Reading challenge for summer

‘SUMMER Stars’ is the public library national annual summer reading programme for children that runs until the end of August.

Children are invited to join the adventure and to enjoy the fun and pleasure of reading and writing over the summer.

It is non-competitive and every child who reads even one book is regarded as having completed the programme – and it is all completely free. Almost 3,000 young people took part last year according to Margaret Birchall of Wicklow County Library Service.

She said that this year it would be different because of Covid-19 restrictions but added that they were excited to be able to adapt and implement the programme especially as full time libraries have now re-opened.

‘ It’s been a challenging time for parents who have been home-schooling their children so we hope that this programme will help children keep up their reading skills in a fun and positive way.’

Libraries have come up with some creative new ways for young readers to access the programme online.

Children can access e-books and audio-books on the library’s free BorrowBox app. This free app can be accessed by library members and provides access to thousands of titles for children and adults.

Library staff and Irish authors will create Summer Stars virtual storytimes, including chapter-aday readings from books. These will be available to families on Wicklow County Library Service Facebook and also on the summerstars.ie website.

Children and young people will have the opportunity to create their own stories and enter the Summer Stars Story Competition ‘An Unexpected Adventure’. The competition will run from July 1 to August 31, with three age categories and brilliant prizes.