Cherry Blossom Pre School Launches Reading Challenge: 170 Tales for 170 Years

Encouraging a Love for Reading

To celebrate YMCA Cheltenham turning 170, Cherry Blossom Pre School has taken on the challenge of reading 170 Tales for 170 Years.

This challenge offers our preschoolers a chance to develop important literacy skills. Listening to stories helps improve their vocabulary, comprehension, and listening abilities, encouraging critical and creative thinking. Pre School Manager Amy notes, “Encouraging our children to read is one of the most rewarding aspects of early education. It opens up new worlds for them and helps develop essential skills.”

The 170 Tales for 170 Years challenge is more than just a reading activity; it’s a celebration of YMCA Cheltenham’s enduring legacy and a testament to the power of storytelling in shaping our community. As we turn the pages of each book, we honor the past, embrace the present, and look forward to a future filled with stories yet to be told.

“Noah loves the smartest giant in town and the very hungry caterpillar – He loves sitting down listening to me read him stories and grabs his teddies too” – Pre School Parent

“Mila’s favourite book is ‘I love you, blue kangaroo’ we read it every night before bed whilst she cuddles her own kangaroo.” – Pre School Parent

Some of the stories shared so far include:

The tiger who came to tea

Happy birthday wonderful you

Duggie and the squirrels

Little red riding hood

Farmer duck

No matter what

This is me

The dinosaurs Valentine’s day

Maybe something beautiful

The jolly postman