Summer Reading Challenge on again

Kids, get ready to join the Summer Reading Club Program at your local library.

East Gippsland Shire Libraries is once again supporting the national program, which is also available online and in more than 1,000 public libraries across the country.

Created for children from pre-school age to 17, the Summer Reading Club is a free program led by State Library of Queensland that inspires imaginations and instils a love of libraries and reading.

This year’s theme, Curious Creatures, encourages young readers to discover new worlds as they explore and connect with a curiosity of creatures through a range of interactive activities available in libraries and online.

East Gippsland Shire Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell encouraged children and young people across the region to participate.

“You can join the Summer Reading Club and take part in activities online, which is great for any young people who might not live close to one of our six libraries,” Cr O’Connell said.

“Reading is a great activity and no matter what your interests there’ll be a genre to suit.

"In our libraries you’ll find cartoons and graphic novels, non-fiction, realistic fiction, factual books on topics like historical events, animals, or the planet, fantasy, young adult fiction and more.”

Over 43,000 children registered with the Summer Reading Club last year, reading over 360,000 books between them over summer, and organisers are hoping participants will crack half a million books in 2018.

Summer Reading Club members can also meet 21 new Australian authors and illustrators online, read their helpful creative hints and tips and preview exclusives of their up and coming work.

Online participants will also have the opportunity to:

Summer Reading Club is free and runs until Thursday, January 31, 2019 at all East Gippsland Shire Libraries.

When participants register at council’s libraries they will receive a reading log/registration form.

They use the reading log to record the books they read and along the way they will receive small incentives including bookmarks, stickers, pencils and pencil toppers to encourage them to read over the summer.

National prizes are also up for grabs for those who participate in the online activities through the Summer Reading Club website at www.summerreadingclub.org.au.

For more information on this year’s Summer Reading Club, please contact council on 03 5152 4225.

The Summer Reading Club is delivered in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association, the Australian Public Library Alliance, and public libraries across Australia.