IT'S only the start of the summer holidays, but if your children are already showing signs of boredom, then it's time to head to your local library.
This summer, Libraries NI are inviting children to reach the moon by reading.
Their Big Summer Read programme takes the theme of travel and transport and children up to the age of 15 are invited to take off on a reading adventure during their summer break.
To make it even more exciting, libraries have chosen to accept a very special mission – they are hoping to reach the moon by reading 238,855 books – the average number of miles between the Earth to the Moon.
"We believe that reading for pleasure can boost educational outcomes and children who read during the holidays are better equipped when they return to school in September," says Valerie Christie, Senior Children's Services Manager with Libraries NI.
"It is free to take part in the Big Summer Read and it is a great way to keep children entertained during the holidays while encouraging them to read."
Libraries will hold a range of fun and free transport and travel related events during the summer including story times, craft sessions and workshops. Some larger libraries will welcome the Armagh Planetarium with their Stardome, Ireland's only portable planetarium.
Children can enjoy this exciting reading journey until August 31 by visiting a local library or mobile library where they will receive a travel card to be stamped every time they return a book, with each stamp equivalent to one mile.
:: For more information on the Big Summer Read and free activities visit Librariesni.org.uk, where you can also track the progress of how close readers are getting to the moon.
