New creative chapter for Gigha pupils
Pupils at Gigha Primary School will soon be crafting tales from their island with a helping hand from their very own writer in residence. The school is one of nine chosen to take part in a special project run by the Scottish Book Trust. Author and illustrator John Fardell will be helping the children at Gigha get creative. As well as having an author in residence, the school will also get a resources grant of £500. Head teacher of Gigha Primary School Julie Wilson said: ‘What a great gift to have John Fardell come and work with us to craft a series of tales from our Isle of Stories. We are so excited for this opportunity to learn from him and be inspired through his residency to create and illustrate our own picture books on the themes of nature, growth and learning for sustainability.’ John Fardell is the author of children’s novels, including The Seven Professors of the Far North and The Secret of the Black Moon Moth. He also works as a freelance cartoonist, illustrator, designer and puppeteer. ‘I’m very excited about being author-illustrator in residence at Gigha Primary School, and really honoured to have been asked. I’m greatly looking forward to travelling to Gigha and working with the pupils at this terrific school on their imaginative and creative ideas.’
Funded
The Live Literature School Residencies programme, now in its third year, is funded by Walter Scott Giving Group and delivered by Scottish Book Trust, changing lives through reading and writing. Schools across the country were invited to apply. Each school’s project will eventually be showcased on the Scottish Book Trust’s website. Marc Lambert, chief executive officer of Scottish Book Trust, added: ‘We’re pleased to offer nine fully-funded residencies, which will help pupils to foster a love for reading and writing that can last a lifetime.’