Entertainment over the holidays

CHILDREN are being offered free Great Reads over the next two months.

Great Reads is Moray Libraries’ summer reading challenge for 2019, encouraging primary school-aged children to enjoy books throughout the summer holidays.

"There are hundreds that you can find in the library," said lending services co-ordinator, Linda Geddes, "and there are so many excellent children’s books around these days that it is hard to choose!"

All participants need to do is be a member of Moray Libraries free service, sign up for the challenge, borrow six books and tell the staff about them as they go. They have until Saturday, August 31.

Ms Geddes said: "Library staff love hearing about what the children have read and which characters they admire or to whom they relate. The children’s enthusiasm for their chosen reads is infectious and libraries have a real buzz about them when the challenge is happening. It also makes the child feel special and engaging with staff can increase a child’s confidence and comprehension and can lead to better articulation when speaking to others."

Each child will receive a certificate on completion and receive a 'golden ticket' invitation to meet a children’s author who is yet to be announced at a prize-giving ceremony later this year.

Ms Geddes said: "It has been proven that children taking part in reading challenges have maintained or increased their reading level, while those who do not participate often find that levels fall.

"However, we want to promote the enjoyment of reading and how it is separate from the reading that must be done at school."

Ms Geddes recommends some top fiction and non-fiction to start with.

She said: "I particularly enjoyed Hilary McKay’s ‘The Skylarks’ War’ which recounts how a family fares during the awful trials and tribulations of WWI. It is a well-written tale with extremely well-drawn characters and an insight into the period for children.

"I’d recommend also recommend Chae Strathie’s ‘So you think you've got it bad?: A kid's life in ancient Greece’ which is a factual but hilarious account of how a kid’s life in ancient times could be actually very hard. It's a must read for those with a liking for Horrible Histories."

She added: "A modern twist on an old favourite comes in the shape of Pamela Butchart’s 'The Mystery of the Skull'. Dundee’s amazing children’s author was asked by the Enid Blyton estate to write two Secret Seven books and The Mystery of the Skull is the first."

There are activity sheets at all Moray Libraries which include wordsearches, colouring sheets and a progressive treasure hunt where a different character is released each week and children can search to find the name of the character.

Storytimes and Bookbug sessions continue for younger children too. See http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_39966.html or call 01309 672834 for more information.