Matthew is supporting a campaign run by charity The Reading Agency to encourage all primary school children to join their local library and take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge - the UK’s biggest reading promotion for primary school children.
Research shows the Summer Reading Challenge increases children’s reading range and their enjoyment of reading significantly. It builds confidence and independent reading, while combating the dip in children’s literacy levels during the long break from school.
A unique partnership between The Reading Agency and public libraries across the UK, the Summer Reading Challenge already gets three quarters of a million children to read six library books in the summer holidays. With the support of local MPs, libraries, schools and the Summer Reading Challenge Champions*, even more children aged 4-11 will be encouraged to join the library and join in.
Matthew said: “Encouraging children to read is really important, as it not only builds literacy but confidence too. I hope parents and carers in my constituency of Hendon will take their children to their local library this summer to sign up for The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge. It’s free and makes reading fun - a vital ingredient in building literacy. Last year 5343 children in London Borough of Barnet took part in the Challenge. I hope we can increase that figure this year and show local libraries what a valuable asset they are to us and our community.”
Each year the Challenge uses a new theme to inject fun and creativity into reading. The 2013 theme is “Creepy House”, illustrated by award winning Chris Riddell, inviting children to explore a Creepy House and its host of characters. They can take part in spine tingling reading activities and collect pungent smelling stickers to complete a collectable Creepy House poster.
Children can also visit the website summerreadingchallenge.org.uk to create a profile, chat about books and get help on what to read next via the digital Book Sorter, which also works on mobiles and tablets.
The Summer Reading Challenge can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SummerReadingChallengeUK
*Summer Reading Challenge Champions Malorie Blackman, alongside her Children’s Laureate predecessors Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson, football star Frank Lampard and other hugely popular children’s authors and illustrators including Charlie Higson, Liz Pichon, Chris Riddell, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Cressida Cowell and Justin Somper, line-up as Champions of the Summer Reading Challenge with libraries, in a major drive to inspire more children to read for pleasure.