Children at Kirn Primary School have been delighted to welcome three Scottish Children's Award shortlisted writers who visited at the end of last term to inspire and enthuse children about reading and give them insights into how they write their books.

Pupils in Pre-5, P1 and P2 were treated to a fantastic hour with Chae Strathie, shortlisted for the Book Awards this year with "The Loon on the Moon". Chae inspired children to use their imaginations and their memories to make their own stories, encouraged them to keep a notebook by their bed to write down their dreams, told how one of his dreams became a real book, and read some of his stories.  Everyone all sang along to the Loon on the Moon song and finished with the first ever reading of his new story, "Ping!"

It was then the turn of children in P3 and P4 to meet Franzeska Ewart, author of "There's a Hamster in my Pocket" Franzeska brought a host of 'inspirational objects' with her and told everyone how these objects had given her the magical spark for the idea which led to the final book.  She also brought two of the characters the book, Toffee and Caramel, and their magnificent castle.

To round off the programme of events P5, P6 and P7 welcomed Joan Lennon, author of the Slightly Jones Mysteries to talk to the pupils about how she finds ideas for her books, how one idea leads to another and what inspires her to write books set in Victorian times. As well as her shortlisted book "The Case of the London Dragonfish", she has also written many more books including "The Case of the Glasgow Ghoul" and was urged to consider writing "The Case of the Dunoon Dungeon".

Lead Councillor for education and lifelong learning, Michael Breslin said: “It is fantastic these wonderful Scottish writers have been busy working with the pupils at Kirn Primary. It is so important to encourage children to read at this young age and I hope they will continue through their teenage years and as adults.”

To start off a new school year of literary events in September, Scottish Book Trust have just confirmed that 21 pupils from Kirn Primary will have the chance to present a dramatisation of a story of their choice to world famous author Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo at Dunoon Library.