'Space Hop' reading challenge

PARENTS and carers have the opportunity to blast their children into literary space during the summer holidays with a free reading challenge being held librarys throughout the region.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jul 2010, 16:23 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:08 BST

The County Council's Library Service has started 'Space Hop' '“ the Summer Reading Challenge 2010 - and thousands of children aged 4-11 years across East Sussex are expected to join.

The challenge aims to get youngsters to read six books during the summer holidays.

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Children can sign up to Space Hop at their local library and receive a 'moving image' membership card and other goodies.

Their mission - should they choose to accept it - is to take a consignment of books to the moon and set up the first lunar library.

However, they should beware that the dastardly Spacekatz will try to stop them!

The initiative runs until the middle of September and space hoppers completing their mission will receive a medal and certificate.

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They will also be entered into a free prize draw with the chance of winning a range of prizes including book tokens, and tickets to attractions like Legoland, Chessington and Sea Life Centre.

Younger children can join the fun with a Space Hop Book Crawl and youngsters with learning disabilities can also take part using talking books or Bag Books multi sensory story packs.

There are large print and Braille materials for the visually impaired.

Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for Community Services at the County Council said:

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"Parents and carers worrying what to do with their youngsters during the holidays should hop down to the library and get their children to take up our Reading Challenge.

"Reading is a key life skill and we want to get kids hooked on books and that's why this initiative is so important.

"It's also designed to be a lot of fun and is free to join - which is a real bonus during the tough financial times that many families are currently facing."

The County Council has organised a range of space-themed events in libraries and at other venues to support the Reading Challenge.

These include:

* Astronomy roadshows

* Space workshops with the mad scientists

* Drumming, comics and mosaics workshops

* Magic shows

* Design your own spacecraft or flying saucer

* Alien stories and crafts

* Bag Books Storytimes for children and young people with learning disabilities.

For further information visit the website at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/readingchallenge

Related topics:County councilParentsReading