CHILDREN and families across Devon are invited to take part in the celebrations to mark the launch of the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge in Devon Libraries. 

The Summer Reading Challenge, run by The Reading Agency in partnership with libraries, encourages children to read six books of their choice during the summer holidays. This year’s Animal Agents themed Challenge launches across the UK on Saturday, July 15.

To celebrate, Libraries Unlimited, the charity responsible for running Devon Libraries, is kicking off the summer activities with a range of events and activities across the county. 

Okehampton Library will be holding a Summer Reading Challenge launch on Saturday, July 15 from 9am to 1pm with free giveaways — while stocks last — and lots of fun activities for children, as well as a family workshop with Learn Devon. 

Really Wild Learning will visit the library on Wednesday, August 2 from 2pm to 4pm for a workshop, animal encounter, talk and activity. 

Throughout the summer there will be code breakers club where children use their code breaking skills to solve the mystery as well as an author visit from Olli Tooley and craft activities.

Tavistock Library will be holding a chess club for over sevens on Thursday mornings, a teddy bear sleepover on July 31 and a teddy bear picnic on August 1. Dartmoor Zoo will visit the Library on August 4 and author Olli Tooley will be visiting the Library on July 24 to talk about his new book For Cats’ Eyes Only. 

The aim of the Summer Reading Challenge is to encourage children to continue reading for pleasure during the holidays. Children aged between four and 11 can enrol for free at any Devon library and will be given special Animal Agents challenge packs, illustrated by the UK’s best-selling children’s illustrator Tony Ross.

This year, the Animal Agents are looking for help in solving a mysterious case, and children that join in with the fun will be given new clues each time they visit the library to pick up new books, and will also receive special stickers and incentives along the way. On completing the challenge, all children will receive a special medal and certificate.  

Ciara Eastell, chief executive of Libraries Unlimited said: ‘The Summer Reading Challenge is such an important initiative, and one that we love to celebrate and support throughout Devon Libraries.

‘Reading is a key part of children’s learning, not only does it enhance their literacy levels, it can help to encourage empathy and creativity, improves concentration and can teach children about the world around them.

‘The Summer Reading Challenge is a great opportunity to ensure that reading habits don’t drop off during the summer. It’s completely free, and children are supported and encouraged by our library staff to ensure they find books that they love to read, in the hope that their reading continues long after the challenge is over.’

For full events listings, visit devonlibraries.org.uk and see what’s on at your local library.

Find more information about the Summer Reading Challenge, visit the website www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

For more information about Libraries Unlimited, visit www.librariesunlimited.org.uk or follow Libraries Unlimited on Twitter @LibrariesUnLtd or www.facebook.com/LibrariesUnlimited