Southwark | Summer Reading Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge

Animal Agents – 15 July to 3 September 2017

It’s that time of year again when children aged 4 to 11 years are challenged to read any six books during the summer holiday and receive rewards after each book.

This year there’s something peculiar happening at the local library and that’s where the Animal Agents come in! It’s a detective agency manned by all kinds of clever animals; furry, scaly and slippery – and these guys are out to crack the case with a little help from their friends. From solving the case of the graffiti writing to the strange case of a missing lunch, children will join in the fun with the Animal Agents by reading along.

As children read library books on the Summer Reading Challenge, they will receive a host of stickers, some with mysterious smells. By collecting the stickers on their collector folder, young readers will help the Animal Agents find out what’s really been going on behind the scenes and who is to blame!

You can register for the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library.

If you are not already a member or Southwark Libraries, join online.

Animal Agents for children with additional needs

Peckham Library | Tuesday 25 July 2pm to 3pm

Dulwich Library | Tuesday 25 July 2pm to 3pm & Tuesday 22 August 2pm to 3pm

Children will love these storytelling sessions, specially developed for those with additional needs. Library staff use specialist props to tell stories. At the end of the session all children receive Animal Agents gifts to take home.

All children are invited to these events.

Summer Maths Workshops with explore learning

Children will enjoy keeping up with maths at our free Summer Maths Workshops with Explore Learning. Visit the relevant library and book your child onto an Explore Learning workshop. Bookings are made on a first come first served basis.

Blue Anchor Library | Thursday 27 July, 2pm to 3pm

Explore Learning Maths Workshop – learn about division, for ages 10 plus

Peckham Library| Wednesday 2 August, 2pm to 3pm

Explore Learning Maths Workshop – shape and measurement, for ages 5 to 6.

Nunhead Library | Wednesday 9 August, 1.45pm to 2.45pm

Explore Learning Maths Workshop – fractions and decimals, age 9 and above.

Teen  Author Talk

Saturday 29 July, 2pm to 3pm | 5th Floor, Adult pod, Peckham Library, Peckham Hill Street Se15 5JR

Inspiring teenage author Kafayat Adesanya published her book, My Girl, at age 14. Kafayat will talk about her new book.

An intriguing story that follows the mixed fortunes of a young girl. You can also purchase a copy of the book on the day. For all keen readers and budding young writers. Come along and join us. This event is free of charge.

Find available copies of the book here

Tell Southwark Libraries what books to buy!

Southwark Libraries want young people to tell them what books they would like to purchase for the library. This is a great opportunity to help library staff select books to purchase for Southwark Libraries. Young people who join us on the visit will be signed up as young volunteers for Southwark Libraries and also receive a free book.

Foyles bookshop is an award winning independent bookstore that sells books across all genres. The Charing Cross store has 200,000 different titles on four miles (6.5km) of shelves.

Children aged eight to 11 must be accompanied by their parent or carer. Young people aged 12 to 17 do not have to be accompanied. There will be four members of library staff attending the trip.

This trip is free but you must book your place by Monday 24 July. For booking and information southwark.libraries@southwark.gov.uk

• Meet in Dulwich Library foyer, 368 Lordship Lane SE22 8NB at 9.30am
• Leave Dulwich Library together for Foyles bookshop
• Arrive at the bookshop, 107 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DT at approximately 10.45am
• Lunch 1pm
• Return to Dulwich Library foyer at 3pm.

Rap Contest | Ages ten to 17

Peckham Library  | Saturday 16 September 12pm to 3.15pm

The Southwark Libraries Rap Contest, is a competition for budding rappers, poets and artists to showcase original material, perform live and compete for a cash prize.

The contest is about showcasing your voice, your thoughts, your ideas and what is important to you. The contest will encourage artists to listen to each other’s work and provides young people with a great opportunity to be seen and heard in front of an audience

Rap and poetry workshops

To practice your rapping and poetry skills before our Rap Contest on Saturday 16 September, come to a Rap and Poetry Workshop with Performance Poet Xana. She will guide you through all the skills you need to take part.

Wednesday 26 July, 11am to 1pm | Ages 13 to 17 years

Children’s Pod, 5th Floor Peckham Library Peckham Hill Street SE15 5JR

Friday 28 July, 11am to 1pm | Ages 10 to 12 years

1st Floor Hall Camberwell Library 48 Camberwell Green SE5 7AL

Graphic Art Competition

Monday 5 June to Sunday 3 September

Southwark Libraries are running a graphic art competition during the summer holidays. Drawings can be of your favourite Manga, cartoon, comic or graphic novel character. You can also make up your own character. Computer generated drawings will not be accepted. In previous years they have had fantastic entries from children and young people

Age groups

The drawings will be judged in three age groups:   7 to 9 | 10 to 13 | 14 to 17

The winners from each age group will win a £20 Amazon gift voucher and graphic art books. Prizes for this competition will be presented at a special Graphic Art event in September 2017.

How to enter

Entries must be submitted by hand or by post to: Canada Water Library, 21 Surrey Quays Road, SE16 7AR, or Dulwich Library, 368 Lordship Lane SE22 8NB.
Scanned entries can also be emailed to:  southwark.libraries@southwark.gov.uk

For more information contact the email above. Remember to include your full name, age, address including postcode and telephone number, on the reverse of your entry. Without these details we are unable to judge your work.

Summer Programme at Blue Anchor, Canada Water and John Harvard libraries.

For ages five and under, parents and carers. For activities in other libraries, Download the full programme of summer events ^{(pdf, 2.5mb)} here

Blue Anchor

Canada water Library

Summer Rhyme Time

• Thursday 27 July, 11am to 11.30am
• Thursday 3 August, 11am to 11.30am
• Thursday 10 August, 11am to 11.30am
• Thursday 17 August, 11am to 11.30am
• Friday 25 August, 11am to 11.30am
• Friday 1 September, 11am to 11.30a

John Harvard Library

Activities for ages four to 11

Blue Anchor Library

Animal Carnival Masks | Saturday 15 July, 2pm to 3pm
Family stories and crafts

• Saturday 22 July, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
• Saturday 29 July, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
• Saturday 5 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
• Saturday 12 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
• Saturday 19 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
• Saturday 26 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
• Saturday 2 September, 2.30pm to 3.30pm

Make-A-Snake |Tuesday 25 July, 2pm to 3pm

Sniff Them Out! | Tuesday 1 August, 2pm to 3pm

Go Barmi with Origami | Tuesday 15 August, 2pm to 3pm

Safari Finger Puppets | Tuesday 22 August, 2pm to 3pm

Animal Pop Ups | Tuesday 29 August, 2pm to 3pm

Canada water Library

Animal Carnival Masks | Saturday 15 July, 2pm to 3pm

Make-A-Snake | Friday 28 July, 2pm to 3pm

Sniff Them Out! | Friday 4 August, 2pm to 3pm

Animal Agent ID Badge and Camera | Friday 11 August, 2pm to 3pm

Go Barmi with Origami | Friday 18 August, 2pm to 3pm

Safari Finger Puppets | Friday 25 August, 2pm to 3pm

Animal Pop Ups |Friday 1 September, 2pm to 3pm

John Harvard Library

Animal Carnival Masks | Saturday 15 July, 2.30pm to 3.30pm

Make-A-Snake | Friday 28 July, 2pm to 3pm

Animal Face Painting! | Friday 4 August, 2pm to 3pm

Animal Agent ID Badge and Camera | Friday 11 August, 2pm to 3pm

Go Barmi with Origami | Friday 18 August, 2pm to 3pm

Safari Finger Puppets | Friday 25 August, 2pm to 3pm

Sniff Them Out! | Friday 1 September, 2pm to 3pm

Events are subject to changes and cancellations. Please, contact Southwark Libraries for last minute updates. This article only features some events. Download the full programmed here