Following on from encouraging 1,300 children taking part in the challenge last year, the Summer Stars Reading Challenge is back.
Author Helena Duggan visited Portlaoise library to give helpful tips to children the official launch of the Summer Stars Reading Challenge 2019 in Laois.
Organised by Laois County Library Service the annual Summer Reading Challenge, aimed at children 12 and under and their families, is simple, fun and free.
Children are encouraged to read eight or more library books of their choice during the summer holidays.
They will receive their own Summer Stars Reading Card to record their progress and the Summer Stars Reward Stamp will be added to their card at the library for each book read.
Fun rewards including a drawstring bag, a book mark and a Summer Stars pencil will be provided along the way.
Those who finish the challenge will be presented with their medal in their local library. Registration for Summer Stars is now open.
For those who think they can read more than 8 books, the Super Stars Challenge asks them to read another 8 books or 16 altogether.
These star readers will then be entered in two draws. The first draw in the local library will be for a Summer Stars backpack. The second draw is county wide and the prize will be a beautiful bicycle.
An additional element to the challenge is the ‘Golden ticket’ Family Reading Challenge.
The family reading challenge encourages adults and children of all ages to read together and enter a draw for a family ticket to Tayto Park.
Libraries have even designated special ‘Family Reading Times’ when families may choose to do that reading in the library.
Cathaoirleach Willie Aird attended the launch and told children he could still remember books read when he was growing up. He urged classes from Scoil Bhríde to avail of the veritable treasure trove in the library.
There are also a host of other free children’s events to be found in the libraries this summer including everything from creative writing or starting a journal to the Harry Potter events.
There are all kind of crafts and storytelling and even Lego, code breaking and slime-making in some libraries. Details are available on www.laoislibraries.ie.
Parents and carers love the challenge, not only is it free but they can see the difference the Summer Reading Challenge makes to their children’s reading. Last year 1,300 children took part across Laois!
On days you can’t get to the library, there is still games, advice and a facility to review your favourite book on the challenge website here.
There are also ebooks, e-audiobooks and e-magazines through the library website here.
All photos of the event were taken by Denis Byrne.
