It's time to battle the future with the St. Albert Public Library's summer reading games. Starting Monday, children can fend off S.N.A.R.L. in the best way possible: with S.M.I.L.E.
S.N.A.R.L. is the fictional organization that has created robots which are endangering the future, while S.M.I.L.E. is the spy agency tasked to defend the world. To do so, the kids must read to win the game. There's fresh air involved in this adventure, as the library's program room – where the game would typically be housed – is still unavailable. For I Spy: A Mission from the Future, the game is going to be played outdoors using outreach programming tents. The indoor archway has been turned into an outdoor time portal.
"We're going to use our imagination and we're going to be in another world. We're going to be in the future and we're going to have some cool spy training activities that would be great for kids of all ages. We're going to train them to be great spies because the story of the game is that the future has been taken over by these robots. We need the kids to solve things in the present to help save the future," explained Drew Thomas, children's programmer.
In the spirit of keeping things as easy as possible while the real world restarts on its "normalcy" setting, programmers have ensured this kids' game is as family-friendly and as inclusive and welcoming as it could be.
"We tried not to make anything too intense. We tried not to make any of the activities too challenging, or at the very least that the activities could be done as a family together. If a parent comes down with a couple of kids to one of our time portals, they're going to be able to do all the things together, and no one will feel left out."
Thomas said they have recognized some people still might not make it in-person for whatever reason. They can still be in the game, he said, and get in on all that summer reading fun.
"We are still trying to progress a story in the game. Every Monday we're going to release ... 'a spy mission video' where it's a message from the future leader of this resistance, and they're going to give you updates on what's happening in this epic time story."
Time portal pop-ups will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays until Aug. 14. The game is suitable for kids up to 12 years. Visit srg.sapl.ca/children to register your young spy and set them off on their important training. Each registrant gets a free book.
Teens, adults can play games, too
Teen readers up to 17 don't get to go to the future, but they do have their own awesome mission to take on. Mission Readable promises epic young-adult reading challenges as "recruits" are sent on secret assignments for cool prizes and glory.
Without giving too many of the secrets away, teen services librarian Celeste Trottier hinted it involves an investigation of a notorious sentient planet called Dryke QR8 and its links between the Discover-E Corp, an unassuming intergalactic shipping company. Players must figure out what's really going on aboard the ship. There's a secret agenda that must be uncovered.
There are two ways to play.
"They can go undercover to collect secret codes. These are online missions that are like virtual escape rooms. You'll need to solve puzzles, you'll need to complete challenges, and you'll need to keep track of the secret codes all summer long," she began. "Every time somebody completes a mission, you get a prize entry."
The other method to earn prize entries is to do reading challenges.
"You don't have to do the missions; you can just log your reading on our website. For every two hours you read, you get a prize entry that way, as well. We've got fun reading challenges where they can spin the scanner and get a genre challenge if they'd like to try a different book that they've never read before."
Maker space kits are also available for teens. They can pick up little craft kits to do together while hanging out over Zoom. Teens can sign up by visiting srg.sapl.ca/teen.
Adults have A Very Grown-Up Reading Challenge of their own, with a reading log, weekly challenges, and prizes, too. Visit srg.sapl.ca/adult to get going. All of the games end on Aug. 20.
