Libraries set junior bookworms a winter reading challenge

JUNIOR bookworms in Hampshire will be rewarded with certificates for meeting this year’s Winter Reading Challenge.

The county council’s library service is encouraging young children to read four books and earn stickers to pick up the commendation.

Cllr Seán Woodward, HCC cabinet member for recreation and heritage, said: “Winter can be a particularly fun time for storytelling, with books offering a sense of magic and wonder thanks to the enchanting characters and worlds they explore.

“We appreciate that this time of year can be busy and that reading can be overlooked.

"Therefore, we are committed to helping boost children’s literacy levels by encouraging them to access the great variety of resources available at our libraries during winter and throughout the rest of the year.”

The Winter Reading Challenge is aimed at four to 11-year olds, but all ages can enjoy reading four books of their choice between now and 26th January. To join in, participants should visit their local library.

This year, the service has teamed up with Penguin Publishing to bring Hilary Audus’s much-loved The Snowman and the Snowdog to libraries.

Cllr Woodward added: “The fantastic thing about the challenge is that all library books count towards it.

"Children can choose their four titles from various formats including e-books, audiobooks, picture books and graphic novels.

“We wish our young readers well on the challenge and look forward to seeing them cross the finish line.”

To find out more go to hampshirelibraries.blog/2019/11/19/winter-reading-challenge-2019/.