New book swaps offer a reading adventure

Children at four more Islington adventure playgrounds can now enjoy the thrill of reading as well as the buzz of great outdoor play thanks to new free book swaps.

Barnard Park, King Henry's Walk, Three Corners and Waterside adventure playgrounds now all have book swaps, where children can exchange books they have read and also borrow books, like at a library.

It brings the total number of adventure playground book swaps in Islington to six, with existing schemes at Cape and Cornwallis sites.

Hundreds of young people aged 6-13 have taken part in the existing book swaps, which also offer library visits and take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, and hundreds more can now join in.

The book swaps are run by adventure playground staff working closely with the council's library and heritage service.  Funding for the swaps comes from local councillors' local initiative funds.

Shyreece, 10, who uses the Barnard Park Adventure Playground book swap, said: "It’s really good, I like it!  It helps me with my school work and helps others too, it’s really brilliant."

Cllr Joe Caluori, Islington Council's executive member for children and families, said: "It's brilliant that more book swaps are being set up in Islington adventure playgrounds.

"Hundreds of children have already used the book swaps, which are helping to bring reading to young people who love our adventure playgrounds but might not have visited their local library.

"Reading is great fun as well as a great habit to get into, and the books swaps make it easier for everyone."

The book swaps operate in the adventure playgrounds' opening times which is term time Tuesday-Friday 3.30pm-6.30pm, Saturday 11.30am-4.30pm and school holidays Monday (11am-5.30pm) and Tuesday-Friday 10am-5.30pm.

For more information contact play and youth services 0207 527 5641.