On Saturday Hugless Douglas was in Abingdon, and can be seen here with Mark of Mostly Books.

There are a number of books about Hugless Douglas.

In the first he tries to find that hug he is after, having just woken from hibernation.

A rock is big but is not that good to hug. Neither is a tree. Nor are some of the following hugs that get very funny: sheep, rabbit, owl etc. …

You will have to read the book to see if Douglas finds that hug.

(Mark Comments: It is worth mentioning that his creator – author and illustrator David Melling – is an Abingdonian, and we can all be very proud of him. Douglas is becoming a global publishing phenomenon!)

At Mostly Books this evening Brother Cedric from Abingdon Abbey was there to launch his new book: Sixty spooky, strange and suprising stories about Abingdon.

Cedric has illustrated Abbey manuscripts in times gone by, but this is his first book. Cedric was drowned in 1327 trying to escape from rioting Abingdon townspeople since when he has had a lonely existence. He says in the chapter on Ghastly, Ghostly and Ghoulish Tales, that “One does not bump into other ghosts at all. It seem every spirit is on a different wavelength”

It has taken ghost writer, Judy Stubley, pictured above, to get him finally published by writing it all down.

At Mostly Books for £6.99.

Thanks to Iain for this picture and report …

Story Lab is a scheme Abingdon Library have been running over the summer with the able assistance of some young volunteers.

The challenge they set children was to read 6 books over the summer holidays. Today there was a ceremony in the library where the mayor presented medals and certificates to children who had successfully completed the challenge.

Rosie the librarian told watching parents that over 500 children had participated this year, with more than 200 completing the challenge, which is more than 100 more than last year. Between them they read an impressive 2000 books over the holidays.

We are very lucky to have such an active and well supported library in Abingdon. Follow them on twitter @AbingdonLibrary.