TAKE the challenge and change your world is the message to Hampshire's children to encourage them to read over the summer holidays. The tag-line is for this years national summer reading challenge 'The Big Wild Read' and in the spirit of this year's theme, Hampshire County Council's library service is launching the event at Marwell Zoological Park, near Winchester. The aim of the challenge, which begins on July 14 in all Hampshire libraries and runs until September 8, is to raise awareness about the environment as well as the enjoyment of reading. Any child aged between four and 11 can take part in the challenge, which is to read six books from a local library during the summer holidays. Participants, will be given a special folder and will be able to keep track of their progress by collecting stickers to put in it for each book they read. Everyone who completes the challenge, will receive a medal and certificate and their school will be notified of their success. The aim is to offer children an incentive for reading and show that libraries are interesting, fun places. Last year 2,261 children joined the library for the first time due to their involvement in the challenge. Marwell Zoo, as sponsor of the event in Hampshire, is offering prizes and 20,000 discount vouchers to children who take part. This year, the scheme is being supported by the BBC in connection with its 'Breathing Places' environment initiative, which is designed to encourage people to engage with nature, and the Woodland Trust, which is holding a 'Tree for All', campaign to involve children in planting 12 million trees across the UK. James Cretney, park director at Marwell Zoo, said: "Marwell Zoo is a proud partner of this challenge across Hampshire." Executive member for recreation and heritage, Margaret Snaith, who is helping to launch the event at the zoo, said: "What better way to encourage children to think about recycling and the environment than for them to borrow books from the library, and then return them for other children to enjoy. "I hope that even more children take up the challenge this year and discover the exciting books that can be found at Hampshire's libraries. "I wish all of the children who take part, many happy hours of great reading."
