The Day Sussex Authors Came To Town

As a PTA group, we are constantly asking parents to dig into their pockets to help raise funds for the school in various ways, but for one day, we gave back to the school's parents & children.

With technology advancing faster than society can handle, is it any wonder that schools and children are relying more and more on tablets and computers?

With homework being set on websites, and laptops available for each year group, are we losing the love of picking up a book and reading?

It would appear not for my son's school!

After visiting many Comicons over the years, I thought it would be lovely for pupils to have their own convention - in the style of books, in the hopes to encourage reading.

The idea which soon became a reality was to have local Sussex authors in our hall.  Where they could showcase their books, be available to chat with the children and sign any books they wished to purchase.

John Bond signing his debut book Not Lost

The event would see each author pop along to one of the classrooms, which would be set out as a reading room for the day, and the children would be able to sit down and hear a reading and listen to the authors talk about their world as an author.

Elizabeth Dale talking to Juniors about the life of an author

Jo FitzGerald answer questions from the Infants

To my absolute surprise, nearly all the school children were extremely excited about this event, with many insisting on coming to their parents.  The school's assembly and classroom readings of the authors books really had paid off.

Seven Sussex authors agreed to give up their time to meet the children of Broadwater.  The afternoon was a huge success for all involved, from the authors selling books, to the children wanting to read, to the school raising funds via the tuck shop.

Worthing Author Jenny Jinks

Sussex Author Jill Atkins

  

Katie Dale talking with the Juniors

  

Worthing Author - Sam Watkins

The children had a fantastic time, they listened intently to the authors, filled themselves up on tuck food, had the option to buy the books from the very authors themselves and were even able to take a book away from our 'book donation stall'.

Not a laptop, smartphone or tablet in sight.

Here's to the next generation of authors.