Youngsters celebrate World Book Day
YOUNGSTERS from a Suffolk school were given two reasons to get excited about World Book Day - they met a top children's author and their Ipswich Town FC heroes.
By Danielle Nuttall
YOUNGSTERS from a Suffolk school were given two reasons to get excited about World Book Day - they met a top children's author and their Ipswich Town FC heroes.
More than a dozens pupils from The Willows Primary School in Ipswich were at the Portman Road stadium yesterday to celebrate the special event, which is designed to encourage people to read.
Children's author Nick Butterworth, whose books have gained worldwide popularity, gave the children a reading of The Whisperer, one of his colourful works.
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Accompanied by his wife, Annette, Mr Butterworth then captivated his young audience by penning some illustrations on a large board.
The pupils were then treated to a reading of one of his wife's children's books, performed by Town defender David Wright.
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The children were each given a copy of The Whisperer which they had signed by Mr Wright, Ipswich star Richard Naylor and Mr Butterworth.
Mr Butterworth, who lives in East Bergholt, said: “Whether it's the Harry Potter effect, I do not know, but there has been a fantastic upturn in young fiction.
“Before Harry Potter, you would have thought books would have had a thin time of it but there has been huge interest in young fiction, in particular fantasy. It's led people to enjoy the business of reading.”
The author said his favourite book as a child was Treasure Island.
“I think for a great book it has to take you on a journey. The characters need to be older and wiser and go through some life-changing experience. That's certainly what happened to Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island.”
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