Each year over 6,000 primary school aged children in East Sussex join in the fun of The Summer Reading Challenge.

Each child is challenged to read six library books during the summer holidays. Children can read books, audio books, and e-books to complete the Challenge, and for those who are not yet independent readers books can be shared and enjoyed together. The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to continue reading throughout the summer holidays and helps them to maintain their reading level and enthusiasm for books.

Every Child signing up for the Challenge will get a Big Friendly Read sticker. Children will be able to collect a prize from their library for each of the six books they have read.  When they finish the Challenge they will get a medal, and certificate which they will receive in school or at the library.

The Summer Reading Challenge will begin in all East Sussex libraries on Saturday 16th July and end on Saturday 10th September. Keep an eye out for events happening in your local library, including a children’s entertainer visiting Eastbourne and Bexhill libraries on Saturday 30th July.

Visit our Big Friendly Read web pages to find out more.

Our libraries are not all as quiet as you might think… Every Tuesday over the past few months Eastbourne Library has been holding drum jam sessions for the children under 5.

Organised in partnership with Drum United, the sessions provide drum and percussion activities to help children to lead healthier, happier lives. If you’d like to book onto the next session please email signup@drumunited.org

There are 2 sessions each Tuesday - one at 10.00am and one at 10.45am, why not bring your little ones along and let them have a go, sessions run until 26th July.

Look out for more fun activities at Eastbourne Library over the summer!

Jean, an Uckfield library member tells us about her favourite book, Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh.

“Sea of Poppies is the first book in the Ibis trilogy and was nominated for the Man Booker prize in 2008.

The story is about the supply of opium to the Chinese in the 1800s.  Grown in India the drug is sold on to the Chinese aided by the British East India Trading Company.  China, a closed society at this point in its history, is determined to crush the supply of this cruel narcotic which has led to the destruction of the lives of so many.

Initially, I found the storyline somewhat convoluted. However it is well worth persisting.  The protagonists, colourful and varied, follow their destiny on board a vessel bound for prison in Mauritius.  Storms rage, romances blossom and new friends and enemies are found in unexpected people and places.  Their lives are completely turned around.

What I personally found the most interesting and compelling about this book was the history of Asia in the 1800s on which the author based this story. 

It was a book I couldn't put down until I reached the end, often neglecting waiting tasks and ignoring other people until I had finished it."

Why not borrow this book from your local East Sussex library? You can reserve a copy online here.