Virtual holiday pictures are winners

TRAVEL BUGS: Competition winners Sophia Bedwell (left) and Lorelei McLaren checking out the prize books at Paige's Book Gallery.PHOTO/ STUART MUNRO

Two young readers are the winners of Lonely Planet Kids books for themselves and their schools after entering a competition run through Paige's Book Gallery on Guyton St.

Sophia Bedwell and Lorelei McLaren, both 10, demonstrated their knowledge by matching countries to their descriptions and selecting a place they would most like to travel to.

Paige's owner Lesley Stead said the girls were asked to say why they had chosen their destination and draw a picture of themselves there.

"We had quite a lot of entries here at Paige's and other booksellers around New Zealand were promoting the competition as well so Lorelei and Sophia have represented Whanganui very well," she said.

Sophia is a student at St Johns Hill School currently holidaying at Kai Iwi Beach with her family and Lorelei is mainly based in Feilding where she attends Feilding Intermediate although she spends a lot of time in Whanganui with her grandparents.

There were just 10 prize packs up for grabs in New Zealand and Mrs Stead said it was a pleasure to know that two of them went to local children and their schools.

Mrs Stead said the book prizes are wonderful.

"Lonely Planet have been publishing great travel books for many years but the children's books are quite new and they are really beautiful," she said.

Until their parcels arrive, Lorelei and Sophia have plenty of summer reading to carry on with.

"I'm reading the Truth or Busted series and I really enjoy those," said Sophia.

Lorelei said she enjoys Roald Dahl books and Penny Dreadful stories.

Sophia put herself in Africa for the competition question and says she would like to visit the continent one day and to visit Rome to see the architecture.

Lorelei made her virtual visit to Paris and said she would love to visit the city one day.