Authors in Schools

During the past 5 years, BOOKMARK has invited 3/4 authors, each year, to visit local primary schools in the area,  New Hill, St Stephens, Rattray, Kirkmichael, Alyth, Coupar Angus, Burrelton and Meigle have all benefited.  BOOKMARK is committed to encourage children of all ages, to engage and enjoy reading, listen to stories and question what they have heard.  

The BOOKMARK Book Festival team was at work in Newhill Primary School this week, with a new Authors in Schools whole-day event for children in Primary 2-7. 

The children in P2 & 3 spent a hilarious hour with author Jonathan Meres entertaining them about being a writer and talking about his book, Noodle the Doodle.  

The P4 & 5 children's imagination took off with their meeting with author Lindsay Littleson. They heard how she came to write The Titanic Detective Agency and loved the idea that they, too, could write a story about the Titanic.

Local author, David MacPhail, had a lively session with the P6 & 7 kids. Their verdict?  'He was really funny and good at telling stories' and his  An Amazing History Atlas of Scotland was great because of 'all the interesting facts and it was good to see loads of pictures too as lots of history books are just writing'.

Storytellers Lindsey Gibb and Pauline Cordiner held the kids spellbound and you could hear a pin drop during their trips into other worlds through fiction. Afterwards, the kids were keen to come up with their own ideas about characters in stories and wrote them into their own tales for a BOOKMARK writing competition. All the children were rewarded with a badge and the lucky best six writers received £10 book tokens they'll be able to spend at the Wellmeadow in Adventure into Books. 

A huge thank you to Liz Douglas, Head Teacher and all members of staff who supported the team throughout the day.  Thanks also to our Authors in Schools Team,  Jen Geddes, Jacqui Rutherford, Linda Clark and their volunteers for organising such a super day.