THE Summer Reading Challenge has landed in Swindon with Space Chase being this year’s theme.

It will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, with Swindon being the hometown of the UK Space Agency.

What's it all about?

As part of the challenge each child will take six books home to read over the summer, and they’ll be given a ‘special mission folder’ to help them.

Launched by local MP, Justin Tomlinson, he said: “I hope parents, grandparents and carers in North Swindon will take their children to the library over the summer to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s free, inclusive and, most importantly, makes reading fun.”

Is it popular?

Almost 300,000 children took on the reading challenge, that is supported by The Reading Agency charity, last year. The challenge is to help encourage primary school children to continue reading over the summer and to bring them together to help them become more confident.

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ALSO READ: Launch of last year's Reading Challenge at Swindon Central Library

Sue Wilkinson, CEO of The Reading Agency said: “At The Reading Agency, we tackle life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading.

"We know from our research that families and children love taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge, and we are proud to have been running the Challenge for twenty years this year.”

She continued: “We hope the Challenge will inspire all children to use their local library and to read lots of great books throughout the summer and beyond."

Over 6,000 young people volunteered across the UK, volunteering for this project helps them to gain work experience and gain life skills. Those aged between 13 to 24 can volunteer at their local library.

What about the themes?

Last year was a comic theme inspired by Beano’s 80th birthday, where the children took part in a competition to design a new hat for Mr Panda.

READ MORE: Thousands of Swindon schoolchildren get stuck into Beano-inspired Summer Reading Challenge

A prize draw took place for those who participated, one of the prizes being illustrator Steve Antony visiting their school and giving all winners a signed book.