and families across the UK, with 608,015 children taking part through their local library service, a 31% increase compared to 2021. The Challenge also drove 132,223 new children's library memberships which is 40% higher than the 2019 pre-pandemic total.
It's completely free to join Gateshead Libraries. All libraries are open throughout the summer, and our friendly library staff will be on hand to help you find the books you're looking for, and if you're stuck for inspiration, they can make recommendations that fit the challenge theme.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, said: "Gateshead Libraries promote the Summer Reading Challenge every year to encourage reading for pleasure over the summer holidays. It offers a free and fun way to keep children entertained whilst building their reading skills and helping to prevent a dip in reading while they're out of school.
Reading offers so many benefits for wellbeing and library membership provides free access to a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books for all ages, including popular best-selling titles and brand new releases."
All libraries are open throughout the summer, and our friendly library staff will be on hand to help you find the books you're looking for. If you're stuck for inspiration, they can make recommendations that fit the challenge theme.
The Ready, Set, Read! Challenge officially begins on Saturday 8 July.
This summer, children aged 4-11 can visit Gateshead Libraries to join a superstar team and their marvellous mascots and get involved in a Summer Reading Challenge themed around the power of play, sport, games and physical activity.
Through taking part in the Challenge, with free materials from Gateshead Libraries and online via the Challenge website, children will be encouraged to keep their minds and bodies active over the summer break. The characters - brought to life by children's author and illustrator Loretta Schauer - navigate a fictional summer obstacle course and track their reading as they go, rewarded by free incentives including stickers.
Join the summer reading challenge
Through activity challenge cards from the Youth Sport Trust, and an exciting themed book collection, the Summer Reading Challenge aims to keep imaginations moving over the school holiday. By participating in the challenge, young people will have the opportunity to explore new reading material, develop skills, and discover new interests.
The Summer Reading Challenge has been running since 1999 and helps to improve children's reading skills and confidence over the summer holidays, ensuring they are ready for their return to school. With the help of local libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge is accessible to all and provides a fun, free activity for children. In 2022, the Summer Reading Challenge reached 723,184 children and families across the UK, with 608,015 children taking part through their local library service, a 31% increase compared to 2021. The Challenge also drove 132,223 new children's library memberships which is 40% higher than the 2019 pre-pandemic total.
It's completely free to join Gateshead Libraries. All libraries are open throughout the summer, and our friendly library staff will be on hand to help you find the books you're looking for, and if you're stuck for inspiration, they can make recommendations that fit the challenge theme.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, said: "Gateshead Libraries promote the Summer Reading Challenge every year to encourage reading for pleasure over the summer holidays. It offers a free and fun way to keep children entertained whilst building their reading skills and helping to prevent a dip in reading while they're out of school.
Reading offers so many benefits for wellbeing and library membership provides free access to a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books for all ages, including popular best-selling titles and brand new releases."
All libraries are open throughout the summer, and our friendly library staff will be on hand to help you find the books you're looking for. If you're stuck for inspiration, they can make recommendations that fit the challenge theme.
The Ready, Set, Read! Challenge officially begins on Saturday 8 July.
