Pupils from Cowdenbeath Primary School celebrated World Book Day on Thursday 5th March with a bundle of new books for their school library, donated by Morrisons Cowdenbeath.

The books were gifted to the school thanks to a partnership between the Morrisons Foundation and the National Literacy Trust. Working together, the charities aim to encourage 125,000 children from local communities discover a love of reading this World Book Day.

The books were presented to pupils by Deborah Graham, Community Champion at the local Morrisons store who said: “It’s a pleasure to be able to

donate these new books to a local school. There’s a great selection of books, so every pupil will be able to find a story they will enjoy.”

WORLD Book day children in the local primary schools get the chance to 'live' their favourite character and at Benarty Primary School imaginations ran wild.

There were some amazing costumes made to depict favourite characters and our photographer Jim Payne caught up with the youngsters during the afternoon session on Thursday.

New chapter at Cowdenbeath Primary!

AT Cowdenbeath Primary, pupils enjoyed World Book Day with the help of staff at the Morrisons store, around the corner from the Broad Street school.

This donation is part of a wider national project funded by the Morrisons Foundation, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, which is working to fill the bookshelves of 492 primary school libraries and reading spaces local to Morrisons branches all over the country with a collection of colourful, exciting and engaging new books published by Penguin Random House.

This grant was awarded to the National Literacy Trust following their research which shows that children who enjoy reading and use their school library perform better in school and are happier with their lives.

Every book bundle will include a copy of Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties by children’s author Humza Arshad, who is also an ambassador for the partnership.

Said Morrisons Cowdenbeath's Community Champion, Deborah Graham: "I had a trip out to see some of the pupils at Cowdenbeath Primary on Thursday and it was quite an experience.

"The teachers and pupils were all delighted to receive the books and had great fun."

Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust said, “We are thrilled to be working with Morrisons to bring the gift of reading to 125,000 children across the UK by getting brand new books into primary schools.

"School budgets are stretched, many school libraries are struggling and 1 in 11 disadvantaged children don’t have a single book of their own at home, so it has never been more important to get books into the schools that need them most. "When children discover a love of reading, they do better at school and later in life, so we must do everything we can to inspire children to fall in love with reading for a lifetime.”

The Morrisons Foundation was set up by Morrisons supermarket in 2015 and awards grants for charity projects which help improve people’s lives. Since launching over £29 million has been donated to hundreds of charities across England, Scotland and Wales.