First was the Reading Challenge, then the Reading Olympics, followed by the Reading Rollercoaster. Now, hot on its heels is the latest reading challenge to hit Pembrokeshire's primary and secondary schools, 'Read Around the World.'
The Challenge, which started on Monday, October 1, will end dup on April 19, 2002. It involves pupils between the ages of seven and14 years travelling the world through their books. They will have just six months to complete the challenge.
Each pupil will visit 12 different countries or places as part of their challenge. Each location will represent a different category of book.
So, for example, if a classic story is read it denotes that Canada has been visited, if an adventure book is read, it means that Australia has been visited, and so on. It does not mean that the book need to have been written by an author from that country or indeed be set in that country.
Certificates will be awarded during the six months, to encourage the readers to complete the challenge. After six books have been read, a single ticket certificate will be awarded, after all 12 books have been read the reader will be awarded the return ticket certificate, meaning that they have made it 'home.'
Infant School children will also be travelling the world through their own special reading scheme, 'Book A Ride on the Magic Carpet.'
This will involve reading a variety of tales from different countries and cultures, and will run alongside 'Read Around the World.'
A prize draw of all completed 'passports' will be held in May 2002, followed by a presentation at Haverfordwest library. Many prizes will be awarded to students across the county, be they primary or secondary.
Organised by Pembrokeshire County Council School librarians Liz Smith and Amanda James, the Challenge team is again grateful for support from local businesses such as Texaco, and Ocky White Travel.
Amanda James, librarian at Ysgol Greenhill School, Tenby said: "Reading provides opportunities for both personal and professional advancement. We want to encourage our pupils to read, and we want to motivate them to read lots of different books. The reading challenge is the ideal way to do these things.
"Pupils can read fiction or information books for their challenge, whichever they prefer, just as long as they are reading."
Advice on books to read for each category can be found at local public libraries, and at school libraries for secondary students.
The message to pupils is 'don't delay, start reading today' and complete the reading challenge by April next year.