That thing that happens when your child passes an entire summer without picking up a book has an actual name.

The Bermuda National Library calls it the “summer slide” and recommends their reading challenge as the perfect antidote.

Local children who make it through a list of recommended books are given age-appropriate prizes. Their names are then entered into a draw to win one of two iPad minis.

It is a way to keep children engaged during the long holiday, said circulation assistant Melissa Looby.

“We refer to it as ‘summer slide’ because what can happen is they lose a little bit of that momentum and aren’t paying attention to their reading over the summer,” she said. “We try to get everyone involved by keeping the mind going and keeping reading going.

“The benefit we have seen is quite amazing. We had one little boy who was visiting the Island from overseas and staying with his grandmother. He took part in the challenge and when he went back to school he found, when he was tested, his reading level had improved two full grade levels — and that’s just from reading over the summer.

“That’s the kind of thing we try to encourage.”

The Read to the Rhythm challenge is divided by age and reading ability. Children are given a reading list and allowed to complete it at their own pace.

Younger children win toys; teenagers win school supplies or ear buds. They also get invited to a party at the end of summer. Ms Looby, who has two boys of her own, understands the difficulties faced by some parents as they try to get their children to read.

“I have my oldest who is four and getting him to read is a challenge,” she said.

“He is very active and his imagination runs wild, so getting him to sit down can be quite tough. My younger son, who is two, will bring me books.

“The difference between them is night and day. The younger one loves a book and will sit and listen for hours.

“I find because I have two boys and the way they are wired you have to be a little more expressive with them and make the sounds in the book and act out a little.

“Sometimes I literally have to put on a pirate costume if I am reading a book about a pirate to them.

“That’s what I tell parents — you have to spice it up a little bit and make them understand it’s really a story and about them using their imagination.”

Marlo Santiago, 40, started reading to her twins, Maximilian and Joanna, while they were in her womb.

The children, now ten, love reading to this day. “I’ve been bringing them to the youth library probably since they were two years old because travelling around with twins up until then was a lot of work,” she said.

“In the birthing class they tell you about reading to your children while they are in the womb and outside of it, and someone told me about a special story time the library offered for toddlers, so I brought them to that. It was something to do to get out of the house and by that time it finally fit into their nap time.”

Ms Looby encourages parents to allow children to have a say in what kind of books they read.

“Parents sometimes come in and automatically say to their children, ‘Not this’ or ‘Not that’, but I try to tell them that when it comes to reading, it’s better for them to read that book versus not reading at all.

“My four-year-old likes anything that has a superhero on the front, but the two-year-old doesn’t care and will pick up any book and put it on your lap. It could be a novel or just a random piece of paper.”

Children are also more likely to develop a passion for reading if they see their parents doing it, she believes.

“I have definitely learnt that children learn from what they see and that’s how I keep my oldest one involved,” Ms Looby said.

“He has to see mommy or daddy reading something to develop that same appreciation for it, so the biggest tip I would give to any parent is that if you yourself are doing something that encourages them about the importance of literacy, they will also want to mirror that.

“I also study part-time, so my sons will see me reading from my law textbooks and my son will pick up a book and start to pretend he’s reading from it even though it’s upside down.

“From that he’s learnt that you read from left to right and that when you get to the end you turn the page. These are the little things that actually start to cultivate reading down the line.”

Ms Looby developed her love for reading from her mother, Lauren Furbert. She still has her first library card from years ago at home.

“[My mom] knew the value of literacy and actually finished her associate degree a few years ago in English,” she said.

“She always taught us you’re never to old to learn and that becoming literate should always be a part of what you are doing in life.”

• The library will launch its summer reading challenge on Saturday at Queen Elizabeth Park from 11am until 3pm. Violinist Taylor Rankin is one of many performers taking part. There will also be fun castles and a small food court.