Cramlington’s Max and friends delight in library reading challenge

Thousands of children have been enjoying reading books this summer as part of the Northumberland County Council’s Summer Reading Challenge and a local youngster was this year’s overall winner.

Almost 2,000 children across the county joined the challenge in their local library, which this year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Space Chase challenged children aged 4-11 to read six books or more and visit their library three or more times.

As well as enjoying a new book children received a special mission folder where they teamed up with futuristic family The Rockets for an exciting space mission as they track down books nabbed by a mischievous band of aliens.

Weekly prize draws were held for children who had completed the challenge with prizes including family swim, Clip n Climb and bowling passes from Active Northumberland and to link in with the space theme a family pass from Kielder Observatory and a collection of tektites, which are small pieces of natural glass,  from the Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory.

Max McKeown, a pupil at Eastlea Primary School, Cramlington, was this year’s overall winner who picked up an overnight stay at the Battlesteads Hotel, Wark for a family of 4 and tickets for the Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory.

Cllr Cath Homer, cabinet member for Culture, Arts, Leisure and Tourism said: “It’s amazing to see how many children have taken up this year’s Summer Reading Challenge and have enjoyed coming into their local library and immersing themselves in a new book.

“As a library service we want to encourage youngsters of all ages to develop a lifelong love of reading, so we could urge all those young people who got involved in Space Chase to keep reading and to use their local library.”

Some of the youngsters who took part in the event at Cramlington Library are seen with Cllr Mark Swinburn who presented them all with certificates as well as handing Max his special prize.

Events for children and young people are held at libraries throughout the year. To find out more about what’s happening in your nearest library go to www.mylibrary.co.uk