MEON Valley MP Flick Drummond is encouraging primary school children to take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

This summer, children aged 4 to 11 can visit their library to join a superstar team and their mascots and get involved in the challenge, themed around the power of play, sports and games. Taking part in the challenge, using free materials from the local library and online via the challenge website, children will be encouraged to keep their minds and bodies active over the summer break.

Youngsters will join the fun characters – brought to life by children’s author and illustrator Loretta Schauer - to navigate a fictional summer obstacle course and track their reading as they go, rewarded by free incentives including stickers.

By participating, young people will have the opportunity to explore new reading material, develop skills and discover new interests.

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Mrs Drummond MP said: “I am a big fan of this summer activity that promotes physical well-being and reading for our young people.

“Taking part will help improve children’s reading skills, health and confidence over the summer holidays and it means they are ready for their return to school in September.

“I hope parents reading this will ask their children if they would like to get involved.”

The Summer Reading Challenge has been running since 1999 and helps to improve children’s reading skills and confidence over the summer holidays. In 2022, the challenge reached 723,184 children and families across the UK, with 608,015 children taking part through their local library service, a 31 per cent increase compared to 2021.

This year’s challenge will launch across England and Wales on Saturday, July 8.