Step into a Virtual World with the Summer Reading Challenge

And it's all free fun, which is top news for parents!

Each year, Rotherham Borough Council's Library Service challenges children aged from four to 11 to read six books over the summer holidays. It is a national event designed to encourage children and families to get excited about reading and to take 'one giant leap' into libraries.

And for six exciting weeks, children are invited into the world of the Story Lab during which time they can choose their books, with incentives and rewards throughout the summer.

Children's Services Library Manager Mark Heaton said: "Stepping into the Story Lab, children will be off on an imaginative adventure that knows no bounds. The Story Lab is the brainchild of Prof Cortex, the Story Lab's on-board computer; it is a hi-tech HQ that attracts stories from all over the world. Here children can read, collect, share, create, transmit and broadcast stories.

"And to help things along, the library service has purchased new books which will link directly into the theme, along with the thousands of other brilliant books that are available for free."

As children progress through the books, they will collect stickers and other rewards for each book they read.

Earn their Bronze, Silver and Gold Story Lab stickers in the library, and they can unlock the secret codes in their online profile on the Story Lab website to get some fun animations created just for them.

There will also be a variety of activities happening at each library and, linked to the Radar project for teenagers, there will be Manga art workshops and visits from leading children's author Ali Sparkes.

The Summer Reading Challenge has been created and is run by The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to inspire more people to read more, and is supported by children's publishers.

At the end of the summer, if children have read six books they are awarded a medal and certificate.

Last year, over 2,500 children took part in the initiative in Rotherham , with over 1,600 successfully completing the challenge and receiving their medals in September.

Mark adds: "The Summer Reading Challenge is the highlight of the year for both library staff and the thousands of children who take part. We hope that with the help of parents, teachers, library staff and - of course - the children themselves, we can beat last year's figure of 2,591 children taking part.  We hope to see you at one of our libraries over the summer!"

To find out more about the Rotherham Summer Reading Challenge and the various workshops and visits to be organised throughout the challenge visit the Libraries Section. 

You can also visit the Story Lab and the national Summer Reading Challenge.