Book Reader Badge

You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book! - Dr Suess 

To earn the book reader badge, you need to do these four challenges. You can do them in any order, and make sure you take your time to enjoy reading. Be sure to write down what you have done so you can tell your leader (and receive your badge!)

1) Design a cover for your favourite book

For the first task, you have to design a front cover for your favourite book. What makes a good front cover? Make sure to be as creative as you can with the colours, pictures and title. 

2) Read at least six books

There are lots of ways to do this - but make sure to read books you enjoy as it makes reading fun! You can read these on an e-reader (iPad/Kindle) or listen to an Audiobook version too! Make sure to write down which books you have read. If you want to take it further, give each book a mark out of ten and see which one you enjoyed the best!

3) ​Show that you know how to look after a book.

Ooops... I accidentally dipped my book in ketchup again! Think about some ways you should care for books. Is it a good idea to keep them on the floor? Think about the answers to these questions and then check the answers by clicking the box. It's time to visit the hospital for badly treated books!
​Is it a good idea to store books on the floor?
​No. People could slip on them or kick them, or the book could get dirty.
Is it OK to have a drink while you’re reading a book?
Yes – but only if you’re careful, pay attention, and keep the drink safely away from the book on a stable surface.
Should you store books in the oven? 
No. They’d catch on fire!
Should you write on the pages of a book to help you remember things?
No. This ruins the book for other people.
Can you eat while you’re reading a book? 
Yes – but only if you’re sure you won’t drop any food on the book. Some things are probably easier to eat while reading than others.
Should you fold over the corner of a page to remember which page you’re on?
No. This makes the pages dog-eared and could even rip them. Use a bookmark instead.
Is it a good idea to store books in a cupboard? ​
Yes. Even though you wouldn’t be able to see the books easily, a cupboard would keep them safe.
Optional activity - Become an apprentice book doctor
Put your wisdom to good use! Have a look if you have any scruffy or ripped books in your house. Tape up tears and broken spines, sponge or brush off marks, erase pencil marks, or make a new cover for the book from paper or wrapping paper. Remember to ask an adult to help you.

4) Make a bookmark and think about what bookmarks are for.

Mark my words, it is much better to use a bookmark than fold the corner of the page! For this challenge you need to make your very own bookmark - as colourful as you can make it!
Making a bookmark!
You may wish to use: 
  • A4 card
  • Coloured pens or pencils
  • Glue sticks
  • Scissors
  • Hole punch
  • Googly eyes
  • Pipe cleaners
Before you begin
​(do this with an adult)
  • Cut a strip of card for each bookmark. The strips should be about 15cm tall and 6cm wide.
  • Cut two slits down the middle of each strip of card. The slits should each be about 8cm long and 2cm apart. 
Make a bookmark
  1. Cut a piece of card with slits cut in it. Think about the bookmark you'd like to create.
  2. Get creative! Perhaps you'd like to make a monster bookmark, which stands scary over your book. Its hair could be rounded, pointy, or even spiky!
  3. You could stick googly eyes on the bookmark if you have any, or draw some on with a pencil crayon or felt tip.
  4. You could stick some ears on the side of your bookmark too.To do this, you might choose to punch some holes in the side of the bookmark, and then thread pipe cleaners through the holes, and twist them until they’re secure. You could bend them so they wiggle, zig-zag, or stand up straight.
  5. Finish your bookmark by adding some extra decoration. You could draw on a pattern, add stickers, or write on a name.
  6. Once it’s dry, test the bookmark by slotting it onto a page. It should peep out over the top of the page!