An annual event promoted by local libraries to encourage young people to read has proved the most successful ever.
And one lucky young reader has won a special prize as part of it.
The Reading Challenge is aimed at children aged four to 11 and is designed to keep them reading through the long summer holidays. Those taking part have to read six books; for which they receive a medal and a certificate. They are also entered into a prize draw.
More than 1,300 children completed the challenge and Harry Lewington beat the odds to be picked out as the winner. The seven-year-old, who attends Oldfield Park Junior School in Bath, will get his own age in books, courtesy of Peters Library Suppliers.
Councillor David Dixon, (Lib Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This has been our most successful Summer Reading Challenge ever with 2,155 children taking part and 1,332 children completing the Challenge and reading six books. It certainly improves their literacy levels for when they return to school in September.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Libraries really get behind the reading challenge because it creates good habits and good skills for young people. Congratulations to all those who took part and to Harry for winning the draw.”
Fleur Cannadine, school librarian at Oldfield Park Junior School, added: “Enjoying the local library is one of the best things that any child can do – for their literacy, for school work and just for the fun of reading. The Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic way to encourage that. The excitement it generates about reading in our school is infectious.”
