Community School of Auchterarder kids entertained by author Andy Stanton

Dec 4 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PUPILS from the Community School of Auchterarder were recently treated to an exclusive reading by author Andy Stanton after winning a national reading challenge.

Over 250 youngsters from primaries one to seven gathered in the local church hall to listen to the children’s scribe tell stories and read from his popular “Mr Gum” books.

The visit came after the school won the ScottishPower Story Swap Shop, which encouraged children to recycle their old books by trading them with their classmates, and raise money for environmental projects.

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

ScottishPower’s Heather McDonald said it was “brilliant” to see the look on the children’s faces.

She said: “Andy was fantastic with the pupils and really brought his stories to life.

“We’d like to congratulate the school for raising money and recycling their favourite books to help the environment.

“We hope that the youngsters, and indeed teachers – who set up a swap shop of their own – will continue their green efforts by reusing books. Andy’s visit really proved that picking up a book can be just as, if not more exciting than playing computers - and it’s educational too!”

The Community School of Auchterarder raised over £120 and exchanged more than 250 books during the initiative, which took place towards the end of the summer term.

Headteacher Barbara Boyd said it was a pleasure to hear Andy entertain the youngsters.

She continued: “The pupils had a brilliant day – it really was an early Christmas present for them!

“The ScottishPower Story Swap Shop was a fantastic project for the children to get involved in and they are over the moon to have won.

“Both pupils and teachers try to be as green as possible in the school and we look forward to continuing our quest to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Children from a number of schools across the country took part and exchanged over 600 books with their classmates, raising over £300.

Pupils donated 50p for each novel traded and funds were donated to Friends of the Earth Scotland, which works to promote energy saving and waste reduction.