Mr Gum author makes pupils feel ‘very

THE author of the renowned Mr

Gum book series entertained children at Derby High School and told them how a great book can come from just one idea.

Andy Stanton spoke to pupils from year three to year six from

Derby High Primary along with children invited to attend the event from St Wystan’s School, in

Repton, and Griffe Field Primary

School, in Littleover.

He talked about the Mr Gum books, which have won numerous awards, including the Red House

Children’s Book Award, two Blue decided to make up a story that I decided to send it to publishers Peter Book Awards for Best Book could read to my cousins on and that was the Mr Gum book. with Pictures, and the inaugural Christmas Day as I didn’t have any That’s how one idea led to eight Mr Roald Dahl Funny Prize. presents for them. Gum books.”

Andy also told children about “There are lots of different ways Sue Bussey, library resources how the Mr Gum books were to write a story and there’s no right manager at Derby High School, being turned into a musical, his answer but all you need is one said: “Andy is a very physical presenter new book, Natboff, and his journey good idea. I had an idea and I just and his sheer energy and to becoming an author. kept writing and writing and adding ability to link with the children was

He said: “I went to Oxford University characters to the story. amazing, not to mention the way to study English but they “For once in my life I finished a he remembered their names. threw me out and then I did some story and I took it to my cousin’s “Andy was more than happy to odd jobs but most of all I thought house but they were so excited take a later train so that he had I’d like to write a book. So 16 years they didn’t listen to the story. I forgot chance to talk to each of his young ago I decided to see if I could write all about it and it lay in my fans and make them feel very special.” a story. It was Christmas Eve and I room for two years before I