Local MP Caroline Dinenage is urging primary school children across Gosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent and Hill Head to get involved in the 2015 Summer Reading Challenge.
The Summer Reading Challenge is facilitated by a unique partnership between The Reading Agency and public libraries across the UK and got 810,000 children reading in the summer holidays in 2014. This year the Summer Reading Challenge has teamed up with Guinness World Records to create Record Breakers. When children sign up at the library they will receive a special poster and as they borrow and read library books over the summer, they will collect stickers to complete their poster and discover fascinating facts about record breakers as they go.
The Reading Agency is calling on people of all ages, across the country to pledge to use their local library over the summer and help libraries set a Guinness World Records title. The Gosport Discovery Centre will be collecting pledges between Friday 10 and Monday 13 July.
Speaking in support of the initiative, Caroline said:
"It is really important to get children into reading from an early age as it boosts confidence and improves life chances which is why this campaign is so valuable. I am delighted that Gosport Discovery Centre will be facilitating the Summer Reading Challenge and would urge young people from across our area to get involved.
Last year 26,768 children in Hampshire took part in the Challenge. I hope we can increase that number this year, show local libraries what a crucial resource they are to us and help set a world record at the same time."
Children can use the special website www.recordbreakers.org.uk to create a profile, chat about books, and get help on what to read next, via the digital Book Sorter which already offers over 450,000 peer to peer children's book recommendations in child-friendly categories.
For more information on the Summer Reading Challenge including how to get involved and resources for schools, visit: www.readingagency.org.uk/summerreadingchallenge.