Lancashire County Council’s libraries service, working in partnership with the Reading Agency, is inviting children in Preston aged from four to 11 to join the ‘Silly Squad’, and take part in a free challenge all about funny books, happiness and things that make us laugh.

The annual Summer Reading Challenge will be available for children to take part in from Wednesday 24 June, despite libraries currently being closed.

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The ‘Silly Squad’ are an adventurous team of animals who love to have a laugh and get stuck into many different kinds of funny books. It features bespoke artwork from award-winning children’s author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson.

Read more: Online library use soars during lockdown as bookworms go digital

County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “In these unusual times it’s more important than ever that families find ways to have fun and laugh together.

“With school life having been disrupted, many children have missed the company of their friends and this means that this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is all the more important.

“There are so many funny children’s books available to cheer us up, and this is a great chance for families to read together over the summer and have some fun.”

Usually children visit their local library to register and collect a wallet, stickers and other rewards as they progress through the challenge, reading a total of six books.

However, as Lancashire’s libraries are currently closed because of COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 Challenge will work in a different way.

For the first time it is going to be a digital-only activity to keep children reading and support parents and carers, especially if children are at home.

Read more: Preston and Lancashire primary schools and nurseries told they can reopen on Monday 22 June 

The challenge, which runs through the summer until the end of September will be free to access, featuring games, quizzes and downloadable activities to incentivise and encourage children and their families to take part in reading related activities at home.

Children can choose their own reading goals, create book reviews, play games and collect virtual rewards. To sign up, parents and guardians can register their children online via the safe sign-up process.

The new online platform will help children to keep track of their books and reviews, as well as the rewards they unlock along the way.

Children can use their own books, or any from school, to take part in the challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced nationally by The Reading Agency and is being delivered by libraries across the country through virtual services and e-lending platforms.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

Will your little ones be taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge? Tell us in the comments below.