The Winter Mini Reading Challenge

Published: 5 December 2022

Illustrations by Julien Beresford of the Gadgeteers.

The Reading Agency is teaming up with the Science Museum Group for the Gadgeteers Winter Mini Challenge! The Winter Mini Challenge encourages children to keep up their reading habits over the winter, with a free-to-access website featuring rewards for reading and reviewing books. The challenge runs from 1 Dec 2022 until 20 Feb 2023.

The setting for the Winter Mini Challenge is a festive party at the Gadgeteers' community centre. When a sudden snowstorm whirls in, can the Gadgeteers use their ingenuity, creativity and curiosity to keep everyone entertained until the weather brightens? Get ready for cool do-it-at-home experiments and learn along the way reading for pleasure with the Winter Mini Challenge.

Taking part is easy, children simply need to read three or more books. These can be any books of their choice, and there are lots of titles to choose from at your local Derby Library to get started. Every time they finish a book, they add it to their Challenge website profile and leave a short book review. Reaching their online reading goal will unlock a limited-edition virtual badge and a special Winter Mini Challenge certificate to print off and keep!

Each time a book is added to the child's online profile, they will earn a fun digital reward! There will be a whole host of other fun activities, book recommendations, and games from the best children's authors and illustrators featured on the website.

For parents, there is a Home Zone and Library Zone on the reading challenge website with more information on reading, the Challenges and the website. There is also a Reading Challenge Facebook page so that parents can keep up to date with news and opportunities. Look out for book bundles and more!

Councillor Matthew Eyre, Cabinet Member for Community, Development, Place and Tourism said:

This is the perfect time of year to get stuck into a good book with the kids. Following on from the Summer Reading Challenge, it’s a great opportunity to carry on boosting their reading confidence and keep them interested and entertained by enhancing their reading over the Christmas break.

I am personally trying to read more, and I wish all participants the very best of luck!

Take part on the website from 1 Dec until 20 Feb 2023 at the Winter Mini Reading Challenge website. Find out more and sign up for your local library on the Derby Libraries website.