Children will be using their detective skills to solve puzzles as part of a fun project designed to encourage reading. ‘Animal Agents’ is this year’s national Summer Reading Challenge presented by The Reading Agency. The Harvey Briggs Onchan Library is supporting the challenge, aided by sponsorship from Old Mutual International. Children between the ages of four and 11 can take part – it’s free, and they can sign up at any time during the summer.

Animal Agents have been brought to life by Tony Ross, who illustrates books for best-selling author David Walliams, and the Horrid Henry series. The books feature a detective agency staffed by all kinds of clever animals who need eagle-eyed children to help them by reading books and finding clues to solve mysteries. Pam Hand from the library explains: “Children receive an Animal Agents folder, and as they read their library books they collect stickers to help them crack the case. Thanks to the generous support from our sponsors Old Mutual International, they also collect goodies along the way such as Animal Agents key rings, book bags and a medal for completing the challenge. Our sponsors have also kindly provided fantastic prizes for all the fun competitions.”

All the children who complete the challenge will have their names entered into a prize draw. There will be fun activities throughout the summer – children can test their skills to solve a Cluedo style mystery in the library, design a wanted poster, or join a summer holiday event. The Summer Reading Challenge starts on 29th June with a ‘Detective Dogs’ after school activity which will include a visit from officers and police dogs from the Isle of Man Constabulary.

Peter Kenny, Managing Director of Old Mutual International, said: “This is an excellent project and one that we are very proud to support. It is one of several initiatives for children and young people on the Island which we are supporting this year, including the Money Skills For Schools Week in association with MyBnk, and sponsoring Douglas RUFC’s junior rugby festival which was held in April.”

Children are being encouraged to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge now – for more details visit www.onchan.org.im or check out the library’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/onchanlibrary – or contact librarian Pam Hand by emailing onchan.library@onchan.org.im.

For information about the Animal Agents Summer Reading Challenge 2017 go to https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/

Photo - Orry Callow, age six, and his sister Isla Callow, age five, are pictured at The Harvey Briggs Onchan Library signing up for The Animal Agents Summer Reading Challenge 2017.