Pupils and teachers at a Reading primary school have celebrated the opening of their new look library with a popular children’s book author.
Manor Primary School has undergone a six month project to upgrade its library.
The old one used to be made up of regular tables and chairs, with a whiteboard on the wall.
But thanks to the upgrade, the library has been transformed, is chock-full of new books, and has new furniture and artwork.
The new look library was officially opened by Holly Webb, a renowned childrens’ author from Tilehurst.
Pupils from the school’s book club were visibly excited to see Mrs Webb as she answered their questions.
Mrs Webb also shed light on her writing process and what her favourite book is.
She said: “That question is really difficult.
People always ask me which my favourite book is and it really depends.
“It’s usually the one I’m in the middle of writing, where I’ve got the characters in my head and thinking about them and what will happen to them.
“There’s one I’m currently writing which really reminds me of books that I grew up reading.
“But also, there’s a book called Lost in the Snow, which is in this very first one in this animal Story series.
“And it wasn’t ever meant to be a series.
“It’s based on stories that my Mum and I used to make up together, because we had a cat or Rosie, who was a stray, and she walked into my dad’s office, and he found her sitting on his chair. And then we adopted her.
“And my mum and I used to make up adventures for what the adventures that she would have had before she walked into my dad’s office.
“And that’s when I started writing books about cats and dogs.”
She added that her main inspiration for writing was her pets.
One pupil asked whether she preferred cats or dogs.
Mrs Webb replied: “Right now it’s cats but I do miss having a dog!”
Another child also asked whether Mrs Webb always wanted to be a write or not.
Mrs Webb used to be a book editor for Scholastic, which publishes the Horrible Histories series among other childrens books.
She said: “The editing is when the book gets really good – you can turn it into something really special.”
After initially being an editor, Mrs Webb began writing herself.
Mrs Webb has 157 published books, many of which are illustrated by artist Sophie Williams.
The library upgrade project was made possible thanks to £6,000 of funding from the Foyle Foundation, which gives grants to schools and organisations to inspire children to develop a love of reading.
Of that £4,500 was spent on books which were acquired in a shopping trip to Waterstones, and £1,500 was spent on furniture which the children helped with.
Deepa Farrell deputy headteacher explained: “the main thing that they like to do is help people set up libraries. So that’s exactly what we did.
I’m just really proud of how far that can stretch, you know, to be able to redesign an entire room for that kind of budget, the children have done a really good job in doing so.
“They have worked tirelessly.
“They’ve come to me, they’ve created mood boards of what they want to look like, they’re going on the internet and searching for different things and pricing up. So it’s been a real labour of love. It’s been a real project for them.
“I thought, obviously be a nice thing to do with a group of children, but actually now they’ve got real ownership over that space. And they’re so proud of it, they keep it tidy, they make sure everything’s in order, they come up with different ideas, such as doing a special display on Mental Health Awareness Week.
“And they’re really, really keeping on top of current affairs, what special things are happening in the world, and just creating a space that is always abreast of what’s happening.
“I think it’s brilliant, it gives the children leadership skills, it gives children just aspiration as well that they can achieve something if they put their minds to it.”
The school’s book club is for children in Years 5 and 6, who help younger pupils choose books during their library sessions.
It already has a waiting list of Year 4 pupils who want to join.
Mrs Webb opened the library in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 18.
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