A LIST of great reads have been selected to help crack a smile on young readers’ faces in a scheme thought to be the first of its kind in the country.

A new book reading scheme in Brighton and Hove created with schoolchildren to find the chapters that fill you with laughter is thought to be the first of its kind in the country.

The Mood Boosting Books scheme will give youngsters access to a list of books that they themselves said made them happy in a series of focus groups.

Children from Stanford Junior School, Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School and Coombe Road Primary School have helped draw up the list working alongside Brighton and Hove City Council’s public health and libraries teams.

The list of books, which also includes suggestions put forward by health, education and library professionals, include fun stories as well as books helping children with issues such as bereavement, bullying or self-esteem.

As well as household names such as JK Rowling, Jacqueline Wilson and Roald Dahl, the list also includes work by some of Sussex’s finest including Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman, Stig of the Dump by Clive King and The Boy in the Dress by former Hove resident David Walliams.

The books will be available to borrow from libraries across the city in paper format while some will also be available as e-Books.

For every book children read they will be given a smiley mark on a special booklist being distributed through their schools.

All primary and junior schools in the city are set to take part after being sent information packs with a copy of the book list for each child in years four, five and six.

A launch event aimed at promoting the benefits of the scheme to teaching staff was held at the Jubilee Library on Tuesday.

Stanford Juniors headteacher Paul Davis said: “Reading is a crucial skill and this is an exciting and innovative scheme so we very much wanted to be involved in it.

“It’s a great opportunity for our children to experience and really think about the power of the written word.”

Dr Tom Scanlon, the council’s director of public health, said: “As far as we are aware this is the first scheme of its kind created with children for children.

“Reading for pleasure is proven to have an extremely positive impact on different aspects of children’s lives.”