Bookworms and sonic sleuths assemble
Have you got an avid bookworm or sonic sleuth on the lookout for an exciting summer reading challenge?
Western Bay of Plenty District Libraries has got them sorted with its BOB Squad programme!
BOB Squad is a free take-home reading challenge aimed at primary school aged tamariki with this year’s theme being ‘Sonic Sleuths’, putting a sound and music twist on encouraging children to grow their reading skills.
Council’s Customer Services Manager Valeta Duncan says BOB Squad is a much-loved feature of the libraries summer schedule.
“We’re looking forward to seeing local tamariki getting creative with the musical theme this year – they’ll be having so much fun they won’t even know that they’re learning!
“Programmes like BOB Squad are fantastic, as they allow us to connect with young people and help to bring more whānau into our libraries, taking advantage of all we have to offer,” says Valeta.
Your missions, should you choose to accept them…
Step one: Collect a booklet at your local library from Monday 5 December. Inside your booklet, you’ll find 14 interactive missions to complete by 23 January.
Step two: Choose your missions and do them! Complete at least one mission or three mini missions to get an invite to one of our big finale parties.
BOB Squad missions include making a musical instrument, going on a sound hunt, creating sound effects, vibrations, and soundwaves plus more!
The booklet also includes 25 mini missions such as listening to the wind in the trees or learning to whistle a tune and comes with a reading log that has checkboxes for every 10 minutes spent reading. Readers earn an entry into a draw to win a prize after every hour spent with their nose in a book.
Step three: Get your missions stamped at the library by 23 January and pick up your invitation to the finale party at either Te Puke (26 January) or Ōmokoroa Library (25 January).
The finale parties are going to be lots of fun, headlined by an exciting show from the Travelling Tuataras – a duo who bring stories alive through interactive performance using masks, colourful props, music, songs and puppets.
And for the teens…
Rangatahi, we haven’t forgotten about you! Check out the Teen Summer Reading Challenge - each time you read and rate four books, you’ll be entered into the draw to win one of three $50 prezzy cards. This one is designed for Years 7-13, so get reading and rating!
To join the challenge, just download Beanstack from the App Store or Google Play Store and sign up with the Western Bay of Plenty Libraries. Entry forms are also available on request.
Other school holiday activities at our libraries
Also on offer is a colouring contest (with two pictures to choose from) and a take-home craft kit to make your own tambourine.
These programmes have all been developed by our children’s librarians and are available at our libraries across the Western Bay of Plenty.
For more info
Drop into any of our libraries (Waihī Beach, Katikati, Ōmokoroa or Te Puke), visit libraries.westernbay.govt.nz, or give us a call on 0800 926 732 to find out more.
