Machynlleth children have been recognised for their efforts to complete a reading challenge during the summer holiday.

An award ceremony was held, in the Senedd-dy of Owain Glyndwr on 6 October, after children from across Machynlleth and the surrounding area took part in the Machynlleth Library annual Summer Reading Challenge.

Kate January-McCann said the challenge “aims to help to reverse the dip which often occurs in children’s reading habits during the long summer holidays”.

“The Powys County Council’s ‘Summer of Fun grant scheme enabled us to purchase the items we needed to put on the variety of events that we have this summer for the children of Machynlleth and surrounding areas who desperately needed a fun-filled exciting summer to make up for the very strange and often trying previous years.

“Yet again the children have done us proud completing the challenge, some even within the first two weeks!

“To celebrate their achievement, we held an award ceremony in the iconic Senedd-dy of Owain Glyndwr with the medals and certificates handed out by acclaimed author Manon Steffan Ros.”

The library held several events, including storytelling and song in the garden with local storytellers Peter Stevenson and Ailsa Fox.

Kate added: “We welcomed Peter back later in August for another storytelling by the fireside, this time in torrential rain and howling winds!

“We sat huddled in our tents, wrapped in blankets guzzling hot chocolate and marshmallows enthralled by tales of ancient toads, green knights and trickster cats. The children created their own crankies to tell their own tales at home and all went home, somewhat soggy but very happy.

“We are extremely blessed to be so near two beautifully managed nature reserves; RSPB Ynys-hir and The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s Dyfi Osprey Project and we were welcomed to both sites to spend the day celebrating some of our most treasured children’s books.

“We also ran a series of ‘self-led’ activities every Saturday of the summer holidays, each based on a well-loved book. We created ‘Wild Things’ from Maurice Sendak’s ‘Where the Wild Things Are’, wands and broomsticks from ‘Harry Potter’ and much more.

“This summer we were also able to resurrect our regular events to great success. Clwb Dadi & Fi, a monthly pre-school group for dads and their little ones built straw, twig and brick houses after reading ‘The Three Little Pigs’ bilingually.

“All in all, we have had a jam-packed, fun-filled summer of events, all celebrating the glorious books available to children today.”