Primary One pupils at Victor Scott Primary in Hamilton yesterday became the first pupils on the Island to receive their very own personalised books ? thanks to a project launched earlier this year aimed at promoting literacy among young children.

The director of the "Personally Yours Give-A-Book" programme, Keena Simmons, said she realised that illiteracy is a major concern in Bermuda and how important it was for parents and teachers to promote literacy at an early age.

Ms Simmons said one way to get children hooked on books was to give them personalised books featuring characters with their names.

"Imagine the thrill youngsters experience when they see and recognise their names in print. They will be proud of the book and the story in which they star," she said.

She said youngsters experienced a sense of accomplishment at being able to read their own book and reading was much more exciting when the story was about them.

Personalised books and school supplies were handed to 24 Primary One pupils at Victor Scott Primary yesterday. Pupils at Paget Primary will receive their personalised books on Friday ? both schools were picked at random.

The books are educational in nature as they teach children about shapes, colours, numbers and alphabets and also feature themes including crime prevention and fire safety.

Sponsors who helped make the programme a reality included HOTT 107.5, Staples Ltd. and Washington Lane Engravers.

Ms Simmons encouraged other companies in Bermuda to get involved in promoting literacy among the Island's children as studies have shown that good reading practices develop at an early age.

"If the books hold and capture their attention, they will spend more time reading and the more they practise, the more skilled in comprehension and vocabulary use they will become," she said.