Photo credit: Tauranga City Council. Library team member Daniel Petersen loves that his 3-year-old daughter, Wednesday, can take part in Kia Kaha te Pānui: Mini Reads this summer.
The countdown to summer is on, and Tauranga City Libraries has just the ticket to keep young readers busy and entertained over the holiday period.
The annual Kia Kaha te Pānui Reading Challenge is back, bigger, and better than ever.
With awesome prizes up for grabs, free craft activities, and the return of the programme’s legendary finale parties, Kia Kaha te Pānui is not to be missed.
Tauranga City Council’s Children & Teens Programme Specialist Lauren Jones says the challenge is all about participants having fun and feeling proud of achieving their reading goals.
“We’re excited to be using the free app Beanstack this year,” says Lauren.
“Beanstack provides a really fun and easy way to track your child’s reading, plus keep our young readers motivated. The app awards virtual badges to readers throughout the challenge which are kind of like a digital fist-bump to say well done!"
“Every reader who takes part also receives tickets to enter into draws and win some cool rewards,” says Lauren.
There will be three categories of Kia Kaha te Pānui this year:
- Mini Reads for ages 0-4
- Summer Reads for ages 5-10
- Teen Reads for ages 11-18.
Summer Reads, one of three reading programmes on offer, is aimed at primary school-aged children who are encouraged to read as often as possible, log their efforts in Beanstack, and visit the library to share what they’ve read with a librarian.
“It’s not a test,” says Lauren.
“We love hearing what children think about the books they’ve read, and rewarding them for making the effort to check in with us.”
Every child who checks in receives a swimming pool pass thanks to the generosity of Bay Venues and, once the visit is logged on Beanstack, they also receive tickets to enter into the prize draws.
“Beanstack allows participants to choose which prize draws they want to enter to win and distribute the tickets they earn between different prize options,” says Lauren.
There will also be fun drop-in craft activities running several times a week at all four Tauranga City Libraries for the whole whānau.
Kids who complete Kia Kaha te Pānui: Summer Reads also receive an invitation to the finale party at Memorial Park, a prize book to keep, and a certificate.
For the first time ever, the challenge also extends to preschoolers, with the introduction of Kia Kaha te Pānui: Mini Reads. Mini Reads is a simplified version of the school-aged challenge, designed to include even the littlest of children in the fun.
“You’re never too young to enjoy a great book, whether you’re able to read or just love being read to,” says Lauren.
And for teens aged 11-18 years old, Kia Kaha te Pānui: Teen Reads gives the opportunity to earn prizes such as vouchers, treat food hampers, drift kart passes and more, on top of a $20 Whitcoulls voucher they’ll get for completing the challenge.
Grab your free Mini Reads, Summer Reads, or Teen Reads booklets from any Tauranga City Library, register for the challenge on Beanstack, and get involved from Monday, 12 December.
December also sees the welcome return of longer weekend opening hours, from 9:30am-4pm – so you’ll have more time to choose your reads!
Check out the library website for more information.