The Waimakariri Libraries are adding a dash of adventure to their summer reading program, rebranding it as “Quest for the Quill.”
The revamped challenge aims to combat the dreaded “summer slide,” when children can lose ground in their reading skills during the school break.
Library staff are hoping the new, quest-based format will be a popular incentive for young readers to keep turning pages throughout the holidays.
“The idea is that a wise wizard needs help recovering a magical quill that has been stolen by a villain called The Dreaditor,” explains Twyla Pearce, the libraries’ customer services assistant.
To complete the quest, children will tackle six different reading challenges. These range from selecting a book from a specific genre to discovering a new author, or even cooking a favorite recipe.
Each completed challenge brings them closer to defeating The Dreaditor and reclaiming the stolen quill.
“They can track their progress in the challenge booklet, designed to feel like a fun adventure that makes reading exciting and gives them a sense of achievement,” Pearce says.
Readers can choose one of five pre-designed heroes to guide them on their quest, or even create their own unique character. Each hero offers different challenges and pathways through the adventure.
Throughout the challenge, participants can also check the libraries’ website weekly for new videos from Professor Prose, showcasing how they helped their characters.
Once all challenges are completed, readers are invited to the grand finale at the Rangiora Library on January 30 at 5pm, where they’ll have the chance to defeat The Dreaditor and recover the Quill once and for all.
- To learn more about the Quest for the Quill challenge, which runs until January 25 and is open to children of all ages, click here. Alternatively, visit a public library in Rangiora, Kaiapoi or Oxford to pick up a challenge booklet.
