Join the Gadgeteers at your local library for this year's Summer Reading Challenge and help them prepare for their summer party!

The challenge encourages 4 to 11 year olds to read six or more library books (including eBooks) during the summer holidays and receive rewards along the way.

The simple and fun Summer Reading Challenge is produced annually by the Reading Agency and delivered by Wiltshire Council libraries. The challenge is the perfect summer activity to build young readers' skills and confidence during the long break from school and will support reading catch-up after the COVID pandemic.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Libraries said; "Wiltshire Council is committed to ensuring that all young people get the best start in life and the Summer Reading Challenge is a fun way to help children develop the reading skills that are so essential to everyday life and can open so many doors to learning. Regular reading for pleasure gives us fresh ideas, helps us to understand the world in which we live and supports our mental health and relationships."

This year's Summer Reading Challenge theme, 'Gadgeteers', is all about science and innovation. Developed in partnership with the Science Museum Group, the challenge will inspire children to use their curiosity and creativity to discover the science behind the everyday and celebrates the role of the imagination in both reading and the sciences.

Through the challenge, children will meet six fictional characters, the Gadgeteers, brought to life by top children's writer and illustrator, Julian Beresford. Using their imagination and curiosity, the Gadgeteers will come up with innovative ways to get everything ready for their summer party. This setting will allow children to explore the science behind a range of interests, from fashion and technology to cooking and music.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling said; "This year we will be running the challenge differently, we will have a registration period in the first two weeks of the challenge (16 to 30 July)*, where children will receive a pack of resources. After this period, and once children have completed the challenge, they are invited to return to collect their final sticker, medal and certificate. They can also still register throughout the summer."

Children can read any six library books of their choice; they don't have to be linked to the theme. They can read more than six books.

Children can also take part in the challenge online via the website: summerreadingchallenge.org.uk, where they can rate and review books, download activities, and access video content, games and quizzes.

To find out more and take part in the challenge, people can visit Summer Reading Challenge.

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• *To help library staff prepare for the transition to the new Melksham Community Campus which is due to open in early August, the Summer Reading Challenge registration period will start slightly earlier at Melksham Library, Friday 1 July. In order to transition to the new building and ensure staff are trained in health and safety requirements for the new facilities and comfortable in their new surroundings so they can provide the best possible service, Melksham Library will close for around two weeks immediately before the campus opens in August. The dates will be confirmed in due course.
• The Summer Reading Challenge is just one way in which we have sought to help children develop their reading skills. In September we launched the Wiltshire Year of Reading, a reading awards scheme involving schools and libraries, designed to inspire young people to read for pleasure and to enjoy the written word through a host of activities. Our libraries hosted events throughout the year including, author talks, book festivals, a Harry Potter night and promoted the benefits of library membership.