The BookTrust NI Author Tour is a project offering children and young people access to poets, authors and illustrators.
Supported by Lottery Project Funding, through Arts Council Northern Ireland, it showcases the best of children's literature and takes well known authors, illustrators and their books out to communities that would not typically engage with the arts. Children taking part receive a personally signed book to take home, treasure and share with their families as a legacy of the project.
Artist visits like this are a fantastic opportunity for pupils to meet a successful writer or illustrator and gain an insight into their creative process. Research shows that the earlier the reading experience begins with children the better the prospects for future educational and quality of life benefits. The fact that reading is also enjoyable, inspirational, memorable, life-enhancing and, in many cases, life-changing, is an added and wonderful bonus. The Arts Council is pleased to support BookTrust NI in promoting the value of reading to young people across Northern Ireland - Damian Smyth, Head of Literature and Drama, Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Now in its tenth year, BookTrust NI have brought Dapo Adeola, Polly Ho-Yen, Candy Gourlay, Chris Riddell, Julia Donaldson, Nick Sharratt, Lauren Child, Dan Freedman, Sarah Crossan, Juno Dawson, Alex T Smith, Steven Lenton, Nadia Shireen, James Mayhew, Joseph Coelho, Ed Vere, Tom Percival and many more to schools across Northern Ireland in recent tours.
What teachers and authors say
"The event was excellent at engaging children with reading. My class spent nearly the full day afterwards reading their new book, talking about the book together and we even went outside to read in the sunshine too! I saw children out reading at playtime, which was lovely to see. Most of the children took their book home to read in the house too. The children were amazed that they met a real life author and illustrator, especially when they could see her actual book and hear her life story too." - Bronagh McCavigan, Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach
"The event was amazing! Both adults and children had an incredible afternoon. Candy Gourlay was so engaging and interesting. It has certainly inspired many of the children to read but also consider the possibility of a career in writing. Children were so excited to get a signed copy of a novel and many have come into school today to say they have already started reading their new book. This is really encouraging! Others said they went home and began to write stories that Candy had planned with them. Having an in-person visit is very exciting for the children as they get to meet a real life author. Hearing Candy's story was inspiration as she talked about her life, passion and previous rejections. This showed the children that they can be successful, they just have to be resilient. Children appear more enthused and are keen to read their new novel during class." - Rosie Ramsay, Parkgate Primary School
"I found the BookTrust NI Author Tour school visits to be extremely well-organised and impactful. With BookTrust organising the tour, not only was the tour superbly run which meant I felt I was able to give the students my all, but most importantly I was able to reach schools where having an author visit was a unique and valued experience for students and staff. The personalised book gifting aspect of the visit is a special part of the BookTrust NI Author Tour. It was incredibly moving to see the excitement and joy among the students as absolutely everyone would be given a book to take home and share - most often it's only families which have disposable income who are in the position to buy books. I loved visiting Northern Ireland and the experience to visit multiple schools during my author tour; I'm very keen to return to Northern Ireland as I so enjoyed the energy, spirit and creativity of the students I worked with." - Polly Ho-Yen
"The experience has been brilliant. I am genuinely impressed by the work of BookTrust NI in giving young people access to poets, authors, and illustrators, and the clear positive effect this is having on so many children, particularly at a time when access to the arts is so limited. The tour not only helped raise my author profile but also provided inspiration by showing how much the young people for whom I create books genuinely engage with my stories and illustrations. The sight of children taking home a free copy of my book, with no financial barriers determining who can own a book, was truly heartwarming. I'm grateful to have been a part of this project." - Clive McFarland
