The Summer Reading Challenge

Last year Kieran signed up to the Summer Reading Challenge, a scheme run by libraries across the UK to boost literacy in a fun way over the school summer holidays.
He LOVED it!

The challenge entailed reading six different books over the the course of the summer and for each book logged there was a sticker (a scratch and sniff stick no less) to stick onto a circus model that they were given and a medal was given at the end. The certificate can be held back and sent to the schools so that they are given out in assembly when the kids go back. Kieran was SO proud to have Mrs Y call his name to go up and collect his. There were free bookmarks, free vouchers for taking DVDs or audio books out of the library and activity sessions with art, craft and storytelling running at individual libraries.
It was a HUGE success.

Kieran 2011 Summer Reading Challenge

That was last year, and this year looks set to be even better! There are new characters in the StoryLab to get to know, a story to finish which can be entered into a competition and much more. Visit the Story Lab website for full details and for fun games, activities and even a tool that will recommend books. We are thrilled that the library service offers this great scheme each year to encourage youngsters to continue reading out of school and while Kieran takes out six books a week to read he only puts one of those towards the challenge so it lasts until back to school time.

If you haven’t heard about it before now or want to know more do look it up.
Fun, education and free, you can’t beat that for a summer holiday activity!

Win £500 of books for your school and more! Ends midnight 14/12/11

The lovelies at Tesco are running a fantastic competition which means you (the kids!) could be in for a chance to win an amazing 83 piece art chest or a Crayola set for themselves, plus £500 for books for your school.

It’s really easy to enter and will keep the kids occupied for a while (nice one Tesco, we like quiet and occupied children!). To enter all you have to do is…..

1. Read the exclusive short story He Should have Listened to Grandad by Steve Hartley.

2. Draw a picture to illustrate it (be as creative as you can here kids!).

3. Ask an adult to scan or take a photo of your masterpiece and send it in to us using the form here!

There are three categories – two to five years; six to eight years; nine to twelve years and there’s one winner from each category. The winner of the two to five category will receive £50 worth of Crayola products, the winners of both the six to eight and nine to 12 categories will each win a Reeves Watercolour Art Chest. Each winner will also receive a £500 cheque for their nominated school or nursery to spend on books.

I’m not sure but wouldn’t a donation of £500 worth of books to your school get you out of all bake sale duties from now until the end of your child’s school life? Excuse me while I grab Kieran and the crayons!

The Judge – (Ed Vere) and a chance to win more prizes!

Top author and illustrator Ed Vere is judging the competition. He is taking over the Tesco Magazine twitter account this Monday 12th December at 4pm for a live chat and has also given them a stunning illustration to giveaway as a prize plus books. All the details are here. (Does anyone else think that he looks like a young Richard Branson?)

You can tweet questions in advance using the hashtag #kidsbookclub

This is a great competition and another way to get the kids using their imagination!

Good luck all!!!

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions