THIS summer, Essex Libraries will open the door of the Creepy House. Children can visit any Essex Library during the holidays to pick up a Creepy House poster and choose some exciting stories to start them on their spine-tingling journey around this house of unlikely inhabitants!

To unlock the secrets of the house, all children need to do is read six books. There are stickers to collect along the way and some of them are stinky! Children who read six books will receive a medal. Everyone will receive a certificate.

Children of any age can take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, regardless of reading ability. Creepy House will be running in all Essex Libraries from Saturday 20th July to Monday 2nd September with children able to complete and collect their medals until 7th September.

There will be some early joining days where you can get your Creepy House before the rush, when the schools break up! Check with your local library to see if there are some creepy adventures happening on the 13th July. Mobile libraries will start the Summer Reading Challenge from early July.

Children aged 10 and over can take part in a separate challenge – Mystery Street. They will be asked to solve the mystery of a strange street scene by reading books, writing stories and answering questions to earn rewards.

Councillor John Jowers, Cabinet Member for Environment and Culture, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest reading event for children in libraries. It’s a great way for children and their families to enjoy books together and it means that children are encouraged to practise their reading skills, helping to prepare them for the start of the new school year.”