OUR Story Search newspaper reading scheme also includes a pack of free books for each participating school to review and keep.

Throughout the summer we will be publishing a selection of reviews from young people who have taken part in the project.

The reading scheme is being rewritten and extended to become Super Story Search, designed to help meet objectives of the National Literacy Strategy.

Schools in East Lancashire are offered the material at very low cost from September onwards, available only through our newspaper, and with this will continue to receive the free book pack.

For more information on the Super Story Search material, please contact Rita Shaw, NIE co-ordinator.

Mindbenders Mirror Magic, by Ivan Moscovich, published by Dorling Kindersley, £9.99

AS soon as we opened this pack I knew it would be good. It is a folder, rather than a book, full of exciting things and interesting activities to do. Everything you need to play the games and do the experiments is included in the pack. We used the mirror to bend and stretch patterns on paper.

I played the games and tried to solve some of the puzzles with my friend Salma. This was great fun as well as being informative, and we both enjoyed using the pack very much.

LEE LINLEY, aged 10, St Matthew's CE Primary School, Blackburn.

Eye Witness - Living Earth by Miranda Smith, Dorling Kindersley, £19.99

LIVING Earth explains in an "easy to understand way" everything you need to know about animals, insects and even prehistoric animals. Most impressive are the photographs of the amazing plants and animals and their habitats, which give a unique view of our world. There is no doubt that without these interesting creatures, this planet would be a very dull place.

I found the Living Earth to be both interesting and entertaining and recommend that you read and enjoy it. I certainly did.

SAJEDA AMIR, year 6, Audley Junior School, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.