Youngsters Urged to Join Space Hop Challenge

A SPACE themed initiative aimed at encouraging children to read more books has been launched at libraries across North Somerset .

Children aged between four and 12 are being urged to join the Space Hop challenge, at their local library.

Space Hop coincides with the 350th anniversary of The Royal Society's scientific endeavours and the 2010 BBC Year of Science.

This year's space theme will encourage children to 'boldly go' to new worlds and discover the joy of reading throughout the holidays, with the challenge of reading six or more books by a closing date of September 19.

Children can choose anything to read from the thousands of books held in their local libraries.

As they progress, each child will receive a moving image card, a bookmark, a poster with nine stickers to collect, a glow-in-the-dark mobile spinner and a rainbow pencil.

Each child who completes the challenge receives a medal and a certificate and can enter into a draw to meet children's author Julie Sykes at a celebration event in Portishead in October.

Last year nearly 4400 children took part in the challenge, which is organised by the Reading Agency.

For more information log onto www.spacehop.org.uk or www.n-somerset.gov.uk/libraries.