Space Chase is well under way; thousands of children in West Sussex have already started reading!

Many libraries had a cosmic launch day, but if you missed out on the fun, there are lots more space-themed activities taking place over the next couple of weeks.

For an out-of-this-world experience at your local library, get involved in some free stories, crafts and more! Find out what's happening near you.

The challenge is a great opportunity to share and talk about books as a family. It’s the perfect time for children to explore what their library has to offer and choose for themselves which books they would like to take home.

Encouraging children to read for pleasure is an excellent way to improve their skills and build confidence. By spreading the challenge throughout the summer holidays, children will maintain their reading abilities and be ready for the new school term.

Need inspiration? Check out the Space Chase website for lots of ideas, including 20 celebrities reading extracts from their favourite children's books.

Libraries in West Sussex offer a range of formats, including large and giant print, audiobooks and eBooks. If your child has dyslexia or struggles to concentrate on longer texts, we have books published by Barrington Stoke especially for them!

All of these specialist resources are free to request. Check out our online booklists or, if you would like help with a specific need, you can Ask a Librarian.

The Reading Agency has a dedicated website for children taking part in Space Chase. They can have all kinds of fun here! There are games and competitions, book recommendations and a place to keep track of their progress for those children who wish to read more than six books over the summer.

Have you spotted the codes on your scratch 'n' sniff reward stickers? These unlock hidden parts of the Space Chase website. You will need to sign up for a profile first. Once you are logged in, go to your profile page. You will see a button that says ‘Badges and codes’ – click on this and type your code into the box that appears on the following page.

We also have our own Summer Reading Challenge page with links to useful resources for families.

If you didn't receive, or didn't get chance to read, the newsletter we sent on 24 July to families taking part in Space Chase, you can catch up with it here.