On your marks: it's time for Oldham's young people to become reading superstars!

Oldham Council’s libraries and Gallery Oldham are inviting local young people to become reading superstars.

This summer, four to 11-year-olds are being invited to join a superstar team and their marvellous mascots and get involved in the Summer Reading Challenge.

Through taking part, with free materials from Oldham Libraries and online via the Challenge website, children will be encouraged to keep their minds and bodies active over the school holidays.

The characters – brought to life by children’s author and illustrator Loretta Schauer – navigate a fictional summer obstacle course and track their reading as they go, rewarded by free incentives including stickers.

Through activity challenge cards from the Youth Sport Trust, and an exciting, themed book collection, the Challenge aims to keep imaginations moving.

The young people will have the opportunity to explore new reading material, develop skills, and discover new interests.

Here’s a taster of what’s in store:

Sign Up Saturday, July 15, 11am – 3pm, Oldham Library/Gallery Oldham – Sign up for free to receive your Ready, Set Read! pack and enjoy themed activities including crazy golf, smoothie bikes and World Champion skater, Jenna Downing

Splash! Story workshop, August 3, 1-3pm, Oldham Library – Bring the book, Splash! To life through storytelling and crafts with illustrator Sharon Davey:

Ready, Set Read! Celebration, September 16, Oldham Library/Gallery Oldham – Fun activities to celebrate your Summer Reading Challenge success

Councillor Peter Dean, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge has been going for a while now and it continues to be a great and fun initiative to help young people with their reading – especially while school’s out for the summer.

“Young people who take on the challenge really benefit, and it shows when they return to school in September.

“The reading challenge can also help introduce families to our superb libraries so they can explore the range of books available all year round.”

A full list of events, activities and services which are available can be found here

More information is available via the Challenge website here

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