Lewisham’s libraries are inspiring young people to read their way through the summer holidays and make a positive difference to Lewisham’s local environment.
The Big Wild Read is the ninth national Summer Reading ChallengeTM, a massive reading promotion for 4-11 year olds that runs in libraries throughout the summer holidays. Children are challenged to read six or more books, spurred on by an exciting range of free incentives and activities.
The Big Wild Read is also a call to action for children to make a positive difference to the environment. Libraries and the BBC have worked together to link the Reading Challenge to the Breathing Places environment campaign, as featured on programmes like Springwatch and Nature’s Calendar.
Breathing Places encourages people to get involved with nature by suggesting lots of practical things (such as nurturing local wildlife and planting seeds) which families can do together.
The library service will be helping children every step of the way. Each participant will be given a Big Wild Read folder with stickers to collect during the summer. The special scratch and sniff stickers have a range of pleasant and not-so-pleasant smells that the children will relish.
Library staff will encourage children in their reading and suggest interesting books for them to try. Special Big Wild Read events and activities will involve them in lots of ways to learn about the environment, and how to protect it.
Cabinet member Councillor Chris Best says: “We hope as many local children as possible will join in the Big Wild Read and enjoy a summer of reading. The library service will help children explore the imaginative world of books, and find out how to make a difference to the environment. Parents and carers will find it’s a great way to connect with their youngsters’ reading and engage with nature in the long summer break!”
A detailed listing of library by library events activities for children throughout the school holiday period is to be found in the Summers Alive brochure.
Local launch event in partnership with New Cross Gate New Deal for Communities: Performance by Booster Cushion Theatre Company of ‘A Book In Danger’ at New Cross Library, 283-5 New Cross Road, SE14 2.15pm Wednesday 25 July.
For further information, please contact Alan Morrison (alan.morrison@lewisham.gov.uk) for information about the promotion in Lewisham or email info@readingagency.org.uk for details about the national promotion.