Summer Reading Challenge to launch with virtual event

The Reading Agency has announced a virtual event to launch this year's Summer Reading Challenge, which has been taken online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The launch will take place on 5th June, hosted by guest authors and celebrities still to be confirmed. The website will be free to access, and include quizzes, games and digital activities for families.

The challenge encourages children to choose six books to read over the summer holidays which match the chosen theme. This year's "silly squad" theme focuses on books that make the reader happy, including joke books, comics, poetry, fiction and non-fiction across print and digital. The challenge saw 722,731 children participate in 2019.

This year's challenge is opening earlier than usual to provide more support to families during the pandemic. It will run from June to September, aimed at children aged 4 to 11.

Karen Napier, c.e.o. of TRA, commented: “We’re hugely excited to share our new digital Summer Reading Challenge with families across the country this year. The new digital offering will ensure that families and libraries can still take part in the challenge and help us realise our mission of tacking life's big challenges through the proven power of reading.

"We are working closely with partners to distribute physical reading materials to those who cannot access digital and working with our library partners to deliver a blended digital and physical model when they reopen. In these difficult times it’s more important than ever that families find ways to have fun and be silly together, while ensuring that children receive the support they need to maintain and build their literacy skills and remain connected with their peers."