MEM FOX MAGIC

HUNDREDS

of Townsville school students are excited to be meeting beloved children’s author Mem Fox next week.

The author of more than 40 books, including Possum Magic, will be in Townsville on May 25 as part of Savannah, Townsville’s Festival of Stories, which aims to inspire and encourage students to read, write and tell stories.

Thirty children from Annandale Christian College are looking forward to meeting Ms Fox and have been reading as many of her books as they can in preparation for the visit.

The school’s librarian Alex Nicholson said the event offered a rare opportunity for school students to meet famous writers.

“Books are inspirational and we like to get students excited about reading and get their imaginations flowing,” she said.

“Mem Fox has been publishing for 34 years and she’s an inspiration to kids who read her stories”

Ms Nicholson said her students had been looking forward to the visit for months.

“They love Mem Fox’s books and are very excited about meeting her,” she said.

“We have some wonderful and talented writers at our school.

“Seeing an author in the flesh just spurs the students on to keep writing.”

Ms Fox will meet about 600 children as part of her school author talks at the Riverway Arts Centre and said she would tell students about her life as a best selling author.

“I will read as many books as possible, with lots of audience participation,” Ms Fox said.

“I tell the background to the books, in age- appropriate groups. I will explain how I came to be a writer and why I don’t do my own pictures. I will answer questions.”

Ms Fox’s visit will include an adult- only author talk and book signing night on Thursday May 25 and a Baby Rhyme Time session at 9.30am on May 26 at Thuringowa library.