Prizes on offer for earnest summer pursuit

VICTORIANS under the age of 18 have the opportunity to win a bunch of prizes these summer holidays as part of the fifth annual Big Summer Read.

The statewide reading challenge aims to combat the reduction in reading time children commonly experience during the extended holiday period.

Participants and parents of children who can’t yet read independently can register and track their reading progress between 1 December and 31 January, with digital badges and prizes on offer.

Four winners will also take home a Zoos Victoria family membership and libraries from across the state will award locally sourced prizes too.

The program reinforces the role of public libraries as a vital community resource for early childhood development and life-long learning throughout adulthood.

It has been designed to give regional and rural library services without an independent summer reading program a way to engage young Victorians over the summer break.

“Victorian libraries are a great place to beat the summer heat, and with so many books on offer there’s something for every reader these summer holidays,” Victorian Public Libraries ambassador Andrea Rowe said.

Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos said young people have a decline in literacy skills over the summer holidays.

“[This is] when they’re not engaged in reading, and the Big Summer Read aims to combat this,” he said.

“The Big Summer Read helps to get kids across the state into libraries over the summer holidays by making summer reading fun and rewarding.”

For more information, visit the Big Summer Read website.