Children invited to Go Wild at Rotherham Libraries

Children invited to Go Wild at Rotherham Libraries
Freya and Jacob Kitson collect their packs from Kiveton Library

Rotherham Council are joining libraries across the UK to stage the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge.

The theme this year is ‘Wild World Heroes’, a celebration of nature and action for the environment.

Organised by The Reading Agency in partnership with WWF, the challenge will explore ways of helping to save the planet, focussing on taking action for nature and tackling real-world environmental issues.

Children aged 4 – 11 years are invited to collect free packs from their local library or online to join fictional characters ‘Wild Heroes’ to learn about the importance of the environment while helping to restore nature levels in the neighbourhood of 'Wilderville'.

Rotherham libraries will be joining in with the challenge this summer, which launches on Saturday 10 July, with children and families encouraged to take out library books to read. There will also be special prizes for those writing a book review.  

The challenge will conclude with an event at Mowbray Gardens Library in early September where children can take part in bushcraft activities such as stick whittling and making animal dens with local organisation, Nature Safari. There will also be medal and certificate presentations for all children who have completed the challenge. 

As well as the Summer Reading Challenge there will be a number of outdoor library events in and around parks and libraries over the summer including fun activities, giveaways and story time with library staff.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Cllr David Sheppard said: “We’re really pleased to host the Summer Reading Challenge once again at Rotherham Libraries.

“Children’s reading can ‘dip’ during the long summer holidays if they do not have regular access to books and the disruption of education for pupils caused by Covid-19, makes this challenge even greater.

“The annual Summer Reading Challenge really helps by getting children regularly into libraries over the summer.

“We look forward to welcoming children who take part and guarantee they will have lots of fun.”

To take part in Wild World Heroes, Summer Reading Challenge 2021, all children need to do is sign up at their local library, where they will be given a collector folder to keep a record of their Summer Reading Challenge journey. Visit www.rotherham.gov.uk/libraries to find your local library and more information on which sites are open to the public.

For more information about the closing event at Mowbray Gardens Library, please head to the Rotherham Libraries Facebook page www.facebook.com/RothLibraries

Published: 7th July 2021