Book Boogie to start annual reading challenge

An event to mark the start of the Summer Reading Challenge is being held outside of Frome Library on Tuesday 21st July.

Children in Frome are invited to the ‘Book Boogie’ at 4pm where they can take their favourite book for a boogie led by Cheryl Sprinkler of Mojo Moves.

The boogie will mark the national Summer Reading Challenge, which, since 1999 has encouraged children to read or listen to six books of their choosing from their local public library, along the way they will collect stickers and cards to celebrate their reading milestones.

The theme of this year’s challenge is ‘Read to the Beat’. “We thought what better way to celebrate the challenge and the end of the school term, than with a Book Boogie,” said chairperson of Friends of Frome Library, Kerry Meech.

Friends of Frome Library will be giving out free ice lollies at the event and Read to the Beat goodies for every child who signs up to the reading challenge.

Kerry said, “We don’t need much persuasion when it comes to dusting off our dancing shoes. We are really pleased to be able to support the incredible team at Frome Library with their Summer Reading Challenge activities, especially in light of recent research by the National Literacy Trust that found that just over one in three children said they enjoy reading, the lowest level in 20 years, and only one in five children now read daily, with the steepest decline among five to 10-year-olds.   

“During school holidays we know that reading habits can slip even further, so the Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic way to keep kids engaged and motivated and Frome Library have a whole host of weekly free events and activities throughout the summer holidays to further inspire young readers, details for which can be found on the Frome Library Facebook page or at their enquiries desk.”