Join the Summer Reading Challenge

A programme of free events is taking place across Sunderland's libraries this summer to get children reading.

The Summer Reading Challenge, hosted every year by Sunderland Libraries, kicks off on Saturday 9 July.

This year's challenge will have a science and innovation theme and will see six fictional 'Gadgeteers' come to life as they explore everything from fashion and music to cookery and technology.

The characters - brought to life by children's writer and illustrator Julian Beresford - have been designed to spark children's curiosity about the world around them and encourage them to feed their imagination over the summer holidays.

The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all children aged 4-11. They can access free materials from City, Houghton, or Washington Libraries, including picture books, early stage reading and middle grade books.

Children can also get involved online via the website at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk, where they can play games, get rewards, and earn badges as they discover books to read.

Councillor Linda Williams, Portfolio Holder for Vibrant City at Sunderland City Council, said: "The annual Summer Reading Challenge is a great way to keep children reading while they are away from school for the summer, and encourages children and their families to take more of an interest in reading for pleasure.

"The more children read, or are helped with reading, the better they become at it, and the greater their interest in wanting to read for themselves. This can only be a good thing especially over the summer holiday when children can sometimes get bored."

A programme of Summer Reading Challenge events will also take place next month at:

City Library every Tuesday & Thursday during August 2.30 - 3.30pm
Houghton Library every Wednesday & Friday during August 2.30 - 3.30pm
Washington Town Centre Library every Tuesday & Thursday during August 2.30 - 3.30pm

The Summer Reading Challenge is a unique partnership between the Reading Agency and public libraries across the UK.

Visit https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/libraries for more information on Sunderland's libraries and the full programme of events taking place across this summer.