A warm welcome to the new reading challenge

The library has launched a brand-new children's reading challenge, and every young reader in the area is invited to take part. It is free to join, there is no reading level to meet and no test at the end — just a simple invitation to read more, talk about books and enjoy everything the library has to offer. The challenge is open to children aged roughly five to eleven, though staff are happy to stretch that either way if an older sibling or a confident four-year-old wants to have a go.

The aim is not to turn reading into a competition. It is to build a gentle habit, introduce children to authors they might not pick up on their own, and give families a reason to pop in regularly. Whether your child devours a chapter book a week or is still happiest with a picture book on your lap, there is a place for them here.

How the challenge actually works

Signing up takes about two minutes at the children's desk. Each child receives a reading card and a set of stickers, plus a bookmark to take home. From there, the idea is simple: read six books between now and the end of August, then bring the card back to claim a certificate.

• Any book counts. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels, joke books and audiobooks are all welcome. If it has words in it and your child enjoyed it, it counts.
• Any length counts. A slim early reader is worth exactly the same as a 400-page adventure.
• Books can be borrowed or brought from home, though staff will happily help match a child to something new from the shelves.
• Re-reads count once. Comfort reading is real, and there is no shame in a fourth trip through a favourite — it just does not add a second sticker.
• There is no deadline pressure. Six books across six months is a very achievable target, and the card can be handed in early.

Staff will stamp or sticker the card each time a book is finished. Children who would rather not talk about their reading can simply hand the book over at the desk; there is no quiz and no expectation to perform.

Book reviews, and why they are worth the effort

Alongside the main card, children can write a short review of anything they have read. Review slips are available by the desk, and there is a colourful review wall in the children's area where the best ones are displayed. A few sentence starters are provided for anyone who freezes at an empty page:

• What happened in the story, in one or two sentences?
• Who was your favourite character, and why?
• Was there a part you would change?
• Who would you recommend this book to?

Reviews do not need to be neat or long. A drawing with three words underneath is a perfectly good review, and staff are keen to see handwriting, spelling and confidence improve quietly over the months rather than overnight. There are small prizes each month for standout reviews, and every completed review slip goes into a draw at the end of the challenge. Drop-in review sessions run on Tuesday afternoons during term time, when a member of staff is on hand to help children get started.

Author events and activities to look forward to

The challenge is designed to be more than a card and a sticker, and a programme of free events runs alongside it. Three author events are planned across the spring and summer, including a picture-book illustrator running a draw-along workshop, a children's poet leading a noisy hour of rhymes and riddles, and a storyteller visiting during the summer fair. Places at the illustrator and poet events are limited, so booking at the desk in advance is recommended.

For families who prefer something less structured, there is also a weekly after-school reading club, a half-term craft morning where children can design their own book covers, and a shelf of recommended reads refreshed every few weeks. None of these events require a place on the challenge — they are open to any child with a library card, and siblings are always welcome.

Finishing the challenge: certificates and celebrations

Children who complete six books receive a certificate presented at a celebration afternoon in early September, with their name added to the roll of honour in the children's area. There is also a small gift book to choose from the donation shelf, and a voucher for the library's second-hand book sale. Parents and carers are encouraged to come along, bring a camera and stay for a drink and a biscuit.

Children who do not quite finish are still warmly included. Staff will happily count whatever has been read, hand out a sticker for effort and roll the card over into the next challenge. The last thing anyone wants is a child feeling they have failed at reading.

Practical tips for parents and carers

• Little and often beats a marathon. Ten minutes before bed most nights will carry a child through the whole challenge comfortably.
• Let them choose. A child who picks their own book is far more likely to finish it, even if it is the fifth book about the same talking animal.
• Keep the card visible. On the fridge door or pinned by the coat hooks works better than at the bottom of a bag.
• Ask one question, not five. "What would you have done?" opens a conversation far more easily than a full debrief.
• Use renewals. Books can be renewed online or over the phone, so a slow reader never needs to rush.
• Ask staff for help. They know which series hook reluctant readers and which authors are reliably popular with each age group.

Pop in, pick up a card and get started. The shelves are ready, the stickers are waiting, and there is a certificate with your child's name on it.