Hey young readers! Are you ready to go intergalactic with Thames-Coromandel District Libraries this summer?

To inspire children to keep up with their reading the Thames, Tairua and Mercury Bay libraries will be running several interstellar programmes and free activity days starting next Monday.

The programmes and activities include a Book Wars Bingo Challenge, Alien Creations, Jedi Training and more, says a libraries spokesperson.

'Get your kids reading over the summer with the Book Wars Bingo Challenge. This is a quick and easy way to challenge your children's reading over the summer holidays.

'Pick up a Bingo sheet from your local library, and as your child completes a book for each square on the bingo card, bring it in to the Library to be signed off. For each line of the Bingo card that is completed they go in the draw to win.”

Young people can also head down to the libraries for their free activity days where they'll be doodling on the moon and other planets, creating a set of Star Wars figures and dressing up as their favourite characters for a Star Wars showdown. These activities run for an hour.

Registrations for the Book Wars Bingo Challenge and activity days taking place in January 2017 open on Monday, December 12, and can be done by contacting your local library:

• Thames Library: 503 Mackay Street, Thames - 07 868 6616
• Tairua Library: 2 Manaia Road, Tairua - 07 864 7960
• Mercury Bay: 1 Victoria Street, Whitianga - 07 866 4776

ALL THE FUN TO BE HAD AT THE THAMES-COROMANDEL DISTRICT LIBRARIES THIS SUMMER:

• Tuesday, December 13 - All Day:
  Alien creation - Create your own alien. What does it eat? Where does it live? What's its spaceship like? What is its home planet like? Join us at the library to create a new alien race and hand them in to go on display in the library! No registration required.
  
  
• Tuesday, December 20 - All Day:
  Doodle on the moon - Add your art to a planetary body today! Draw whatever you like to our lifelike moons and see your intergalactic art go up on display for everyone to see! No registration required.
  
  
• Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10.30am:
  Star Wars Figures - Take home your very own Chewwy, Han, R2D2 or make a set to recreate your favourite adventures. Registration required.
  
  
• Friday, January 13, 2017 at 10.30am:
  Costumes - Create your own Yoda ears, Leia buns and Jedi robes. Registration required.
  
  
• Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 10.30am:
  Star Wars art - Collage, Cartoons and Comics, which character do you want to be on your wall? Registration required.
  
  
• Friday, January 20, 2017 at 10.30am:
  Jedi Academy - Train your senses, reflexes and skills with a Lightsaber. Can you feel the Force? Registration required.
  
  
• Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 10.30am:
  Starfighters, Rockets and Space crafts - What can you recycle and reuse into a spaceship fit for a Jedi? Registration required.
  
  
• Friday, January 27, 2017 at 10.30am: Star Wars Showdown! Come as your favourite Starwars character and put your knowledge to the test! The Book Wars Bingo Challenge prizes will also be given out, so be sure to join in the fun! Registration required.