Moffat Academy youngster's work to feature in Scottish Book Trust gift bags

Work by young artist Penny Johnstone is to feature on all of the Scottish Book Trust’s Read, Write, Count bags gifted this year across the country.

The national charity, which aims to change lives with reading and writing, ran a competition asking pupils across Scotland to submit drawings that represent “looking after the planet”.

This is to celebrate their new recyclable bags being used for the scheme which gifts two specially selected picture books along with fun writing and numeracy activities years to every P2 and P3 pupil in Scotland. Last year 129,600 bags – including 1,600 Gaelic-language bags – were given out.

Penny, who is P2 at Moffat Academy, had her design selected out of more than 1,300 entries with bestselling author and illustrator Vivian French on the judging panel.

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.”