Read six books this summer

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, helped to launch the 2010 Summer Reading Challenge at a special reception held in the House of Commons earlier this month.   The popular and successful initiative aims to keep children reading throughout the school summer holidays.
 
Now in its twelfth year, the challenge was created and is run by The Reading Agency and is supported by children’s publishers. Every year it reaches 750,000 children aged four to twelve via the UK library network.
 
The challenge is simple. Children are encouraged to read six or more books of their choice during the holidays with collectable incentives and rewards. Children can sign up to the challenge at their local library and librarians are available to offer advice and guidance.

At the reception, Annette Brooke said: "I was very pleased to support the launch of the 2010 Summer Reading Challenge. It is a great way to keep children entertained over the holidays, but more importantly, we know that children who take part read more books and read more widely than those who don't, with potentially life-changing results. The challenge introduces children to one of the best free resources for their minds that they have on their doorsteps - the local library - and focuses on the development of skills that are vital for their life chances and life skills – reading."