Over 70,000 children’s books loaned out since the start of the Summer Reading Challenge

Thursday, 12 August 2021 19:26

By Katie Lyons - Radio News Hub @katielyons_99

The Wild World Heroes Summer Reading Challenge is in full swing at all 36 West Sussex Libraries.

The Wild World Heroes Summer Reading Challenge 2021, produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries, is in full swing at all 36 West Sussex Libraries.

Currently, more than 7,000 children have signed up to the challenge and over 70,000 books, eBooks and audio books have been loaned to children and their families since July.

Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “It has been wonderful to hear that so many children are taking up the Summer Reading Challenge and that they are able to enjoy visiting and browsing all the great books in our children’s libraries.

“Alongside all the children that have signed up for the challenge, we have also had more than 1,000 children join the library, which is an absolutely fantastic result. This interest in reading will not only build valuable skills and confidence, but it will also prevent the ‘summer reading dip’ where children often stop reading during the holidays.”

Anyone who has already completed the challenge but hasn’t picked up their medal and certificate can do so from any West Sussex Library.

Some children have already completed the challenge and have visited their local library to pick up their medal and certificate.

One of the first was Ella Cooke, who picked hers up from Bognor Library. Ella said she had never had a medal before and then started looking for books that had medals in the stories.

For children who haven’t started yet, there is still time to join in the challenge by signing up online or by visiting your local library.

Joining the library is absolutely free for both children (and adults) and the challenge finishes on Saturday 11 September.

More from Sussex News

LIVE: Local Election 2024: Results

All the information you need to know as the Local Election and Police and Crime Commissioner results come in for the South Coast.
VIDEO: Aerial footage shows full extent of mass ‘rave’

Anyone planning to attend or organise an unlicensed music event this summer can expect to face the full force of the law.
UPDATE: Lightning strikes across the South Coast

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have had a busy night dealing with lightning strikes
Four men taking on World’s Toughest Row benefit from university sports expertise

The rowing team from Lessons from a Boat visited the University of Chichester’s Sport Performance and Rehabilitation Unit (SPRU) recently to gain valuable insights into their physiological profiling ahead of their grueling race across the Atlantic.
Local Elections: Voting begins across the South Coast

The polls have opened across the South Coast for the local elections.
CCTV images released following theft of gold chain in Havant

Police in Havant are seeking the whereabouts of a man who contacted an online seller on Middle Park Way to purchase an expensive gold chain.
Man handed criminal behaviour order for shoplifting in West Sussex

A shoplifter has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for his prolific offending in Crawley.
Witness appeal following suspicious incidents in Arundel

Police are appealing for information following a series of linked incidents in Arundel.
Billingshurst train track reopened after major incident

A railway line in Billingshurst blocked after a train struck part of a level crossing has reopened.
MP for East Worthing and Shoreham will continue fighting for human rights

The Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham says he will continue to use his platform to raise awareness of human rights, despite being deported from Djibouti.