Reading Oscars 2025: Children celebrate the end of the summer reading club

This year's Summer Reading Club came to an end on Saturday with a festive "Oskar Gala" in the media centre of the city library. 137 children in 74 teams took part, read 1,583 books and contributed their knowledge and creativity in workshops. At the end, the coveted "Reading Oscars" were awarded in various categories.

The Bocholt City Library's summer reading club was once again very popular this year. For weeks, children and young people took part in a varied programme. The programme included a first aid course run by the Bocholt fire brigade, a themed afternoon on insects with Marcel "Masi" Schaffeld and pen-and-paper role-playing games with Bocholt night watchman Florian Sauret. A short crime audio book produced by a group from the summer reading club was also played.

The centrepiece of the evening was the presentation of the "Reading Oscars". Prizes were awarded for the best logbooks, team photos, book reviews and reading boxes. The awards for the best reading box and the best reading box "Junior" were presented by Kai Enck from Stadtsparkasse Bocholt.

"You have made so much effort again this year, that deserves a special round of applause", emphasised Alders, who was delighted with the children's creativity and enthusiasm for reading.

Another highlight was the presentation of the School Oscar by Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff. It was won by Bocholt's Mariengymnasium, which also won the Oscar last year. "Today has shown that we have many repeat offenders at the Summer Reading Club", said Kerkhoff, referring to the school's renewed honour.

At the end, children's and young adult author Christian Tielmann read from his book "Saved" from the "School of Beastly Island" series.

About the summer reading club

The Summer Reading Club is one of the largest reading promotion projects in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is supported by the state's Ministry of Culture and Science. The programme is aimed at people of all ages - from children and families to senior citizens - and promotes reading, listening and creative design both individually and as a team.