Children from across Monmouthshire have taken part in a fun challenge designed to encourage them to pick up and appreciate a book with the help of local libraries.
Monmouthshire Chairman Cllr Brian Strong presents Emily Agutter with her Reading Challenge prize at the Usk Community Hub
Organised by the Reading Agency, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge teamed up with Guinness World Records to establish a Record Breakers-themed competition.
The aim was for children to read six or more library books of their choice over the summer, with almost 1,300 Monmouthshire young people participating. More than 600 children were awarded medals and entered into a prize draw to win Samsung Galaxy tablets.
The lucky winner at Usk Library was ten year old Emily Agutter, a pupil at the town’s primary school and she was presented with her prize by the chairman of Monmouthshire County Council, Councillor Brian Strong. Winners at Abergavenny Library were five year old Bryn Cameron of Goytre Fawr School and Anya Bryan aged seven who attends Deri View School while Caldicot Library’s lucky youngster was eight year old Meighan Moreton of Castle Park Primary School.
The Summer Reading Challenge is one of many exciting schemes public libraries are running to help children develop a love of reading, gain confidence and adopt new skills.
Councillor Strong said: “The summer holidays are a fantastic time for readers of all ages to discover libraries, develop a love of reading and have a lot of fun along the way. Every year, the Reading Challenge promotes this concept and inspires hundreds of young people to lose themselves in a selection of books during the summer holidays.
“I would like to congratulate Emily and all the other children who completed the Summer Reading Challenge this year and encourage them to continue their passion for reading.”
Call into your local library or visit www.librarywales.org to find out more.