Summer a page turner at local libraries

SCHOOL holidays are always a great opportunity to relax with a good book. 

During the break, public libraries across region are hosting a reading challenge for kids who might want to chill out and get away from the summer heat. 

All kids up to 18 years can log what books they have been reading for the BIG Summer Read, complete challenges, and go in the draw to win prizes like book, EB Games, or Smiggle vouchers. 

Tammy Higgs, Goldfields Libraries’ programs and events coordinator, said to go in the draw to win a prize, participants must log at least 10 books.  

“Summer is the perfect time to unwind with a good book,” said Ms Higgs. “It doesn’t matter how long they are, and listening to audiobooks, reading picture books or graphic novels count too. 

“Even books read by adults count.” 

Ms Higgs said the challenge also serves as a way to maintain literacy levels during the lengthy period away from school. 

“While it’s important for kids to take a break from school and spend some much-needed social time with friends and family, research shows that many children read less over the summer, losing valuable literacy skills they’ve worked hard to build throughout the year,” she said. 

The BIG Summer Read challenge is free and books can be logged via the Beanstalk app, on paper, or at Goldfields Library Corporation’s website. 

Those logging their books on paper, on a form downloadable from the libraries’ website, need to return them to a Goldfields library by 31 January to go in the draw. 

Readers completing paper entries can also enter a creative colouring competition to win some art supplies.