This summer, children from all over Cumbria will be taking part in an exiting new reading challenge with every page they turn counting towards the planting of thousands of new trees.
Organised in Cumbria by the county council's Library Service, the Big Wild Read initiative will give junior library goers the chance to enjoy a specially selected collection of books, all based around the theme of nature and the environment.
The Big Wild Read is the ninth national Summer Reading Challenge , 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 challenge will run over the school summer holidays. Green fingered readers taking part will earn special 'tree tokens' which will be used to plant up to 20,000 new trees around the UK with the help of the Woodland Trust.
Children signing up to take part in The Big Wild Read, will be given a bright and colourful folder to record their summer reading which will also include handy tips on nurturing wildlife and caring for the environment.
Other goodies on offer include scratch-and-sniff stickers, moving-image bookmarks and even packs of wild flower seeds to attract wildlife into gardens and neighbourhoods.
Local ceremonies will be held in several areas where young people who complete the challange will be presented with special certificates.
But that's not all! Wild readers who accomplish their challenge will be entered into a special competition with the chance to win one of six brand new bikes. Each library will also be giving away a £10 book token to local prize draw winners.
Councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet member responsible for Cumbria's libraries, said: "Library staff have organised a creative, boredom-busting range of activities for children during the summer holidays which promotes reading and a greater awareness of the county's natural environment.
"Green fingered readers who take part will hopefully see their love of reading grow alongside the trees they will be helping to plant."
A host of other activities set around the Big Wild Read theme will also be taking place in libraries across Cumbria over the summer holidays - several in partnership with Recycle Cumbria.
The Big Wild Read runs from 13 July to 9 September. For information on how to take part, contact your local Cumbrian library or visit Cumbria County Council's website at www.cumbriacc.gov.uk
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Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-60337
Notes
Now in its ninth year, the summer reading challenge is the UK's largest promotion of children's reading. It makes visits to the local library during the summer holidays extra special for children by offering great incentives and rewards for reading. Last year 660,000 children took part in The Reading Mission reading challenge.
This year's challenge, The Big Wild Read will actively encourage children to make a positive difference to their environment.