Exeter Library gets up to mischief for the Summer Reading Challenge 2018

The Summer Reading Challenge 2018 is set to get off to a mischievous start this July with the ‘Mischief Makers’. The theme of this year’s challenge is inspired by the historic Beano comics, which celebrate their 80th anniversary this year. Exeter Library celebrates the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge on Saturday 14th of July at its city centre location with a packed programme of events.

On Saturday the 14th, Sciencedipity will be taking up residence in the children’s library from 9am - 12.30pm. Sciencedipity is a science themed not for profit organisation making science fun for educators, parents and families alike. Visitors to the library will follow a recipe to make George’s marvellous medicine (a bubbling colour changing potion) which will all go into one big pot.

Children between the ages of 8 and 12 year are invited to join poet-technologist Christopher Jelley in the creation of Exeter’s first Hydrophobic Poetry Workshop, reflecting the city’s layers of history as part Daisi’s Heritage Lottery funded Re-boot project. The session will compile new poems, phrases and wild words which we will be laser etched into stencils with support from the FabLab Devon at Exeter Library. Through these stencils an invisible hydrophobic organic spray will be applied onto the pavements around Exeter Library. These words will remain invisible until the rain comes at which point through the natural contrast of wet and dry pavement words will ‘magically’ appear.

Summer Reading Challenge is open to children aged 4-11 and is run by education charity The Reading Agency. Once signed up to the Challenge, children will be set the task of reading six books during the six-week school holiday. Each Challenger will have free rein on the books that they choose, including picture books, novels, non-fiction, and audio books. If the item is borrowed from the library it counts as part of the challenge.

Challengers who complete six books will receive a medal and certificate from the Reading Agency and presented by library staff. Individual libraries will also award additional prizes, including Devon Libraries branded goodie bags and reusable drinks bottles. Adventure park tickets, free zoo entry are also amongst the prizes for finishers across the county.

Sue Wilkinson, CEO of The Reading Agency said: “At The Reading Agency, we believe that everything changes when we read and we know from our research how much fun families and children have when taking part in the Challenge. Mischief Makers offers inter-generational appeal and we hope this family friendly, accessible theme will inspire more children than ever to read over the holidays and make use of their local library throughout the summer and beyond."

Kate Mackenzie, Libraries Unlimited service development manager said: “Our libraries are gearing up for what we hope to be the biggest Summer Reading Challenge yet. Devon Libraries had over 11,000 participants in 2017 and this year it would be wonderful if even more children discovered how much fun the Challenge is. Many of our libraries are holding launch events across the county. Look out for events happening near you at www.devonlibraries.org.uk or check our social media channels.”

The Reading Agency confirmed 761,758 children across the UK took part in last year’s challenge. The Summer Reading Challenge in Devon runs from 14 July until 7 September 2018. A list of all library activity during this period can be found at www.devonlibraries.org.uk