First Raising Reader Book Nooks launch across Slough!

A love of reading can be sparked thanks to new Book Nooks which have been placed in Slough.

Slough Libraries facilitated applications to children’s publisher Hachette, who worked with The Reading Agency to offer a £200,000 fund for 200 Raising Readers Book Nooks. Staff from Hachette have been working hard turning community spaces into special reading areas. Of the 200 Book Nooks awarded, seven went to Slough.

These are based in: 

Last Thursday (9 July) the Book Nooks launched at St John’s Church, Best Start Family Hub Penn Road, and Observatory House. Each location was visited by staff from Hachette who kindly delivered and set up the Book Nooks. Each Book Nook features floor cushions; a rug and a shelving unit filled with 100 new titles donated by Hachette Children’s Books. 

The Book Nook in Observatory House will provide a cosy corner in the reception area for children whose families have an appointment with council staff, and the new nook at Best Start Family Hub Penn Road will provide an additional well-resourced area to focus on story time. 

Reverend Suzanne Johnson, Vicar, Parish of Manor Park St John the Baptist and Whitby Road St Michael said: “The Book Nook will make a huge difference to our community engagement here at St John’s Church. We have lots of children who visit the church and having a safe pleasant environment for them to engage with reading and all the excitement it brings, will be a valued asset!”

Councillor Gurcharan Manku, lead member for customer experience & access, said: “Thank you to Hachette and The Reading Agency for providing these seven wonderful Book Nooks across Slough. There is a wide range of titles for children to enjoy and a comfortable and inviting environment to settle down to read them in. These are such a welcome addition to the borough.”

This year it’s the National Year of Reading, which encourages everyone to ‘go all in’ and explore reading on topics that interest them, and their passions. Reading doesn’t have to be through a physical book, it can be e-books, comics, football programmes, and it can be on any topic, be it sport, music, food, gaming, film, fashion, or creativity. 

Slough Libraries offer free access to a great range of books and are inspiring a love of reading in children through the Summer Reading Challenge. Find out more about the challenge: https://www.slough.gov.uk/libraries/summer-reading-challenge