Authors visit Shropshire Schools

Over 2,000 children in 17 Shropshire Junior Schools met 9 authors, illustrators and storytellers in March 2010.

What has been happening

Pupils at the following schools were involved with Shrewsbury Children Bookfest Events in March:

Albrighton Primary School	Mount Pleasant Primary School
Baschurch Primary School	Much Wenlock Primary School
Clive Primary School	Oakmeadow Primary School
Coleham Primary School	Packwood Haugh
Condover Primary School	Shrewsbury School
Dorrington Primary School	St John's Junior School Bridgnorth
Longden Primary School	St George's Junior School
Market Drayton Infant School	Severndale School

Schools had a fabulous line up of visiting speakers to choose from. We are fortunate here in Shrewsbury that we don't have to look too far to find outstanding talent to provide inspiration for young children. Local author and performance poet, Andrew Fusek Peters and the superb local storyteller Fran O'Boyle spent time in schools this week. We were delighted to welcome back to Shrewsbury author of Spy Dog series, Andrew Cope with the heroine of his books, Lara. Andrew not only talks about his work as an author but also inspires the children and teachers with his motivational talk on the 'art of being brilliant'.

Fran O'Boyle at Baschruch

 

We were delighted to welcome two authors to Shrewsbury for the first time, Sam Llewellyn and Benjamin Myers. Sam, guitar in hand, encouraged the children to explore 'What if' when developing their own stories.

Benjamin Myers, meanwhile, gave a fascinating insight into blurring fantasy with fiction, drawing on his own experiences both within the armed forces and as a criminal barrister in Manchester.

 Sam Llewellyn at Baschurch

Entertainment for the younger audience came from author Julia Jarman and illustrator Lynne Chapman. The children were given plently of opportunity to practise their dancing and put pen to paper, creating their own illustrations.

If your school would like an author visit in March 2011, please email schools@shrewsburybookfest.co.uk  with your contact details. The programme of events will be send out via email in November. Bookings are made on a first come first served basis. 

 

What we offer

In March each year Shrewsbury Children's Bookfest offers schools the chance to book some of the best authors, illustrators and storytellers to give talks and run workshops within schools.

All events are tailored to meet the needs of your pupils. Bookfest arrange all travel and accommodation for the author and will, wherever possible, accompany the author during their visit. Books will be on sale, provided by a local bookseller. 

 

Making the most of your author visit 

Preparing for your author visit will ensure that the pupils get the most out of the day.
We recommend that you have a selection of the visiting author's books accessible to the children throughout the term. 

Contact Schools Library Service at SLS@shropshire.gov.uk to order books by this author for your pupils. 

 

 

Fees

Author visits cost £225 per half day. Shrewsbury Children's Bookfest will arrange all travel and accommodation for the visiting author. Wherever possible a Bookfest volunteer will accompany the author for the duration of their visit.