Having a whole day to spend in another time, another place, another world is a dream come true for many young readers whose summer is not just about fun in the sun.

And to actually get rewarded for indulging in your favourite past time may seem too good to be true, but that is exactly what happened to five lucky young readers who participated in the Bermuda Youth Library's Bermuda 400 Reading Challenge.

Over 700 of young Bermuda residents chose to participate in the programme, which ran from June 29th to August 21st.

To celebrate Bermuda's 400th anniversary, participants were required to complete activities that would fill in the number 400, thirty in all.

To fill in the first digit, the number zero, participants had to complete 10 assignments, including reading an assortment of books such as biographies and books about animals, as well as participating in library workshops, such as a cooking class, a talk about research at BIOS and Bermuda-themed crafts, and completing activity sheets.

Students who met the reading challenge received coupons donated by the Liberty and Neptune Theatres, Scoops Ice Cream Parlour and Uppercrust Pizza.

Filling in the second digit, zero, required the completion of a further 10 activities and made those who completed the second level eligible to enter a raffle to win a new bike.

Jordan Davies, of Saltus Cavendish, was the bike raffle winner.

Each participant who completed the entire programme, filling in all three digits, 400, received a school bag with school supplies and qualified to win one of four gift certificates to Leisure Time.

Approximately 50 young book lovers completed the 400 challenge. The Leisure Time gift certificate recipients were Kianya Lightbourne (11, Bermuda Institute), Jalani Richardson (10, Harrington Sound Primary), Anszar Talbot (8, Clara Mohammed School) and Marc Willmott (11, Warwick Academy).

Six-year-old Isabella Battiston commented, "I really enjoyed the reading challenge and completing the activity sheets because I love reading. My favourite programme was the Leadership class."

Blossom Azavedo, who is eight, expressed her enjoyment of the programme. "My favourite part was the story and craft," she declared. The parent of a 12-year-old student remarked: "[My daughter] definitely enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the activities such as cooking and crafts.

"Although she was older than some of the other participants, she enjoyed interacting with other children and the reading programme kept her up to speed with her reading over the summer."

Marla Smith, Youth Services Librarian, had high praise for all the young people who participated in the summer programme, congratulated the prize winners in particular and expressed appreciation to the sponsors for taking part in the annual summer reading programme.

Though the summer is over, the library's still open, with shelves filled with exciting books and programmes to appeal to all ages.

On Saturdays at 10.30 am there is story time, and between noon and 2 p.m. a Girls' Club.

The Boys' Club is held on Tuesdays after school, and during the week of October 18 to 24, teens are being encouraged to "read beyond reality".

For more information, call the Youth Services branch of the Bermuda National Library, 295 0487.

15 Great Books to Read at your library

Knuffle Bunny — Mo Willems

Maisy Dresses Up — Lucy Cousins

Biscuit Goes to School — Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Love You Forever — Robert Munsch

The Very Hungry Caterpillar — Eric Carle

Chicka, chicka, Boom boom — Bill Martin, Jr.

Pretty Brown Face — Angela & Brian Pinkney

Let the Circle be Unbroken — Mildred D. Taylor

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code — Eoin Colfer

A to Z mysteries — Ron Roy

Slam — Walter Dean Myers

Eclipse — Stephanie Meyer

The First Part Last — Angela Johnson

Just Another Hero — Sharon Draper

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn — Betty Smith