Three acclaimed children’s authors are visiting schools across the island, with organisers hoping to inspire a love of reading and encourage youngsters to discover their own creative potential.
Former stand-up comedian Ben Davis, award-winning manga artist Sonia Leong and children’s author and illustrator Zehra Hicks are taking part – giving every pupil from Reception to Year 9 the opportunity to meet an
author.
Mr Davis, who is visiting Key Stage 2 pupils, said he hoped meeting someone who had made a career out of writing would show children that their ambitions were achievable.
‘I hope it shows them that I’m just a normal person and that actually becoming an author is an achievable dream,’ he said.
‘I think sometimes kids, especially kids from similar backgrounds to myself, can feel like it’s not achievable. Hopefully now they’ll think, “he did it, there’s no reason I can’t do it as well.”’
His advice to aspiring young writers was simple.
‘Just try your best, don’t give up and you can do it as well.’
Mr Davis is known for his humorous children’s fiction, including The Soup Movement, The Private Blog of Joe Cowley and his latest Postman Planet adventure, The Big Stink, which was recently named a Times Children’s Book of the Week.
Meanwhile, secondary school pupils are meeting Ms Leong, whose work spans comic books, anime and manga, including projects involving Doctor Who and Netflix.
She is delivering talks and workshops for budding manga artists, while younger pupils are meeting Ms Hicks, whose picture books include Giraffe and Frog, Pug Hug and Cheeky Monkey.
Jodie Hearn, the local library’s head of children and young people’s services, said the event was particularly significant during this year’s National Year of Reading.
‘There’s no right or wrong way to read,’ she said.
‘Meeting authors can have a lasting impact on children – it can help to inspire a love of reading and writing, and above all it encourages them to read for pleasure, which is so important for both their education and their wellbeing.’
Book Week is supported by Collas Crill, whose staff have helped judge school competitions encouraging children to create monsters, design space helpers or draw manga versions of themselves.
The programme also includes free public events at the Guille-Alles Library.
Mr Davis gave a talk there for eight- to 11-year-olds yesterday, featuring space Vikings, rude unicorns and talking robot dogs, while Ms Leong hosted a manga drawing workshop for those aged 14 and over, including adults.
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