Summer Reading Challenge brings creativity to children across Britain
Create is delighted to be partnering with The Reading Agency for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which aims to fire up children’s imaginations and unleash creativity through the power of reading.
The Challenge launched on 22 June in Scotland and online and 6 July in England and Wales, during Create Week. Create worked closely with The Reading Agency to develop the theme for this year’s Challenge – ‘Marvellous Makers’ – and we’re very excited to see children across the country exploring their creative side this summer.
The annual Challenge, which aims to inspire children aged between 4-11 to read for fun over the summer holidays, is delivered in partnership with public libraries, and it’s free to take part. From June to September, children taking part in ‘Marvellous Makers’ can discover new stories, join in with free activities at the library, and explore their creativity – from junk modelling to music, dance to drawing and painting. This year’s bespoke illustrations are created by celebrated illustrator Natelle Quek. Taking place in libraries and online, the Summer Reading Challenge provides the perfect opportunity for active minds to explore, imagine, and create in a supportive and engaging environment.
This year’s ‘Marvellous Makers’ theme will inspire children’s inner storytellers, motivating them to be curious and to tell their own stories through various creative outlets. As part of the partnership, Create’s artists have developed seven creative activities involving different artforms that children can engage with wherever they are and become ‘Marvellous Makers’ themselves.
Nicky Goulder, Founding CEO of Create, said: “This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to bring creativity to young people across the country. People need to create, and everyone deserves access to the life-enhancing power of the creative arts. ‘Marvellous Makers’ brilliantly combines the joy of reading and the wonder of creativity, providing young people with new opportunities to express themselves. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of it.”
Leading names in the creative arts are supporting the initiative as Challenge Champions including actor, TV presenter, musician and author Jordan Stephens, Welsh Laureate and children’s author Alex Wharton, and our very own Create Patron, comedian, actress, and author Isy Suttie.
Speaking about the Challenge, Isy Suttie said: “I was incredibly chuffed to be asked to become a Summer Reading Challenge Champion. Reading has always formed the backbone of my life and I believe passionately that it does wonders for us as humans to be truly absorbed in a book – one of the reasons being a Create Patron is so important to me. A book you adore can provide excitement, solace and strength.”
The Summer Reading Challenge aims to prevent the “summer dip” learning loss many children experience over the holidays when they aren’t in school. In 2023, over 685,000 children across the UK participated.
Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge sparks children’s creativity and imagination through reading. Developed with Create, this year’s ‘Marvellous Makers’ theme will inspire kids’ inner storytellers and makers. We’re thrilled to work with libraries to provide an engaging environment for exploring new ideas through books and activities.”
Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge
