Sophia hadn’t seen the bookmobile but had been told she won the contest and could see her work when it pulled up outside her school. The whole art piece wasn’t able to fit on the bookmobile, Sophia was explaining as the vehicle pulled into sight and she shouted with excitement.

Sophia said she had worked on the artwork for eight hours and her inspiration for the piece was the fantasy novels she enjoys. The art is adorned with elements from her favorite parts of the fantasy worlds she reads about.

“It’s amazing,” said Sophia, regarding the inside of the new bookmobile.

“It’s basically like your average library, except on wheels,” said Cole Brooks, the librarian operating the bookmobile. She also said the bookmobile visits 28 locations regularly throughout the school year.

Ben Pifher/MDN Sophia Carlton clasps her hand over her mouth in reaction to seeing her drawing on the back of the new Ward County Public Library bookmobile in Surrey on Thursday. Standing next to her is her mother, Emily.

If a book is not available on the shelves in the mobile library, Brooks said, it can be requested and brought during the next bookmobile visit.

Sophia said being able to see her work on the side of the truck was “amazing.”

“It makes us proud to be able to support the kids,” said Ward County Library Director Kerri Boetcher. “It’s about reading.”