WE invited young people to celebrate World Book Day, April 23, with us by sending reviews of their favourite books.

Around 90 youngsters did just that for a chance to win more books in our competition.

District children's librarian Jean Gabbatt, based at Blackburn Central Library, kindly agreed to judge the competition and was impressed by the evident enjoyment in reading shown by all entrants.

Winners and runners up in three age groups are:

Junior - winner Latifa Patel, 11, from Blackburn; runners up Alison Sumner, eight, Pendleton near Clitheroe and Chloe Winkup aged 10 of Earby.

Secondary, 11-13 years: winner - Joanne Bradley,13, from Blackburn; runners up - Matthew Berry, 12, from Oswaldtwistle and Rachel Yates, 12. from Burnley.

Secondary, 14-15 years: winner - Patrick Kirby; runner up - Joseph Gleave, both from Blackburn.

A group of winners and runners up were presented with their prizes of books by Lancashire Evening Telegraph editor Peter Butterfield.

Our thanks to publishers Dorling Kindersley, Methuen and Mammoth, who generously gave superb books as prizes for this competition. School age children throughout England and Wales will all receive a £1 book token to celebrate World Book Day. The token, presented through schools, can be used at any book shop from April 23 to May 4 inclusive.

This could offset the cost of a more expensive book, or the £1 will buy The Children's Book of Books, an anthology of favourite children's books chosen by celebrities.

ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell, reviewed by PATRICK KIRBY

THE main aspect of the story is based upon Orwell's experience of the Russian Revolution. Rather than just repeating communist history he represents his account in the form of a fictional story.

He cleverly portrays the individual dictators. For example one of the main "animal characters" is Napoleon, a pig. He could be said to be the brains behind the animal rebellion against the drunken farmer Mr Jones.

"Napoleonic" has become a synonym for the type of dictatorship which incorporates a personal leadership. This is why one of the main animal characters is Napoleon.

Orwell shows how the animals, led by the pigs, get rid of man's oppression on the farm. Another leading character, "Old Major" suddenly died, this results in the pigs converting his clever ideas into a social system called "animalism."

The basis of Old Major's dreams was of a Utopian society free from "parasite man." This eventually comes true with the animals working very hard to maintain the project. The ending of the story shows how the animals have got rid of human domination. But the pigs gradually adopt a human lifestyle including human vices.

The concluding chapter shows the pigs and men at a party. Napoleon announces that the farm will revert to its original name, Manor Farm. Onlooking animals look at the pigs and then at the men until they realise they are exactly alike. The transformation is complete.

Orwell's ideas on communism were very similar to those of Karl Marx, the man we know as the "father of communism." This is what makes Animal Farm such an interesting book, as it reflects the crises of everyday life and society.

GOODNIGHT MR TOM by Michelle Magorian, reviewed by JOANNE BRADLEY

WHAT would you like to do most on a cold winter's night? I love to curl up in a cosy armchair with a cup of milky cocoa and a good book.

The perfect book is Goodnight Mr Tom - the story of a young boy evacuated to the country village of Little Wierwold in the Second World War.

Young Willie Beech, a quiet, deprived child leaves his neglectful mother in London to live with Tom Oakley, known to Willie as Mister Tom.

Willie makes friends and becomes a happier, more energetic child, until his mother sends a letter asking him to visit her. Mr Tom realises he is going to miss Willie and writes several times, but receives no reply. He feels Willie is in danger and travels to London to investigate. The book is special because you can sympathise with the characters and it shows what life was like in the war. A brilliant read for anyone from 10 to 110.

At first I thought it would be boring, but now I want to read it again. It just shows you cannot judge a book by its cover.

THE SCHOOL MOUSE by Dick King Smith, reviewed by LATIFA PATEL

FLORA, a normal school mouse, learns to read and becomes the most educated mouse on earth. She lives in a hole above the teacher's desk and secretly joins in with the lessons.

Gradually, starting with the easy books, she learns to read the harder books just like you and me. She saves the school mice from the dangerous blue pellets and becomes a hero. Then she becomes a mouse teacher and teaches her family to read just like her.

I really enjoyed this book and I think others would also enjoy it because it is exciting, funny and irresistible, once you start you can't stop until you have read to the end. In this story mice are not described as little furry annoying creatures, they are described as humorous and adventurous. This book would make anybody laugh and shiver with excitement.

It took me a day to read this book and during that day I took it everywhere with me. I even read it during playtime.

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