Conservative led Wiltshire Council libraries are calling for children to sign up to read six books this summer, as part of Space Chase, Summer Reading Challenge 2019.
The Summer Reading Challenge asks 4-11 year olds to borrow and read any six library books over the summer. The theme for the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge is Space Chase, inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.
Children will team up with futuristic family The Rockets for an exciting space mission, as they track down books nabbed by a mischievous band of aliens. As children read library books for the Summer Reading Challenge, they will receive special stickers, some with mysterious smells. By adding these stickers to their collectable mission folders, young readers will help the Rockets solve clues, dodge asteroids and discover the missing books, having lots of fun and adventures along the way.
To take part in Space Chase, all children need to do is sign up at their nearest library, where they will be given a membership card, followed by a collector folder (once they've read their first book) to keep a record of their Summer Reading Challenge journey.
Space Chase launched in libraries across Wiltshire on Saturday 13 July and runs until Saturday 7 September.
This year an additional activity will be taking place that has been produced in partnership with Conservative led Wiltshire Council leisure services the ‘Astronaut training programme' - six fun and healthy challenges for children to do as they are reading. Each challenge will highlight positive messages about healthy eating, physical exercise and good hydration. On completion the trainee astronauts will receive a small prize and be entered into a prize draw.
Allison Bucknell, cabinet member for libraries, said: "This is an incredibly popular and successful annual reading activity for children, which can make a very positive impact to their reading. Last year over 9400 children took part and we look forward to seeing even more children this year and hope they enjoy the Astronaut Training Programme too. I would also like to thank all the volunteers who give their precious time to support this programme."
Sue Wilkinson, CEO of The Reading Agency said: "We know from our research that families and children love taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge, and we are proud to have been running the Challenge for twenty years this year. We hope the Challenge will inspire all children to use their local library and to read lots of great books throughout the summer and beyond."
