Two Luton libraries – Leagrave and Marsh Farm – have joined forces with ITV Good Morning Britain to encourage Luton children to share a love of reading.
They’re among 200 libraries across the country taking part in the Just Read giveaway which is supported by national charity The Reading Agency together with children’s publisher Puffin.
The campaign will see the distribution on Saturday (September 13) of 50 free copies of the betselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
The giveaway will highlight how vital libraries are for the nation’s literacy and that books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid really can help children on their reading journey.
Jeff Kinney’s work is perfect for turning reluctant readers on to books. With a 50/50 split between between words and cartoons, children agree it’s 100 percent hilarious. They voted Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck their favourite book in the 2014 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
Luton Libraries have also signed up to encourage parents and carers to spend 10 minutes a day reading with their children.
It comes hot on the heels of a report that reveals hundreds of thousands of youngsters are leaving school without adequate reading skills and that one in seven aged between eight and 11 do not own a book of their own at home.
The ‘Read On. Get On’ coalition was formed by a combination of leading charities, teachers, parents and businesses. It has launched a national mission to support parents and teachers to get all 11-year-olds reading satisfactorily by 2025.
Children who visit Leagrave and Marsh Farm libraries on Saturday will be able to enjoy a literary mix of Roald Dahl Day and Wimpy Kid activities at regular Family Fun time sessions.
A Leagrave Library spokeswoman said: “To celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday, we’ll be doing some of his favourite things with a Wimpy Kid twist – like wear yellow, whizz popp and klat sdrawcab.
“As Greg might say: ‘Eew-ooz amam!’”
The latest campaign follows a wonderful season at Luton Libraries as thousands of children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge, encouraged by a host of wellknown authors including Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Morpurgo.
As The Reading Agency says: “Everything changes when we read.”