Indeed, the Challenge has played a part in the lives of so many different people, that the Reading Agency are collecting memories, from librarians, parents and carers, and participants themselves.


If


you’d like to share your experience of the Summer Reading Challenge, visit www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/20-years.


While the central focus of the Challenge has remained unchanged – incentivising children to borrow and read books over the summer holidays – the Challenge has evolved and developed as Anne explains:


‘In 2012, we went digital with the Challenge, and started a book sorter on the now year-round Summer Reading Challenge website. The Book Sorter is an evolving database of 905,000 favourite books added and reviewed for children by children, and this year we’re hoping to get that figure to the big 1 million! The website also hosts a Reading Club, which includes videos from well-known authors, activity sheets, book reviews, and how-to videos from top children’s illustrators.’


Tackling the ‘summer slide’


‘To help investigate the impact of the Challenge, we have been awarded a £120,000 grant from Arts Council England to undertake an independent, large-scale study of the Summer Reading Challenge. The research will be conducted in partnership with the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) and Libraries Connected. This funding will allow us to evaluate the impact of the Summer Reading Challenge on the ‘summer slide’ in relation to both reading skills and attitudes. A secondary aim is to explore the role a public library-based reading activity like the Summer Reading Challenge can have on building wider school and family engagement with reading.’


Reading is about enjoying books not just having to learn how to read


‘Research suggests that reading for pleasure is more important for children’s cognitive development than their parents’ level of education and is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background.1


Children who read books often at age


10 and more than once a week at age 16 also gain higher results in maths, vocabulary and spelling tests at age 16 than those who read less regularly.2


1 A. Sullivan and M. Brown (2013), Social inequalities in cognitive scores at age 16: The role of reading 2 OECD (2010), PISA 2009 Results: Learning to Learn: Student Engagement, Strategies and Practices, p. 32-4


We surveyed 1,434 families about the impact that taking part in the Challenge has had on them and their children, and almost 80% of parents and carers said that they believed the Challenge encouraged children to read more over the summer.’


“The Summer Reading Challenge has been an excellent way to motivate my son to keep up with his reading and writing the reviews was good for handwriting. He is dyslexic so it is important we don’t let his skills slip over the summer holidays. He has been very motivated, and we will use the library regularly from now on. I also intend to join too.” Parent of 4-7-year-old boy, Birmingham


“It has taught my son that reading is about enjoying books not just having to learn how to read.” Parent of 4-7-year-old boy, Kent


“The Challenge isn’t about being the best reader, or even being a good reader, it’s about exploring new ideas and having fun” Natalie Clark, former Summer Reading Challenge participant.


How to get involved


You can sign up for the Challenge at your local library throughout the summer, and there are lots more fun children’s activities on the Summer Reading Challenge website www.space-chase.org.uk.


The Reading Agency is calling for parents and carers to make #SpaceforReading this #SummerReadingChallenge.


Join the


campaign by submitting a photo of your own reading den with the #SpaceForReading via social media and be in with the chance of winning a special prize.


All other photos © Dave Warren 2019 for The Reading Agency with thanks to Pancras Square Library


Books for Keeps No.237 July 2019 13


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