The Cornwall Reading Challenge Returns This Summer

The long summer holidays can quietly stall a child’s reading. Cornwall’s libraries have a free way to keep young readers going, and it opens at libraries across the county on Saturday 11 July.

What is the Cornwall Reading Challenge?

The Cornwall Reading Challenge is a free programme for children that runs every summer in libraries across Cornwall. It is built to prevent the “summer reading dip”, the loss of reading progress that can happen over a long break from school. It is open to all ages and abilities.

This year’s theme is Extraordinary Explorers. The idea is to let children follow their own curiosity and read around the things they already love, from sport to science and art to adventure, while building confidence and supporting literacy and wellbeing.

How it works

Choose a challenge

Children pick one of two routes when they sign up.

The Reading Quest asks them to finish six books of their choice, in whatever format suits them best:

• fiction books
• fact books
• poetry books
• audio books
• joke books
• picture books
• graphic novels
• ebooks

The One and All Challenge is the accessible option for children who are too young for six books, or for whom six books may not be the right fit. Children and their grown-ups can sign up to share six books together, or pick from a range of creative activities to earn a stamp in their booklet. Those activities can be repeated as many times as they like.

Collect stamps and rewards

After every two books or activities, children pop into the library to collect stamps, stickers and rewards. Library staff and volunteers are there to help them sign up, claim rewards and find new books when they want a bit of advice or inspiration.

Complete the challenge

Finish all six and there are three things to claim:

• a medal keyring
• a certificate
• a treasure trail

How to sign up

Sign up at any library in Cornwall from Saturday 11 July, or register online through Cornwall Council’s Reading Challenge page. The challenge runs until Saturday 12 September.