Child-friendly Medway has launched 'For the Love of Reading' to encourage children and young people to develop a passion for books.

There will be events, activities, book trails and more.

For the Love of reading logo. Graphic with a book and rainbows.

Free books

To help make sure that children and young people have books in their homes, the Child-Friendly Medway team will be giving out free books once a month. These will be at events or as part of a book trail hidden in public places for them to find, take home and read.

The books might be found in playgrounds, at shopping centres, on benches or in places young people visit, creating a fun and exciting trail to inspire a love of reading.

There are so many benefits to reading books and having books at home

Books can:

  • help us to develop our own ideas and personalities
  • introduce us to new words and subjects
  • improve our mental health by allowing us to unwind
  • grow relationships between those who read together.
Medway Council employee opening children's book

Events and activities

We'll also be organising events and activities linked to some of the books, including film screenings and author talks.

Soft play and story corner at the Pentagon Shopping Centre

Free soft play and storytelling sessions for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers at the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham. 

Children and young people can enjoy the one-hour soft play session and hear books read to them by the Child-Friendly Medway team and others.

Session details

Session times run from 10am to 11am and 11am to 12pm on:

  • Wednesday 24 January
  • Wednesday 7 February
  • Wednesday 21 February
  • Wednesday 6 March
  • Wednesday 20 March.

Location: The Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham.

To reserve your space, visit the Pentagon Shopping Centre Facebook page.

Pop-up community story time

Free story time and craft events running across Medway for a range of ages, featuring books read by the Child-friendly Medway team and others.

Free drinks and snacks are included.

Upcoming pop-up community story time events

Sun Pier House
Event times run from 10.30am to 11.30am on:
  • Tuesday 6 February
  • Tuesday 12 March
  • Tuesday 9 April.

Location: Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham, ME4 4HF.

For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.

Sunlight Centre
Event times run from 10.30am to 11.30am on:
  • Thursday 1 February
  • Thursday 7 March
  • Thursday 4 April.

Location: Sunlight Centre, 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham ME7 1LX.

For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.

Mother holding young son in ball pit

Get involved

If you find one of our books, take a photo of where you discovered it or of you reading it. You can then tag Child-Friendly Medway on social media.

You can also follow us on social media for the latest updates on our events and activities, as well as how to get tickets.

Photograph of a girl underneath a tree with a book.