Best selling children's author opens school bus library (From Streatham Guardian)

Best selling children's author opens school bus library

1:00pm Friday 22nd July 2011 in News

Children at a West Dulwich primary school were joined by award-winning children's author Michael Morpurgo to celebrate the opening of their very own school bus library.

Around 700 youngsters at Rosendale Primary School heard the former Children's Laureate talk about the importance of reading books and reading on Tuesday afternoon, July 19.

The library bus, which took eight months to transform, will now be run by pupils at the school.

Project manager Kate Gorely, whose children, Seamus, nine, and Nina, six, are both pupils at Rosendale, wrote to Mr Morpurgo to invite him to the launch event.

She said: "We had a lovely afternoon. There were so many people we couldn't fit them all in the hall; we had to go outside.

"[Michael] had the kids in the palm of his hand. He is so inspiring; he is very funny and very witty. To stand up on stage with him was just amazing. He is such a respected author."

Local businesses sponsored the project, which includes a new reading garden for children to enjoy their books.

"Everyone has really come together and there has been someone to turn to for every goal or task that has come up," said Ms Gorely.

Mr Morpurgo has since penned a story inspired by the library bus, which will be made into a short animation for the London 2012 Olympics. The bus has also been shortlisted for a design award by the School Libraries Association. The winner will be announced in October.