Central Bedfordshire Council news and press releases

Blast-off into summer with the Space Chase Summer Reading Challenge

Thursday, 4 July 2019

We're calling for children to sign up to ‘Space Chase’, the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge.

This year’s theme is inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Space Chase is launching in libraries across Central Bedfordshire on 20 July and runs until Saturday 7 September. To participate, 4 to 11 year-olds just need to borrow and read any six library books over the summer.

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. 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 encourage children to complete their challenge, everyone who gets involved will be given a special mission folder which they will fill with stickers awarded each time they complete reading their library book.

There will also be other some fun rewards along the way, such as colour-in space glasses and a Space Chase Wristband. And the ultimate reward, when the challenge is completed, will be a Space Chase certificate and medal.

Councillor Ian Dalgarno, our Executive Member for Community Services explains: "Our message to Central Bedfordshire children is clear; your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to have a great time at the library this summer!”

And for parents, friends and families he added: "The Space Chase is one way we aim to keep children excited and inspired to keep reading, especially over the long school holidays. We’re also offering family tickets to our Library Theatre in Leighton Buzzard, which will be awarded to the young person who reads the most books over the summer at each of our twelve local libraries."

To take part in Space Chase, all children need to do is sign up at their nearest library, which will also be running lots of other exciting events and activities for families during the summer holidays including Lego competitions, author visits, science workshops and even a magician or two!

To find out what is happening at your local library, visit the Virtual Library or follow the libraries on Facebook.