Irish author Leona Forde came to Portlaoise last week to help Laois County Library Service launch the Summer Stars Reading Challenge 2024.
Summer Stars is an exciting reading-based programme which is available free of charge to children across the country through their local library.
Also in attendance at the launch were County Librarian Bernie Foran and Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Paschal McEvoy, along with Fourth Class from Educate Together NS, Portlaoise.
Both the County Librarian and Cathaoirleach stated that Laois County Council was delighted to fund the library service and programmes like Summer Stars because the Council recognises the importance of reading both to people’s immediate enjoyment and quality of life as well as their education and future. The pupils were reminded that reading is a gift for life and free with the library service.
Leona read an extract from her latest book, Milly McCarthy and the Sports Day Shambles, and delighted the class with a fun interactive quiz and some mini sports day activities.
Summer Stars will run during the summer in public libraries all over Ireland. Children are invited to register for the challenge and enjoy reading lots of super books. As part of the programme children are asked to read eight books before August 31.
They may be any type of book but must be borrowed from the library. Participants will be given a Summer Stars Bag when they register and a Summer Stars Reading Booklet to record and track their own progress. This should be stamped at the library when each book is finished and returned. Everyone who completes the challenge will receive an official Summer Stars certificate and medal and will be entered into a prize draw in their local branch library.
If children have read eight books before the end of the summer they may join in the Super Stars Challenge. If participants read eight additional books (16 books in total) they are then entered in a countywide prize draw.
An additional element to the challenge is the ‘Golden ticket’ Family Reading Challenge. The family reading challenge encourages adults and children of all ages to read together and to enter a countywide draw for a family day ticket to Dublin Zoo.
There is also a full programme of free children’s events to be found in the libraries across Laois. Brochures are being distributed to schools and details are available on www.laoislibraries.ie.
Everyone is invited to check out Summer Stars on www.laoislibraries.ie or the national website www.summerstars.ie.
You can follow Summers Stars and all the great library events on Twitter (@LaoisLibraries) and on Facebook (@LaoisLibraries), Instagram (laois_libraries), and TikTok (@laoislibrariesstaff).
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