CHILDREN can rocket into space without leaving the ground if they take part in this year’s Space Chase Summer Reading Challenge.
Young book readers from aged four to 11 will be landing at libraries all over Renfrewshire to borrow books for free and take part in the challenge.
And there will be out-of-this-world prizes for everyone who borrows and reads six books of their choice during the school summer holidays.
Local libraries will also be staging various events and activities based on this year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme of the Space Chase.
The initiative, from Renfrewshire Libraries, in association with The Reading Agency is aimed at encouraging young people to read more books. It runs from June 17 to August 17 and children are being encouraged to head for their local library to sign up for the challenge.
As the children finish reading each book they are given a sticker for their Space Chase folder and as they completed their challenge they will receive a free badminton pass and swim pass for Renfrewshire Leisure sports centres and swimming pools.
And thanks to big-hearted local businessman, Paul McGrath, who is managing director of Consilium Contracting Services, one lucky winner from each library who completes the challenge will receive a pair of cinema tickets. Paul has sponsored the Summer Reading Challenge locally for the past three years.
The Summer Reading Challenge will be taking place in libraries throughout Renfrewshire, including the temporary library beside The Lagoon Leisure Centre, in Paisley, which offers a whole range of services such as Bookbug, after school children’s activities, digital skills support and public access to computers.
Chairperson of Renfrewshire Leisure, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is an exciting way to inspire children to have a love of books and to read more.
“We’ll do more than just encourage the children to read books as they’ll have lots of fun with the different space-themed activities in our libraries.
“And they’ll also be rewarded for reading books and completing the challenge with some stellar prizes.”