lucky youngster is the proud owner of a much sought-after prize after winning the draw in Gilwern Library’s The Big Friendly Read - Summer Reading Challenge 2016.

Tomos Harrington of Ysgol y Fenni received an Acer Iconia tablet from Councillor Brian Kemp of Llanelly Community Council, sponsors of the prize, at a presentation in his school.

To participate in The Big Friendly Read, children signed up at Monmouthshire’s community hubs and read at least six books while making a number of visits throughout the duration of the challenge. They received a collector’s folder and collected a special card featuring original Quentin Blake illustrations as they finished two books. Nearly thirty children completed The Big Friendly Read in Gilwern, receiving a certificate, medal, bookmark, key ring and a pair of rainbow glasses

County Councillor Bob Greenland, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for community hubs said, “Reading can take a back seat during the long summer holidays if children don’t have regular access to books and encouragement to read for pleasure. This can cause problems for schools in the new term but the annual Summer Reading Challenge is a highlight of the holiday for many children and can only be beneficial if it inspires them to get stuck into a good book.”

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by the Reading Agency and delivered by library services throughout the UK.

More information is available from the council’s community hubs, or by contacting: [email protected] – telephone 01633 644906.