Seven Stories welcomed David Walliams to a very special book reading with local primary schools, followed by a blockbuster public book signing event on Tuesday 24 November.
Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books, was thrilled to welcome the biggest selling children's author since 2000, David Walliams. David's books have been read in over forty-three languages, and he’s sold over seven million worldwide.
On a whistle-stop tour of the North East, David Walliams, dropped into Seven Stories' magical Attic to read to children from local schools, before taking part in a mammoth book signing. David read from his hilarious new book Grandpa’s Great Escape. Tickets to the event were free and were snapped up in just over an hour, with fans eager to meet the popular author. Children from Sacred Heart Primary and the three schools who benefit from Seven Stories’ Reader in Residence project – Northern Saints C of E Primary, Diamond Hall Junior School and St John’s Primary - were invited to be the first to welcome David to Seven Stories and take part in the exclusive storytelling and Q&A.
Kate Edwards, Seven Stories Chief Executive said, "David is a tour de force in children's books and we were incredibly excited to be able to welcome him to Seven Stories. He has encouraged a whole generation of children to pick up a book, read for pleasure and have a good laugh in the process."
David signed to Harper Collins children's publishing in 2008 and released The Boy in the Dress, illustrated by Quentin Blake. In November 2009 came Mr Stink, again illustrated by Quentin Blake, about a 12-year-old girl who meets a tramp and helps look after him. The book was awarded the Children's Award in the inaugural People's Book Prize in 2010, and was made into a 60-minute film, which premiered on BBC One on 23 December 2012. It featured in Seven Stories last exhibition Moving Stories - Children's Books from Page to Screen, 2014.
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Media Contact
Hannah Lambert
Marketing and Digital Coordinator
Note to Editor
Novels by David Walliams
Picture books
- The Slightly Annoying Elephant (2013)
- The First Hippo on the Moon (2014)
- The Queen's Orang-utan (2015, for Comic Relief)
- The Bear Who Went Boo! (2015)
Reader In Residence with Seven Stories – The National Centre for Children’s Books.
Seven Stories Reader in Residence Programme places a member of the Seven Stories team into a school every week for a full academic year. Readers in Residence can work with the whole school community - children, staff, parents and carers for a strategic approach to reading for pleasure and improved literacy.
The impact of the pilot programme shows that developing a love of books and increased motivation to read improves literacy, confidence and well-being both at school and at home.
"The Reader in Residence scheme is transforming our children's early reading and the scheme makes a significant contribution to our family learning programmes. Our Reader is very much part of the school team - available to staff for expert advice and invigorating join reading with whole classes and parents. The impact is clear - we have eradicated a history of poor attainment at Key Stage 1 exit, moving from significantly below national levels in reading SATs to in line with the national average within two years." Steve Williamson, Head Teacher, Northern Saints Church of England (VA) Primary School, Sunderland.
For more information about our Reader in Residence programme, contact debbie.beeks@sevenstories.org.uk