Library launches book challenge

Young readers aged four to 11 are being invted to join the Summer Reading Challenge and spend the holiday going batty about books.

 

This summer, for the first time, the challenge is going online enabling children to discover and discuss books over the internet.

 

The aim of the Summer Reading Challenge is for each reader to choose six books and finish them by the end of the summer holidays. Every time they finish a book they return it to the library and tell a member of staff about it. They then receive a smelly sticker for their Creepy House poster.

 

The young readers department senior librarian, Linne Omissi, said "The Summer Reading Challenge gets more popular every year. We’re expecting about 2,000 young people to join Creepy House this summer. It’s fun, it’s free and it keeps children engaged in reading through the holidays. They love choosing their own books, and talking about them to us helps them enjoy reading and gives them confidence.

 

"For lots of families the reading challenge becomes a regular part of the summer holidays. Parents often share the books with their children and they enjoy the scheme together. It’s a great way for them to explore what libraries have to offer and develop a love of books in the family."

 

This year for the first time, children who take part in Creepy House can create an online profile at the summer reading challenge website where they can use the ‘book sorter’ to find new titles and share ideas with other young readers.

 

"The website has been constantly improving," Ms Omissi said. "It’s a great visual resource. It gives children another way in to reading and has ideas to spark their interest and help them expand the range of books they try."

 

Children can register for Creepy House at:

Workshops and events in Jersey Library will complement the Creepy House theme.

 

​Date	​Time(s)	​Workshop / event
​Wednesday 24 July	​2pm - 3pm	​Creepy Crawly Chaos with Durrell
​Wednesday 31 July	​2pm - 3pm	​Spooky Stories From The Sky
​Tuesday 6 August	​11am	​Creepy Storytime with the JEP’s Jepson the Bear
​Wednesday 14 August	​10am - 11am 12pm - 1pm 2pm - 3pm	​Scaredy Cats with illustrator and author Shoo Rayner
​Thursday 22 August	​2pm	​Spooky Pirate Stories with Oscar Puffin
​Tuesday 27 August	​6pm - 7pm	​Ghastly Tales