1 What the Children Say Maggie Peake

2 Content  Objectives of research  Research Method and Sample  Highlights  Recommendations

3 Objectives of Research  In-depth look at Summer Reading Challenge (SRC)  Children completed 2009 SRC  Their depth of understanding was needed  Self motivated and brave to attend focus groups and still want improvements

4 Research Method and Sample  Five focus groups, each about an hour  £10 book token, parental consent, good attendance  34 children aged 6-11years (24 were 9+)  Half boys and girls  Essex, Lambeth and Manchester libraries  Discussion guide but lead by children’s interest

5 Highlights  Enthusiasm and energy talking about reading and the SRC  Rare. If only we could bottle it!  Wonder and excitement at finding a good book  Main experience of SRC is the books they choose  Most of their SRC time is spent at home reading the six books  When asked about SRC often talking about the books they read = don’t distinguish

6 Importance of book choice  Choosing good stories determines whether it’s a good SRC or not  Challenge is to get an interesting story that isn’t too difficult to read  It’s the stories that keep them going  Too easy will be boring  Realise that choosing something a bit difficult can lead to a better story

7 “Some people like easy ones. But if you pick easy ones…not as many pages…it would be faster but it could be a disappointment cos you’ve got the whole summer and you don’t have any books left.”

8 SRC: positives  Makes them feel happy, imaginative, pleased with themselves, proud, clever and excited

9 SRC :positives (cont.1)  It’s a fun way of reading  Simple to understand “A fun challenge. You get certificates and stuff if you read books” “You read six books and you get an award for it”  Not competitive or like school

10 “It’s a fun way for people who don’t read that much. You enjoy reading and it’s also great fun.”

11 SRC: positives (cont. 2)  Reading becomes easier and more fun with practise  Prizes (medals, scratch and sniff, moving image cards) and activities  Helps make school work easier and write more imaginative stories

12 “If you read a lot of books…you get better in your reading…you know how to read properly like…when you’re reading it’s so easy to read because you’ve read so many books.”

13 SRC: negatives  Can be boring if you pick a boring (too difficult/long) book “I put boring because of a boring book” “Last year I was relieved it was over because I read Lord of the Rings! This year it was fine.’  Not challenging enough for older children  Some believe they have to finish every book and will be tested by librarian “As soon as you finish your book you go to the library and they test you on it.”  Some believe they can’t take library books on holiday (limits time available for SRC)

14 SRC: Negatives (cont.)  Very little awareness and usage of website (surprising?)  Medals important … want SRC and year, not wearable - hole too small for ribbon  One authority didn’t have medals this year… it was noticed!  Some disappointment if prizes have run out (moving image card)

15 Posters

16 More posters

17 More posters

18 Responses to last 3 SRCs Quest Seekers  loved by those interested in fantasy stories  some children thought characters lacked personality and looked too scared  preferred in Essex (Dragon themed activities) Team Read  most popular in the three groups in London and Manchester  lots of happy characters to identify with  like sporty theme  obvious it’s about reading Big Wild Read  liked because it was also about saving the world  obvious it was about reading

19 “…them three and the grandpa right and the dragon (it’s not a grandpa it’s a magician!) oh yes sorry…(what didn’t you like about the characters?)…their personality. Sometimes they’re quite scared and I want them to be brave.”

20 Recommendations (1)  More support in choosing a book… simple, visible system of highlighting popular books  Book reviews by children… have an expert for each genre  Dispel myths to make challenge easier…don’t have to finish book if not enjoying, won’t be tested (enjoy talking about books), can take books on holiday etc.

21 “All the people who like adventure books could recommend…and say you like detective books, action books and spy books you could recommend and in that way it would be better."

22 Recommendations (2)  More of a challenge for older children… three- tiered system of medals (bronze, silver and gold?) for reading more books (children who challenge themselves want to be noticed)  Medals more special, collectable and wearable  Loyalty scheme for completing more than one SRC  Include creative activities like writing stories  Website provide more support for book choice

23 “Have different reading challenges for younger and older. (For the younger?) They would have Quest Seeker prizes and they’d read 6 books. For the older ones more books and a page limit so people challenge themselves and you feel creative and imaginative.”

24 What next?  Important to build relationships with these library advocates and users of the future  Involve these SRC champions in promoting SRC, sharing their enthusiasm and experience, such as with posters and book recommendations