The summer holidays are nearly here and that can only mean one thing – no, not ice cream for breakfast – although, mmmmmm… no! Focus! It’s Summer Reading Challenge time, and this year we’re celebrating its 20th anniversary!
To mark the occasion, along with the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, we’re blasting off with a Space Chase-themed challenge and we need YOUR little astronauts (aged 4 to 11) to help our space family track down books nabbed by mischievous aliens. Yikes!
The good news is YOUR child can save the day by signing up! Just go online and then visit your library to collect your sign up rewards! Astronauts need to read at least six library books of their choice (this can include eBooks and audio books) to collect special stickers and other prizes along the way – all for free!
Once the challenge is completed, they’ll receive a medal and certificate too. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to blast off now and sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge.
Mission control, please note: each child needs a library card and PIN to join the challenge, and to reserve and download books online. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge will touch back down to Earth on Saturday 14th September when it ends.
To infinity… and beyond
You can banish boredom to the outer regions of space this summer because, as well as a galaxy of books to choose from, there are also a whole host of events to go along to!
Why not let your little ones unleash their creative side with one of our Claymation sessions? Your children will make clay figures and stage sets to create films using laptops, web cams and animation software. At the end of the session, they take home the film they made.
You can find and book a Claymation session here.
Ed Boxall’s Summer Reading Challenge tour
Shoot for the stars and join children’s poet, performer and illustrator Ed for a fabulous mix of songs, poems and stories. These free events are in East Sussex libraries in July and August 2019. There’s no need to pre-book for most of these sessions. Just turn up before the start of the show to take part in the fun!
• Hailsham – 25 July, 11am
• Heathfield – 25 July, 2pm
• Battle – 8 August, 11am
• Bexhill – 8 August, 2pm
• Hampden Park – 15 August, 11am
• Hollington – 15 August, 2pm
• Rye – 22 August, 11am
• Hastings Library – 31 August, 2pm (pre-booking required)
Astronomy roadshows
Join our friends from The Astronomy Roadshow and Creative Space in a special indoor inflatable planetarium dome to explore the moon and gaze at the stars, guided by our expert astronomers. Unless stated otherwise the sessions are suitable for children aged six and over but each person attending will need to book a place (this includes adults).
You can find an astronomy roadshow and book your place here.
Adam Stower’s drawing workshop
Meet the man behind this year’s Summer Reading Challenge illustrations and learn to draw your very own aliens! Adam will be at Eastbourne library on August 28th, 11am-12pm, to give children top tips on how to create story characters from scratch and draw out-of-this-world creations!
Adam is also the author of Troll And The Oliver, Grumbug and King Coo, and there will be the opportunity to buy a book and get it signed by him at the end of the session.
