MP Ian Liddell-Grainger is supporting the latest phase of a campaign to get primary school children reading more.
It’s run by charity The Reading Agency, whose Summer Reading Challenge launches across England and Wales on July 14.
The Challenge is a unique partnership between agency and public libraries and last year got over three quarters of a million children borrowing, reading and talking about their favourite books.
This year's theme is Mischief Makers, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the much-loved comic, The Beano. As children read at least six library books over the summer they will collect stickers which will help them crack the clues and help Dennis, Gnasher and friends find the buried treasure.
Mr Liddell-Grainger, Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, said he was hugely impressed with the aims of the campaign, which included preventing children’s reading levels dipping during the long summer holidays.
He said research had shown that reading for pleasure was a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background and that children who used libraries were twice as likely to be above-average readers.
“I hope parents, grandparents and carers in Bridgwater and West Somerset will take their children to the library over the summer to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge,” he said.
“It’s free, inclusive and, most importantly, makes reading fun. Last year 7,708 children in Somerset took part. I hope we can increase that number this year.”