Now that Summer is here, the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge is soon to begin!

A free national event, the Summer Reading Challenge is held every year by The Reading Agency. It aims to encourage children aged 4 – 11 to read (or be read to) throughout the Summer holidays; often a time when children’s reading can ‘dip’.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, ‘The Big Friendly Read’, is extra special as it links up with the global year-long Roald Dahl 100 celebrations, honouring the world’s No.1 storyteller.

‘The Big Friendly Read’ will feature some of Roald Dahl’s best-loved characters and the amazing artwork of his principal illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake. It will encourage reading on a giant scale and will feature themes such as invention, mischief and friendship as explored in Roald Dahl’s books.

The Summer Reading Challenge is simple. Children are encouraged to read six or more books of their choice – fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books just as long as they are borrowed from the library – during the holidays.

There are incentives and rewards for children to collect along the way, plus a certificate for every child who completes the Challenge.

Children can sign up at their local library and all materials are absolutely free. The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all school children and is designed for all reading abilities.

All you need to do is head to your local library with your kids from Saturday 16th July and enroll.

To find out where your nearest library is, please visit the Bristol City Council website’s library finder page.

Enjoy The Big Friendly Read Summer Reading Challenge!