Children across York are invited to give their reading a kickstart this winter – as Explore York Libraries and Jorvik Viking Festival launch this year’s Bloodaxe Book Challenge.
Young bookworms who take on the challenge will pledge to read four books between Saturday 25 November 2023 and Saturday 27 January 2024.
And this year, the annual reading initiative will give children a chance to meet author of the award-winning Loki: A Bad God’s Guide series Louie Stowell during Jorvik Viking Festival, at a special event to be staged at York Explore Library.
Children can sign up to the initiative at any of York’s libraries.
For each book they read during the challenge, they will receive a special sticker which they collect on the Bloodaxe Book Challenge bookmark.
“We are delighted to be running the Bloodaxe Book Challenge with Jorvik Viking Festival again,” said Lyndsay Glover of Explore York Libraries & Archives.
“Children choosing their own books, receiving themed stickers and a certificate, as well as being invited to join us for a very special session with Louie Stowell make this Challenge a wonderful way to encourage even reluctant readers to pick up a book.”
The challenge was launched at Acomb Explore Library with children from Acomb Primary School. Historic interpreters from Jorvik Viking Centre ran a saga-based session featuring Loki with local children, including a question and answer session and object handling to mark the launch of this year’s scheme.
Children can sign up for the Bloodaxe Book Challenge at any Explore York Library from Saturday 25 November.