The Summer Stars here!

A free, non-competitive initiative encouraging children to continue to read throughout their school summer holidays is set to return to Cork Libraries.

Running from now until the end of August, Summer Stars is delivered by Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service.

The programme is designed to be accessible and engaging for all levels, allowing participants to choose their own reading material, from picture books and graphic novels to audiobooks and e-books via the Borrowbox App. Children taking part will be supported by library staff and will receive an activity book and bookmarks, as well as a certificate of completion once they reach their reading goal. Welcoming the programme’s return, Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Joe Caroll said: “Encouraging children to read for enjoyment helps build imagination and confidence.

“The Summer Stars programme is all about keeping reading joyful and accessible for every child and is particularly helpful for new readers. Parents and guardians are invited to visit their local library branch to register,” he added.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell, said: “Supporting children’s literacy is an investment in their future. Our library service aims to support children in building strong reading habits from an early age and programmes such as Summer Stars develop lifelong readers through positive, early experiences with books.

“We’re proud to support this national initiative that provides an enjoyable learning experience for families throughout the county,” she added.

Summer Stars is the public library national summer reading programme for children that runs from the start of June until the end of August. For activities, recommended reads, and Summer Stars reading tips, visit the librariesireland.ie.