The  Isle of Wight Council’s Libraries Service have rewarded a number of Island children, who successfully completed a challenge aimed at encouraging them to read books.

All children who earned a medal were invited to write a review or draw a picture of their favourite book of the summer. The best entry from each library has been selected, and the winning children were invited to a prize-giving on Saturday 4th October.

The winners were:

Bembridge Library: Sophie Atkin, aged 6
Brighstone Library: Sid McLaren, aged 9
Cowes Library: Bethany Harvey, aged 11
East Cowes Library: Lauren Raymond, aged 9
Freshwater Library: Hugo Moore, aged 7
Mobile Library: Emma Ostler, aged 4
Newport Library: Georgina Morris, aged 8
  Isobel Norsworthy, aged 7

Niton Library:  Niamh and Louise Ryan, aged 12 and 10
Ryde Library: Grace Bolland, aged 4
Sandown Library: Sophie Hookins, aged 9
Shanklin Library: Adam Gill, aged 8
Ventnor Library: Ebb Phillips, aged 4

Well over half of the 2400 children who took part were successful in the challenge and received gold medals to recognise their achievement.

Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member for Children and Young People Alan Wells said

“The majority of children who took part felt that they were better readers at the end of the summer than they were at the start, with many parents feeling their children had discovered a new enthusiasm for reading.

Recent research has shown that taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge can help boost a child’s achievement when they return to school. I am sure next year’s scheme will prove to be just as successful”

The Summer Reading Challenge runs every year over the summer holidays, and is responsible for keeping thousands of children reading over the six week break. They are challenged to read six books and more than 2400 children on the Isle of Wight took part in this year’s event, dubbed ‘Team Read’ to go alongside Team GB at the Olympics.