'Come and collect your Summer Reading Challenge prizes' - Call to families in Staffordshire, Black Country and Wyre Forest
Thousands of families across Staffordshire, the Black Country and Wyre Forest are being reminded to call in to their community libraries to collect children's rewards for taking part in a reading scheme.
Tens of thousands of children are thought to have registered for the popular Summer Reading Challenge scheme which was attracted more than 10,000 participants from Staffordshire alone.
Libraries all across the region including Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Wyre Forest took part in the initiative which included storytelling and craft workshops, and author visits during the school holidays. Chris Warsop, author of the Percy Drip children’s books, paid a visit to Cannock Library, in Manor Avenue, last month.
As part of the challenge children are required to read six books. In Staffordshire the reward for completing the challenge by September 1, includes a medal, certificate, stickers and seeds for planting.
This year's programme featured books for the Story Garden collection. Parents and carers are reminded to call into area libraries before September 15 to pick up medals and book rewards.
Hayley Coles, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said: “I am thrilled that so many children have taken part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.
“We now want as many children to finish the challenge as possible and get the prizes that they deserve. While it gives children a real sense of achievement, the challenge is also a really important initiative in keeping children reading and ready for the new school year.
“The numerous activities to support the challenge have also gone down incredibly well. We’ve had such a variety of fun events for children, from the Doctor Dolittle shows to the readings and singalongs by Chris Warsop with his Percy Drip book series, and completing the challenge would just be the cherry on top.”
It is a national initiative organised by The Reading Agency.
