Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP supports campaign to encourage every child to join a local library and share love of reading
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Inverness MP Drew Hendry has teamed up with the Reading Agency charity for a new chapter in their campaign which aims to encourage local primary pupils to take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.
Last year in the Highlands, 1690 children took part in the challenge.
Research shows that reading for pleasure is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background and that children who use libraries are twice as likely to be above average readers.
Last year, more than 700,000 children across the UK took part borrowing, reading and talking about their favourite books.
This year's theme for the challenge is Space Chase, inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. The challenge builds confidence and independent reading, while helping to prevent the dip in children’s reading levels during the summer break from school.
To take part in Space Chase, all children need to do is to head to their local library. There they will be given a special mission folder to keep track of the six library books they will be reading over the summer as part of the challenge. There are also lots of collectible incentives to help motivate them in their reading mission.
Mr Hendry said: “I hope parents, grandparents and carers across the Highlands will take their children to the library over the summer to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s free, inclusive and, most importantly, makes reading fun.
"Last year 1690 children in the region took part and I hope that we can increase that number this year and remind local libraries what a valuable asset they are to us and our community.”
