YOUNGSTERS have the chance to meet the award-winning author and illustrator behind the space-themed images for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Adam Stower will visit Eastbourne Library for a workshop event at which he’ll teach children how to create their own characters and draw their own aliens.

Adam has designed the characters being used to promote the Summer Reading Challenge, which has a ‘Space Chase’ theme inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Children are urged to sign up to read six books over the summer holidays, earning stickers which will lead them to the aliens who’ve been pilfering books from Moon Library.

The Eastbourne Library event, to be held on Wednesday, August 28 from 11am to noon, is free but places are strictly limited and must be booked in advance online.

Adam said: “I love character design – it’s a favourite part of my job – so designing the Rocket family and the aliens was great fun.

“The challenge encourages regular visits to the library and will hopefully kick-start a love of libraries in those children who have yet to discover them.

“It will also encourage children to read for pleasure over the long summer holidays – reading is a pleasure and an activity to be enjoyed all year round, not just during school term time.

“I look forward to creating crazy creatures with the kids and I look forward to seeing what the children of Eastbourne can come up with.”

People can register their child for the event online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/eastbourneauthorevent

To take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, children need to sign up at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/src then visit their local county council library.

Everyone who completes the Space Chase will be rewarded with a medal and certificate.