
The challenge, which begins on July 14th, is for every child aged 4-11 to read six books from their local library over the summer holidays. Participants earn stickers along the way and will be awarded a certificate or medal when they complete the challenge. This year's theme is 'Story Lab': www.story-lab.org.uk
Over 20 popular children’s authors are supporting the campaign, including children’s laureate Julia Donaldson and fellow award-winning writers Malorie Blackman, Charlie Higson, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson.
I hope parents and carers in Lewisham Deptford will take their children to their local library this summer and if they aren’t already members sign up and do the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s free and makes reading fun, a vital ingredient in building literacy. Last year 4859 children in the London Borough of Lewisham took part in the Challenge. I hope we will beat that figure this year and show local libraries how much we value them.
This year libraries will be linking the Challenge to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as it is an official project in the London 2012 Festival - the finale of the Cultural Olympiad www.london2012.com/festival. Details of local events are available from local libraries.