Book giveaway puts reading on the holiday agenda

Holidaymakers arriving at selected Haven Holiday parks this summer are being given a bag containing more than £50 worth of brand new books.

The Government funded ‘Great Family Escapes’ project is part of the government-funded Reading for Life campaign to encourage more families to read. So far it is proving a great success.

A total of £1million worth of books are being given away at the six key parks where families have been very impressed with the unexpected bonus. Many people said that they rarely read and would never have thought about packing a book in their holiday luggage – but the free bag of goodies has tempted them to start reading.

The Chris Ryan book ‘Alpha Force Survival’ aimed at difficult-to-please teenage boys is proving especially popular – not just with boys but with Dads as well. ‘It was a great read,’ said one father, ‘I can’t remember the last book I read from cover to cover.’ Other books included in the pack are ‘Totally Jacqueline Wilson’, ‘Going Dutch’ by Katie Fforde and Jeremy Clarkson’s ‘Motorworld’ – all full length editions with a combined RRP in excess of £50. Younger children receive a Letterland Magazine and a book from the Winnie the Witch range.

‘Where’s Wally’ – a book with few words but plenty to keep all the family amused is going down well with holidaymakers who are also invited to join in with a Where’s Wally fancy dress competition and other reading-related activities on the parks. Alphabet scavenger hunts, story-telling sessions with Haven characters, special performances with Winnie the Witch, joke competitions and book swaps are all on the agenda during August.

The Haven parks taking part are Littlesea in Dorset, Devon Cliffs near Exmouth, Haggerston Castle in Northumberland; Primrose Valley in Yorkshire; Hafan y Mor in North Wales and Combe Haven, near Hastings in Sussex.

Holidays at the selected parks start at as little as £249 for a family of six for a three night break in ‘Superior’ accommodation – based on arriving on 21st August. The bag of books, entertainment and a wide range of kid’s clubs, sports, activities and first class facilities on park are included in the price.

For more information visit haven.com.

Top tips to help your child read for fun:

• Be nice - Praise your child for their efforts reading – it’s fine for them to make mistakes. It's supposed to be fun!

• Let them make some noise - Encourage your children to read aloud – to you, friends, pets or even their toys. Hearing their own voice helps practice their speaking and builds confidence.

• He ain't heavy, he's my brother! Get older children to read to younger ones – not only some valuable time off for mums and dads, but younger children will follow their example in practising their reading later.

• Set the example - We all know how much kids copy their parents. Make sure they see you reading the newspaper or a magazine, a book or a recipe. In copying you they will gain confidence and get to be great readers too.

• It's never too early to start - Even tinies love sharing a book. Point out the pictures and encourage your baby to babble away – they’ll be talking before you know it.

• Read it again, Sam! Although grown-ups might like something new, children love to hear a good story again and again. Plus, repeating actually helps to build your children’s language, so don't worry if they're hooked on one book.

Reading for Life is a campaign to improve the life opportunities of people in most need through reading. The campaign is led by the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency with support from a wide range of partners.

Reading for Life builds on the achievements, networks and approaches championed by the 2008 National Year of Reading, and is based on a belief that reading sits at the heart of social justice. See readingforlife.org.uk for more details.

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that changes lives through literacy. It links home, school and the wider community to inspire learners and create opportunities for everyone. See literacytrust.org.uk for more information.