FOREST born illustrator designer, and writer Levi Pinfold has been awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for 2013 - and part of his prize is £500 in books which he has decided to award to Mitcheldean Community Library.

Levi was awarded the medal for the book 'Black Dog', which, while it is only his second full length book, is lavishly illustrated in his own style.

Now living in Australia, Levi has built a considerable international reputation and following for his complex and detailed artwork – which many people will recognise from his 2010 book 'The Django', which was inspired by the legends surrounding the real-life jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt, and Levi's own love of music.

In accepting the award he said: "To win the Kate Greenaway Medal is fanstastic: I couldn't use the words 'over-the-moon' less lightly."

And in a personal message to readers of the Review, Levi told us: "My early childhood was spent in the Forest – Ruardean to be precise. It is also where I read my first book. Every fortnight the library van from Mitcheldean would stop at the end of Brierley Banks and my brother, sister and I would rummage and escape with our plunder, It was just something we did – like eating dinner or getting dressed in the morning – and I'm pretty sure it had a permanent effect on us.

"It certainly did me. I cannot think of my childhood without recalling those adventures I went on between the covers of a book. Each time I would read about troll bridges or Robin Hood or the deep dark wood, the forest would take on a different light; I'd escape and come back having learnt something without realising it.

"These experiences have instilled in me a lifelong love of reading. I still get the same childlike feeling of excitement when opening the covers of an unfamiliar book – some new place to visit and learn from, even if it's the driest tome imaginable. I'm convinced that this must be due to how early I was given books I enjoyed. We get a whole world of knowledge and imagination for free, delivered to our door.

He added: "When I read that Mitcheldean has kept the library open as part of a community effort I was thrilled. Like many people who read, I value the libraries I grew up in a great deal, and I'm hugely thankful for the work of people so passionate about keeping libraries alive; providing the invaluable opportunities that free knowledge brings for everyone.

"So, thanks very much Mitcheldean, for keeping the library open and minds inspired!"

Levi's latest book, Black Dog, was published by Templar Publishing in 2011, to international critical acclaim, and has won him several other awards.