08 Aug If you go down to the woods today, you’ll find the Essex Year of Reading!
A campaign set-up by the Essex Education Task Force to boost pupils’ reading skills, is encouraging parents and carers to keep their children reading over the summer.
The Essex Year of Reading, which is being funded by Essex County Council (ECC), is aiming to help and inspire children to maintain their reading skills over the school holidays by promoting a range of fun activities.
This includes ‘Books in the Park’ at Thorndon and Weald Country Parks on Thursday 11 August. The events will feature special story-time sessions where families can hear Julia Donaldson’s children’s classics, The Gruffalo and Stick Man.
The sessions take place between 10.30am and 11.30am at Thorndon Country Park and between 2pm and 3pm at Weald Country Park. Both events are free thanks to Essex Library Service and Explore Essex (car parking charges will apply).
The Country Parks are home to the Gruffalo and Stick Man play trails. Youngsters can meet a series of wood carved creatures from the Gruffalo book at Thorndon and have fun on slides, swings and climbing frames along the Stick Man trail at Weald.
Children and adults can also visit the Essex Library Service mobile library on the day. A wide range of books will be available to borrow, plus parents and carers sign their children and themselves up for free library cards and get involved with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. A library card will allow them to access thousands of books, ebooks and eaudio.
The mobile library will be at Thorndon Country Park from 10am-12pm and at Weald Country Park from 1.30pm–3.30pm (subject to weather conditions).
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “We remain committed to ensuring every child in Essex can read at their age level or above. Getting out and about and having fun with books is the best way to engage children and start a lifelong love of reading.
“Julia Donaldson’s stories and Axel Scheffler’s illustrations have delighted both children and adults alike for many years. The story times and Gruffalo Trail will not only make for a lovely day out but will also help to bring the books to life for children.”
Adding to the fun, the Essex Year of Reading is also encouraging children to read in unusual places over the summer. Children, young people and families have been challenged to find weird and wonderful places to read. They can share their amusing and fun pictures on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #ReadingInUnusualPlaces, or tag @EssexCountyCouncil on Facebook.
To find out more about the Essex Year of Reading, visit www.essexyearofreading.co.uk or download the Essex Year of Reading app from the App Store or Google Play.
