Join your local library for the Wild World Heroes Summer Reading Challenge 2021 and discover how you can make a difference to the environment too.

From 17 July, libraries across East Sussex will be encouraging youngsters aged four to 11 of all reading abilities to read six library books during the summer holidays. Inspired by the work of the World Wildlife Fund, children taking part will help the six Wild World Heroes make their town of Wilderville a better place for the people and animals who live there.

Sign up

 

How does the challenge work?

The challenge is to read any six books borrowed from the library or downloaded from the ebook library between 17 July and 11 September.

Children signing up for the challenge will be given a character sticker and a reader record to keep track of their progress. They’ll receive a prize for each book they read, including stickers (some with smells!) and a medal and certificate if they manage to finish. They can even choose to have their certificate presented in school.

For children under four years old we have the pre-school challenge – share six books with your little one and collect stickers for each book read, including a special medal sticker at the end.

Who can take part?

The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all primary school aged children and is designed for all reading abilities.

What can I read?

Children can read whatever they like in their chosen format. Fiction, fact books, poetry, joke books, picture books, graphic novels, audio books and eBooks can all be used to complete the challenge.

Are there any events happening?

Yes! Here are the free events taking place during August…

Tree Fellas (9 August to 1 September) – Come and meet the Tree Fellas! Listen to the story of how the Tree Fellas found themselves in the library and work with them to create your own story to act out, write or draw.

Ed Boxhall (4 – 25 August) – Ed Boxall’s Wild World Summer Reading Challenge Tour. Join children’s poet, performer and illustrator Ed for another fabulous mix of songs, poems and stories.

Tony De Salles Author Event (23 August) – Meet Tony de Saulles! Tony is the illustrator of the highly successful Horrible Science series as well as author and illustrator of the Bee Boy series. Draw along with Tony and learn some great cartooning tips on the way to creating your own mini master pieces to take home.

Rob Lloyd Jones Author Event (25 August) – Meet Rob Lloyd Jones! Best-selling author and Egyptologist Rob Lloyd Jones takes children on a fascinating journey: from how he started writing (and how you can too), to the real- life treasure hunt that inspired his new novel. Rob’s book Jake Atlas and The Tomb of the Emerald Snake was shortlisted for the East Sussex Children’s Book Award in 2018.

Check availability and book a free place at an event

How do I sign up?

You can sign your child up at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/src

To take part in Wild World Heroes, children need to have their own library card and PIN.  It’s free and easy to become a member of the library. Bring along something with your name, address and signature on it (a driving licence is ideal as it has all of these) you can sign up the whole family. You can also join online and have your cards posted to you.

If you don’t have a smartphone, computer or tablet, you can sign up using a computer in the library. You can ask one of our volunteers or a member of staff for help if you need it.

Is my local library open and safe to visit?

All East Sussex libraries are open and Covid-secure, with measures in place to ensure everyone’s safety.

The Reading Agency, along with the UK public library network, delivers the Summer Reading Challenge across the country every year. It is the UK’s biggest annual reading promotion for children aged four to eleven. Throughout the Summer Reading Challenge, library staff, along with volunteers, help children to discover new authors and explore a wide range of different types of books, giving them a positive experience of reading for pleasure.

You can visit the official Summer Reading Challenge website for fun games, author interviews and book recommendations.