ST HELENS Council libraries have a summer challenge for children in the borough -- to read six books during the summer holidays and receive a medal and certificate to mark the achievement.

With a host of titles to choose from in all St Helens libraries it shouldn't be difficult to find something enjoyable to read. The challenge runs to September 8.

Younger children entering the Reading Carnival receive a postcard with illustrations by six well-known children's book illustrators (Quentin Blake, Michael Bond, David McKee, Emma Chichester-Clark, Jane Ray and Carol Diggory Shields) for every book that they read.

Older children can join Reading Challenge Plus. For each book they read they win a scratch card that has quiz a question (just for fun, no prizes) and quotes from personalities such as Ant and Dec. The prize, on completion of the challenge, is a pocket diary/notebook.

Prizes will be presented by the Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Keith Roberts at the Central Library on Saturday, September 29.

At the same time voting forms for the Blue Peter Book Awards will be in all libraries during the summer holidays. Children can vote for the Best Story Book and the Best Book of Knowledge.

Books to look out for.

For young children: Dawn Apperley's 'Crash, Bang, Thud!' A noisy story about being quiet. Mr Macdonald likes a quiet life on his farm. How will he keep things quiet when more than 40 animals come to stay?

Catherine Anholt's 'Bear and Baby'. Rhythmical text makes this perfect for reading aloud.

Margaret Murphy's 'Koala and The Flower'. One day Koala finds a beautiful flower and longs to grow one herself. It is only through the advice of a donkey that Koala discovers everything she needs to know in books in the library.

Poetry books for children:- Brian Moses, 'Is There Anything There At The Top Of The Stair?'

John Foster, 'Bare Bear and Other Rhymes for Young People'.

Colin McNaughton, 'Wish You Were Here (And I Wasn't)'; a book of poems and pictures for globe trotters.

For teenagers:- Andrew Matthews, 'G S O H.' Kate is 15 and in the library of all places one hot August day is searching the internet to find a partner for her mum!

Phillip Pullman, 'Clockwork Or All Wound Up'. A scary story about a man who has no idea about how the story he is writing will end until he begins to write it.