A scheme which boosts school libraries through tokens is making a comeback this weekend.
Our Books for Schools initiative returns on Saturday, October 16, in partnership with Enjoy Books More.
It will see families and communities collect tokens printed in the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News, save them up and give them to their schools so they can earn a share of £20,000 worth of books.
All schools which participate will win £100 worth of books*, while the school that collects the most will win £1,000 worth. Two runners-up will be given £500 worth.
If your school is not registered there's still time for it to sign up - register at https://bit.ly/books-for-schools-norfolk
The scheme has been backed by author Sophie Green, who writes the Potkin and Stubbs spooky detective series and who is based in East Anglia, working as a children's librarian for Suffolk libraries.
She said: "The most important element in reading for pleasure is choice, from comics to fact books, novels to picture books; finding the right book at the right time makes all the difference, so children need plenty to choose from.
"Books are full of possibilities. They can take you on adventures to other planets and across this one, through time and in someone else’s shoes, they help us to understand ourselves and each other.
"Every child deserves to have access to a library and every school library needs lots of books, because reading changes lives."
And Ann-Marie Howell, a children's author from Suffolk who writes historical fiction books, has also thrown her support behind the scheme.
"Fostering a love of reading in children is so important," she said.
"As well as developing vocabulary, language and writing skills, reading builds empathy and the evidence shows that a child who reads for pleasure will go on to be more socially and economically successful as an adult. Having access to new and diverse books is key so I am delighted Archant will be giving away so many books to children across Norfolk and Suffolk primary schools.”
*Terms and conditions apply. On collection of 1,000 tokens every school will receive £100 to spend on books of their choice from a supplied list. The main prizes will be awarded according to pupil numbers versus tokens collected, ie 50 pupils collecting 6,000 tokens is the same as 100 pupils collecting 12,000 tokens
10 of the first to sign up
- Kenninghall Primary School
- Loddon Junior School
- Brisley Primary Academy
- Weeting Primary
- Buxton Primary School
- North Walsham Infant and Junior Schools
- Suffield Park Infant and Nursery School
- St Nicholas Priory Academy
- Catfield Primary School
- Stalham Academy
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