Press release: Moffat pupil wins national drawing competition

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has today announced the winner of a national drawing competition to design the reverse of the 2023 Read, Write Count bags. A drawing by Penny in P2 at Moffat Academy was selected out of over 1,300 entries and will be featured on all of the Read, Write, Count bags gifted this year.

Each year, every P2 and P3 pupil in Scotland receives a Read, Write, Count bag containing two specially selected picture books along with fun writing and numeracy activities. Read, Write, Count is devised and delivered by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Education Scotland and Scottish Government. Over a quarter of a million books were gifted through 129,600 Read, Write, Count bags last year, including 1600 Gaelic-language bags. By the time children in Scotland reach their eighth birthday, they will have received six bags of books from Scottish Book Trust through Bookbug and Read, Write, Count.

Pupils across Scotland were asked to submit drawings that represent looking after the planet to celebrate the new recyclable bags being used for Read, Write, Count. The judging panel included bestselling author and illustrator Vivian French. In addition to having her drawing featured on the bags, Penny won a goody bag filled with art materials and books, and her school also received a book donation.

Penny said: 'I was really happy to find out I'd won, lots of people thought someone else had won but it wasn't, it was me! I like drawing a lot and enjoyed making my design. When I saw my prize I was so happy because I loved it. I can't wait for everyone to see my design on their Read, Write, Count bag.'

For many children across Scotland, the books they receive through the Bookbug and Read, Write, Count gifting programme are the only books they have at home. Access to books can have a life-changing impact on children, with research showing it can boost attainment across the curriculum, as well as improving wellbeing, empathy and future opportunities.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: 'Gifting Read, Write, Count bags to every P2 and P3 is one of Scottish Book Trust's yearly highlights, and we're delighted that this year's recyclable bags will feature this brilliant drawing. Many thanks to Penny and all of the children who entered the drawing competition for taking part and helping to make this year's Read, Write, Count bags extra special.'

Notes to editors

Please direct all media requests to Abi Baross, Marketing and PR Manager at Scottish Book Trust on abi.baross@scottishbooktrust.com(this link will open in a new window).

Scottish Book Trust

Scottish Book Trust is a national charity that believes everyone living in Scotland should have equal access to books. Our work provides opportunities to improve life chances through books and the fundamental skills of reading and writing. Access to books and a love of books bring many important benefits from family bonding and advancing children's learning, to unlocking creativity, helping employability and improving mental health and wellbeing. Scottish Book Trust aims to support all communities across Scotland, with particular focus on those who are vulnerable and under-represented.

Our programmes and outreach work include:

• Gifting books to every child in Scotland to ensure families of all backgrounds can share the joy of books at home, through Bookbug and Read, Write, Count
• Working with teachers to inspire children to develop a love of reading, creating innovative classroom activities, book awards and author events such as Authors Live with the BBC and our Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour
• Supporting and nurturing Scotland's wide-ranging literary talent, both emerging and established through our training, awards and writing opportunities including New Writers Awards
• Creating events to share books and connect writers with communities, including Book Week Scotland
• Providing support to people living with dementia and their carers through Reading is Caring

In addition to the funding we receive from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, we need the constant support of trusts and foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors.

Find us online at scottishbooktrust.com. Follow @scottishbktrust on Twitter(this link will open in a new window), @scottishbooktrust on Instagram(this link will open in a new window) or like Scottish Book Trust's Facebook page(this link will open in a new window).