Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Royal Borough libraries have set a challenge to youngsters for the summer holidays – and offered a reward of spy cards, secret message pens, bookmarks and stickers along the way and a 'mission accomplished' medal and certificate when they achieve their goal.

The Maidenhead youngsters' challenge is to read six books during the summer. The Reading Mission – as this year's Summer Reading Challenge is called – themes in with the release of the film Stormbreaker which is based on the best-selling book by Anthony Horowitz featuring teenage spy Alex Rider.

The Summer Reading Challenge is a national scheme, organised by The Reading Agency, to encourage children to use their local libraries and read books during the break from school.

Children can sign up from July 15 and can join at any point until the challenge ends on September 9, by going to any of the Maidenhead borough's libraries.

When they sign up they will receive a special mission pack in which to record the details of the six books as they read them.

For every book read they receive either a sheet of Reading Mission stickers or a Reading Mission spy card. There are also bookmarks and secret message pens (which write in invisible ink) to collect along the way.

When they have reached their sixth book they become a special reading agent and will be presented with a 'mission accomplished' medal and certificate.

Katie Farrell, Maidenhead young people's librarian, said: "Last year 1,047 children took part in the borough's Summer Reading Challenge and we are hoping many more children will join in this year."

The challenge is free of charge and all children aged four to12 years old are invited to join in.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead