Take Summer Reading Challenge and Join The Silly Squad

Children in Wolverhampton can still take part in this year's Summer Reading Challenge – despite the coronavirus pandemic.

The annual campaign, organised by The Reading Agency, encourages children to read books throughout the summer holidays - people can 'Join The Silly Squad' and sign up now at https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk. Youngsters will be able to read books online, play games, earn points and unlock reward badges along the way.

To help out families who cannot easily get online, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Library Service is putting together Summer Reading Challenge packs which can be ordered through the 'select and collect' service currently running at Central Library.

The packs include a selection of books, a wordsearch, colouring sheets and review sheet which can be completed and returned to Central Library in order to receive a certificate.

Summer Reading Challenge books are also available via the BorrowBox eBook service available to all library members.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "Reading not only helps children to develop their imagination but gives them essential skills for adulthood.

“We have been supporting the Summer Reading Challenge for well over a decade and it is always very popular with young bookworms and their families.

"Like everything else, it is having to be done a little differently this year. While children won’t be able to take part by visiting one of our libraries, they can join in the fun online via the website or BorrowBox or, if they wish, families can order a Summer Reading Challenge pack via our select and collect service.”

As well as the Summer Reading Challenge, a wide range of books and other items can be reserved via the select and collect service, which is available now at Central Library and will be extended to Bilston, Warstones and Wednesfield libraries later this month.

Reservations can be made online via www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries or over the phone by calling 01902 552025 between 10am-3pm, Monday to Friday and 10am–2pm on Saturday. Central Library will contact customers once their items are ready for collection; collection is by appointment only.

It's free to join Wolverhampton's libraries. For more information, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries.