If you’re looking for a way to your kids’ minds these school holidays, why not get them involved in the Summer Reading Club?

The annual Summer Reading Club kicked off at the beginning of this month both online and in 1,082 public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres around Australia.

This year’s theme is Heroes and Villains, allowing each participant to explore conventions associated with everyday heroes and their villainous counterparts through interactive reading activities and games.

The Summer Reading Club has been created for kids aged 6 to 17 and is a free national program led by the State Library of Queensland to develop a child’s love or reading and going to the library.

Leeanne Enoch, Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy, said the program is to help keep young minds switched on over the summer holiday period.

“The Summer Reading Club supports continued literacy development in reading, writing, creative arts and digital technology skills through fun learning activities,” Ms Enoch said.

“Reading stories broadens our understanding and stimulates creative thinking by inviting us into new worlds and sharing different perspectives.”

“Stories have the power to help children develop ideas and imagine what might be possible – exactly what we want for our entrepreneurs of tomorrow,” she said.
State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald agrees that the Summer Reading Club offers an engaging way for libraries to combat the learning loss often experienced by children over the long summer holiday period.

“The Summer Reading Club helps ignite the learning habit, encouraging children to read for pleasure and create, even while they’re not at school,” Ms McDonald said.

“This year club members will explore the concepts of right and wrong, power and responsibility, and self-control and self-mastery by engaging with a variety of traditional and non-traditional heroes and heroines through fun activities online and in local libraries,” Ms McDonald said.

The initiative isn’t just about developing young minds either. There are opportunities for participants to blog with Australian Children’s Laureate Leigh Hobbs and popular children’s author Deborah Abela. They can also craft a ‘what happens next’ story ending to Mick Elliot’s story starter, search for answers to Encyclopaedia Britannica’s sponsored quiz and win great prizes.

“Summer Reading Club members can also meet 21 new Australian authors and illustrators online, read their helpful creative hints and tips and preview their newly release titles,” Ms McDonald said.

“SLQ is delighted to champion this fantastic program again in 2016.”

Over 48,000 children registered with Summer Reading Club in 2015 and approximately 333,000 books were read last summer.

If you want to join the club, register online at summerreadingclub.org.au or visit your local public library or Indigenous Knowledge Centre.

The initiative runs from 1st December to 31st January 2017 and is delivered in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association and the Australian Public Library Alliance.