Newsroom Archive

The Summer Reading Challenge is a national annual event organised by the Reading Agency and is aimed at stimulating reading among the 4-11 years old.

The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Silly Squad’ and it aims to encourage children in the borough to read whatever makes them happy, to get them do silly things inspired by their reading and to have fun all along!

The Summer Reading Challenge 2020 will run from June to September on www.sillysquad.org.uk 

Telford & Wrekin Libraries have been joining in and have been organising this Reading Challenge in the borough every year, since 1999.  Last year, over 1,500 families and children took part.

In the previous challenges, children were encouraged to read six (or more) books of their choice during summer holidays, by collecting stickers and earning prizes along the way. On completion of the challenge, each child was awarded a certificate and a medal.

This year, due to the disruption caused by coronavirus and the current closure of the borough’s libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge is launching earlier than usual,  to support parents and carers with children at home.
It is also taking place exclusively online, on www.sillysquad.org.uk – a free-to-access website for children to rate and review the books they read, with videos, games, quizzes, and other activities

The challenge launches today, Friday, 5 June with a virtual event with guest celebrities and authors between 4-7pm on the Summer Reading Challenge Facebook page.
Telford & Wrekin Libraries is joining in and will be sharing updates on the Challenge on their Facebook and Twitter page.

Rachel Garbett, Library Development Officer for Children & Young People said: “Our Libraries’ team is ‘getting silly’ from today with the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge 2020 - follow the Libraries’ Facebook and Twitter page, you’ll see our team members taking part in silly challenges including a fun Zumba routine and wearing odd socks
“We want to get as many families and children involved in this Challenge and in posting their own silly content– so “Let’s Get Silly’ together! 
‘You can get inspired by the Silly Squad book collection, a selection of must-have funny reads for ages 4-11 that can be easily accessed as e-books and audio books on our Libraries website,  www.telford.gov.uk/libraries ‘

Cllr Eileen Callear, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Libraries and Culture said: “It’s more important than ever to ensure children in our borough keep on reading for fun, as at present, due to coronavirus outbreak, they might have been at home and out of school longer than normal.
“As such, we want to support families to keep their children occupied in a fun, family-friendly way and the ‘Let’s Get Silly’ themed Summer Reading Challenge is perfect for it!
“Families can take part in it from the comfort of their own home, by going on www.sillysquad.org.uk  , accessing the wide range of e-books and audio books from Telford & Wrekin online Libraries and last, but not least, posting their own silly content inspired by the reading’s theme on the Libraries’ Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“In a time when we deal with such serious issues, it’s great to have a bit of fun and many thanks to our amazing Telford & Wrekin Libraries staff who are organising this Challenge locally!  Let’s get reading and let’s get silly this summer! “

For more details on the Summer Reading Challenge 2020, go to www.sillysquad.org.uk

Follow Telford & Wrekin Libraries Facebook and Twitter account for the latest on this challenge but also on many online events and activities for all ages.