12/07/2019 - Permalink

Children invited to join Space Chase in Shropshire Libraries

Related topics: Children's services / Community / Leisure, culture and heritage

Shropshire Libraries are calling for children to sign up to read six books this summer as part of Space Chase, Summer Reading Challenge 2019.

An image of Space Chase artwork. Space Chase is the theme of the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge run by the Reading Agency. Shropshire Libraries are encouraging primary school children to take part in Space Chase this summer.

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.

If children go on to complete the Summer Reading Challenge, they will be rewarded with a medal and a certificate.

To take part in Space Chase, all children need to do is sign up at their nearest library – it’s free!

Space Chase launches in libraries across Shropshire on Saturday 13 July 2019 and runs until Saturday 7 September 2019.

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“The Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic and fun way for children to continue reading through the school holidays.

“All Shropshire Council libraries across the county are taking part so it is quick and easy to sign up to help the Rocket family find the books that have been stolen from the Lunar Library.”

Sue Wilkinson, CEO of The Reading Agency, said:

“At The Reading Agency, we tackle life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading. 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.

“The space theme has been chosen to coincide with the 5Oth anniversary of the first moon landing. Last summer, children worked with illustrator Adam Stower to come up with ideas for the Space Chase adventure, and 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.”

For more information about the Summer Reading Challenge with Shropshire Libraries, click here.

New for Summer 2019: Arts Award Discover

This year, Shropshire Libraries will also be offering children the opportunity to earn a qualification alongside the Summer Reading Challenge.

Children can sign up to work towards their Arts Award Discover over the summer holidays at the following libraries: Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Ludlow and Bridgnorth.

If successful in this arts challenge, children will receive a certificate from Trinity College London. Sign-up costs just £5 per child.