Get ready, Swindon! The highly anticipated Swindon Summer Reading Challenge is back, encouraging children and young people to immerse themselves in the world of books during their summer break. The challenge officially kicks off with an exciting launch event at Central Library in the town centre today.
Running until September 9th, this year’s theme, ‘Ready, Set, Read,’ cleverly connects reading with the spirit of sport and games, perfectly coinciding with the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
The Summer Reading Challenge invites children to complete six books over the summer, recording each read in their Challenge Folder and providing a star rating and sticker. Once they finish all six, they can bring their folder to any Swindon library to receive a celebration certificate and a well-deserved medal.
Registration is simple—parents or carers need to visit the library and register their child, who must have a library card. Sign-up is available at any library or on the Swindon Libraries website. Outstanding children’s fines are temporarily suspended until the challenge ends, ensuring that every child who wants to participate can do so, regardless of any existing fines, lost books, or library cards.
Every challenge member will receive a Challenge Pack, while stocks last, which includes a special ‘Create a Colourful Creature’ competition by Swindon Libraries’ Children’s Patron, the renowned writer and illustrator Steve Antony. Entries will be judged by Steve himself, with prizes that include a chance to attend a special Meet Steve Antony event at Central Library in January and a signed copy of his new book, Rainbowsaurus. One lucky winner will even enjoy a visit from Steve at their school or education setting.
The launch event on July 8th, from 10:30am to 1:30pm, will witness award-winning writer and illustrator Steve Antony officially opening the festivities with a red ribbon cutting ceremony, joined by local children.
Attendees can enjoy a variety of engaging activities throughout the day. Fandangos, a local events company, will provide a chance to try circus skills, while Let’s Ride Swindon will offer a short guided bike ride in the local area using quiet streets and traffic-free cycle paths. Families can participate by bringing their bikes and meeting outside Central Library at 11am.
Children will have a blast at the Smoothie Bike, where they can pedal their way to blending delicious fruit smoothies. Additionally, there will be an array of games and sporty activities to try, ensuring a day filled with fun and excitement.
Outside the library, Swindon Library Service has created a Family StoryTrail in Queen’s Park, running until the end of July. Families with younger children can embark on this captivating adventure, with all activities being free and requiring no booking.
For young ones who prefer creative endeavors, the Creation Station will be open, allowing children to design their very own Swinpup, inspired by the Big Dog Art Trail’s puppy sculptures in libraries starting July 15. Each of the five Council Libraries will host a Creation Station throughout the Challenge.
As an incentive, the first 100 children to register at the launch event will receive a free mini Frisbee and a complimentary book alongside their Challenge Pack.
Allie Brown, Development Manager at Swindon Libraries, expressed excitement about this year’s launch event, acknowledging that the Summer Reading Challenge is for all children and young people, regardless of their reading preferences. With nearly 30,000 children’s books available in the libraries, including digital options, multilingual titles, and resources catering to different abilities, ages, and interests, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Heritage, Art, and Culture, shared her joy at the return of the Reading Challenge after the hiatus caused by the pandemic. She emphasised that reading is a gateway to the world, enabling children to embark on extraordinary adventures and discover new perspectives.
To ensure inclusivity, Swindon Stories, in collaboration with Swindon SEND Families Voice, has developed a free activities sheet to engage children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the Summer Reading Challenge. Copies of the sheet can be obtained from libraries, included in the Challenge Packs, or accessed via the Swindon Library website.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to fuel young imaginations and instill a love for reading. Join us at the Central Library launch event tomorrow and embark on a literary journey that will inspire, entertain, and broaden horizons of children across Swindon.
