Kids are encouraged to swap screens for stories these summer school holidays as part of the fifth annual Big Summer Read.
The statewide reading challenge aims to combat the ‘summer slide’ – a common drop in reading time and subsequent loss of literacy skills children experience during the long school holidays.
Victorian children under the age of 18 are eligible to register and track their reading progress through the Big Summer Read website, with digital badges and prizes on offer for participants.
As part of the program, parents can register and read to children who can’t yet read independently.
Four winners will each take home a Zoos Victoria family membership, one for each age category, and local libraries from across the state will also award locally sourced prizes to Big Summer Read participants.
“The Big Summer Read helps to get kids across the state into libraries over the summer holidays by making summer reading fun and rewarding,” Local Government Minister Nick Staikos said.
The program reinforces the role of public libraries as a vital community resource for early childhood development and lifelong learning throughout adulthood, and was designed to give smaller, rural public library services without an independent summer reading program a way to engage young Victorians over the summer break.
“Victorian libraries are a great place to beat the summer heat, and with so many books on offer, there’s something for every reader these summer holidays,” Victorian Public Libraries ambassador Andrea Rowe said.
For more on the Big Summer Read, visit readbooks.com.au/bsr.
