Last year, my son had great fun by being involved in the national reading challenge at the library; each week he read a book borrowed from the library (six in total) for which he achieved a certificate and medallion. Stickers and pencils also provided a great incentive for him to keep on reading.

So we were rather pleased to discover that a new reading challenge has been set for this summer's school holidays: The Big Wild Read.

The challenge is environmentally themed, encouraging kids to play a bigger part in helping protect and conserve our planet by thinking about the things we do and how it affects planet Earth. They are given a folder to help record their progress, and each time they read a book they are given scratch and sniff stickers to decorate it, featuring useful information about conservation and wildlife. What's more, they also receive "tree tokens" which will be translated into new trees thanks to the Woodland Trust's Trees for All campaign.

Not only is this a great incentive for youngsters to be reading over the summer, but a way to help them develop an understanding of the environment, and what can be done to protect it.

The kids are all going to be taking part in this challenge this summer, and have even planned the books they'll be reading next week when we go on holiday! I just know they're going to be thrilled when they learn that their efforts have also helped plant new trees too!