Community School of Auchterarder will have their favourite story writer visit

Oct 30 2009 by Stephen Lowson, Strathearn Herald

BOOKWORMS at the Community School of Auchterarder will have their favourite story brought to life by ‘Mr Gum’ author Andy Stanton, after winning a national reading challenge.

Hundreds of pupils across Scotland took part in the ScottishPower Story Swap Shop, which encouraged children to recycle their old books by swapping them with their classmates and raising money for environmental projects at the same time.

The competition was organised by ScottishPower, leading environmental charity Friends of the Earth Scotland and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which took place in August.

Schools were invited to hold a book swap before the end of the summer term, with pupils donating 50p for every novel traded. Money raised was then donated to Friends of the Earth Scotland.

The Community School of Auchterarder raised over £120 and exchanged more than 250 books during the initiative and was randomly selected to win the competition. Pupils will be rewarded with a visit from Andy, who was part of this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival, later this term.

Class teacher Lisa Millar said: “The ScottishPower Story Swap Shop was a fantastic project for the children to get involved in and we are delighted to have won.’’