Catherine Lusted on opportunities for young readers

The entrance to Colindale Library in London Borough of Barnet — Colindale Library

As the summer holidays approach, you may have started to wonder how to keep children entertained on the long (hopefully) sunny days ahead. Barnet Libraries have a full activity programme to help.

Barnet Book Detectives launches on Saturday 5th July. Ideal for children aged four to eleven, simply visit your local library to sign up. The Barnet Summer Read is a great way to keep children reading over the break from school, where research shows reading levels can decline.

Children will receive a reading journal when they join, full of activities to complete as well as space to record what they read. Those who read six books before 6th September, will be awarded a certificate and badge and they’ll discover the identity of the mysterious Book Crook, who’s been stealing books from Barnet’s libraries!

To accompany this, there are a host of free or low-cost events taking place. There are craft events, making magnifying glasses and origami, story writing workshops (one with using coding and robots!), mystery trails and a dance performance set in and around the library shelves!

Don’t miss the Mysteries of the RAF at the RAF Museum on Saturday 5th July or Solve a World War 2 Mystery! with author Helen Peters on Saturday 12th July. There’s even a family walk in Hendon to uncover its fascinating past.

For under-fives, join in with a special Dad’s Rhyme Time or Zoom, Zoom, Zoom in a space themed activity session, with rhymes, stories and sensory play.

Find out more at www.barnet.gov.uk/libraries/children-and-young-peoples-library-services/barnet-book-detectives or pick up a Creative Communities programme from your local library.

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