Adding to the excitement, the National Literacy Trust attended the event and gave each child the opportunity to choose a free book to take home, making the occasion even more memorable and providing the perfect inspiration for their next reading adventure.
The recognition scheme is now a permanent part of the Peterborough Libraries service. From now on, every child who reaches 250, 500 or 750-book milestones will receive a certificate celebrating their achievement, while those who go on to borrow and read 1,000 books will be presented with a Children's Gold Library Card. The initiative has been introduced to encourage young readers to continue their reading journey and inspire them to work towards the next milestone.
There could not be a better time to celebrate the achievements of young readers and inspire even more children to discover the joy of books as the celebration comes just days before the national Summer Reading Challenge begins.
From 4 July, families are invited to visit their local Peterborough library and sign up for this year's Summer Reading Challenge: Read to the Beat. It’s all about finding your reading rhythm, getting to the beat of great stories, and discovering page-turners that really sing - and best of all, it’s completely free!
Children who take part will receive a special sticker booklet after finishing their first library book, along with a new sticker for each additional book they read. Those who read six library books and complete the challenge will be awarded a Read to the Beat certificate and a commemorative bookmark to celebrate their achievement.
Alice, Children's Reading Development Officer at Peterborough Libraries, said:
"Every book a child reads helps build their confidence, imagination and lifelong love of learning. We wanted to create something that celebrates those reading milestones and gives children something exciting to work towards. Receiving a certificate at each milestone and a Children's Gold Library Card after 1,000 books is a fantastic achievement, and we hope it inspires even more young people to keep reading. With the Summer Reading Challenge starting this weekend, there's never been a better time for children to get involved and discover everything their local library has to offer."
To join Peterborough Libraries, visit your local library or click here.
Notes to editors:
The Summer Reading Challenge is a national initiative delivered by The Reading Agency.