Fifty years on from Neil Armstrong taking that “one giant leap from mankind” to step on to the moon, and Croydon’s young readers are being encouraged to take interstellar adventures through the borough’s libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge.

And the council is offering three tablet computers – each with more processing capacity than was available to the astronauts on board lunar mission Apollo XI – available in a prize draw.

The challenge asks four- to 11-year-olds to borrow and read at least six books from their local libraries, starting this weekend and by Saturday September 14.

According to the council, “In the Summer Reading Challenge Space Chase, 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.

“As children read library books, they will receive special stickers, some with mysterious smells. By adding these stickers to their collectable mission folders, young readers will help the Rockets solve clues, dodge asteroids and discover the missing books.

“Children can sign up for free at their local library and collect their mission folders. Keen readers who complete the challenge will be entered into a prize draw to win a tablet with one winner to be chosen from the north, centre and south of the borough.”

The borough’s 13 libraries are also staging a range of free events throughout the summer for young readers, including author talks and interactive science sessions.

The full list of library activities throughout the summer are available online by clicking here or at your local library.

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