Published: Thursday, 7th May, 2009 8:50am

One-year-olds win book award!

A PAIR of Prestonpans toddlers are celebrating after being presented with an award for being the county"s best "tot readers".

Lewis Cunningham and Anna Brown, both aged one, are the first toddlers in East Lothian to receive a Bookstart Bookcrawl Golden Certificate, after collecting 10 Bookcrawl certificates - each one representing four visits to the library to borrow books.

Lewis and Anna have enjoyed more than 40 visits each as part of the Bookstart Bookcrawl Scheme.

Michelle Szebert, Lewis" mum, believes the sessions are fun for her as well as her son.

'The sessions are social for the children and for us mums,' she said.

'I often pop in to the library with Lewis if I have time to spare before picking his older brother up from primary school. We can read a book together and take one home for later.

'It"s a lovely library and the staff are very helpful.'

Both children have followed in their elder siblings" footsteps by being enrolled at the library not long after birth.

The hour-long Bookcrawl sessions combine stories with music in a relaxed atmosphere for children aged from birth to four years and their parents.

Catriona Brown, Anna"s mum, said: 'The library is really child-friendly but it"s the staff that make the difference - they"re excellent.

'We"re made to feel really welcome and the children feel so comfortable here. They really enjoy the music and stories.'

Elspeth Pandit, East Lothian Council"s Bookstart co-ordinator, said: 'You"re never too young to join the library. The Bookstart Bookcrawl is specifically for babies and small children and their parents or grandparents to enjoy together.'