March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
31
News Every Day |

World Book Day 2021: Let’s not be snobby about what kids read — reading is reading, says David Walliams

MANY parents will associate World Book Day with a last-minute dash to the supermarket or raiding the dressing-up box to piece together a costume for their child to go to school in.

And while today’s is a little different, the essence of the international celebration, which started in 1995, remains the same: To get kids reading for pleasure.

Charlie Clift
David Walliams is one of the UK’s most prolific and popular children’s authors[/caption]

And who knows more about that than Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams, one of the UK’s most prolific and popular children’s authors, having sold more than 40million books?

The comedian, dad to seven-year-old Alfred, says the best way to start is by reading TO your children, then gradually getting them to read WITH you.

David, 49, says: “Some of my fondest memories of my childhood are of being read to by my parents.

“I remember lying on my dad’s hairy chest as he read Green Eggs And Ham by Dr Seuss to me and feeling so content.

Rex Features
David does a lot of school visits, fitting them in when touring with BGT[/caption]

“It’s such a lyrical, slightly dreamy book and I really cherished that time with him.

“Reading to your children is one of the biggest gifts a parent can give — and they will remember it for ever.

“Of course we’re all so busy and parents have huge pressures on their time, particularly at the moment.

“But just ten minutes a day can make a massive difference to a child’s future.

News Group Newspapers Ltd
The comedian says the best way to start is by reading to your children, then gradually getting them to read with you[/caption]

Reading underpins all learning. It helps with writing, concentration and vocabulary.”

Research shows reading is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success, more so than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or income.

And World Book Day, which is marked in more than 100 countries, promotes it in abundance.

Since publishing his first book, The Boy In The Dress, in 2008 — about Dennis, who liked to wear girls’ clothes — David has written 29 more, including nine picture books.

David Walliams’ Fing has just been released in paperback

In the past two years he has written four books a year.

David has captured children’s imaginations in a way many authors can only dream of, and to date has sold more than 40million books.

His tales regularly top bestseller charts, while The Beast Of Buckingham Palace and Fing have just been released in paperback.

And seven of his stories have been made into Christmas TV specials, including Gangsta Granny, The Boy In The Dress and The Midnight Gang.

‘BIT OF A NERD’

As a child, David loved to read.

He says: “The Beano comic got me started and, as I got older, I loved fact books about dinosaurs because I was a bit of a nerd.

“I read Charlie And The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl when I was nine or ten — and that was a ‘wow’ moment. He is a legend and managed to tread a line between darkness and humour.

“I think The Twits is his funniest book. You’ve got to have some imagination to write a children’s book about an old couple who hate each other.”

Top tips for kids

  • Let your child read anything they want –a comic, a picture book, fact book or story
  • Home in on their interests when choosing books
  • Try to make it a daily routine and stick to it
  • When reading with your child, put your phone away to give them your full attention
  • As they get older, read alternate pages together
  • When libraries open again, take your child as often as possible. Librarians are a great source of knowledge and recommendations

David is often compared to Dahl, who died in 1990.

Like Dahl, David’s books play on children’s fears: A granny thief, a dentist who wants to steal all your teeth, an auntie who is out to nick your inheritance, burgers made from rats.

His characters aren’t supposed to behave like that . . . yet they do.

Quentin Blake illustrated the first two books but told David he couldn’t keep up with him.

If I inspire one child to do something creative, the job has been done

David Walliams

He recommended Tony Ross, whose work has lots in common with Quentin’s.

David passionately believes it doesn’t matter which books capture a child’s imagination, so long as they enjoy it.

He says: “Let’s not be snobby about the books children read.

“I encourage my son Alfred to read anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Pokemon comic he picks up at our local shop or Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling. Reading is reading.”

Best-selling author David has sold more than 40million books

In normal times, David does a lot of school visits, fitting them in when touring with BGT.

He says: “I love to reach out to the children who think books are boring or ‘not for them’.

“If I inspire one child to do something creative, the job has been done.

“At the moment kids probably have more time than usual as they’re not able to see their friends and family.

Rex Features
David has written 30 books, including nine picture books[/caption]

“It’s a good time to capitalise on that and try some new books.”

Musing on his success, David says: “I’ve just tried to write really fun books.

“There are lots of pictures and I try to be imaginative with the text and will alter the sizes and styles.

“I want the package to look as attractive as possible. Some children will be intimidated by a book with pages and pages of text, so illustrations can help to break it up.

David has captured children’s imaginations in a way many authors can only dream of

“Books such as Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney, are ideal for children who might be put off by too much writing, as they’re full of drawings.”

David ensures he regularly finds time to read.

He says: “I don’t think you can be a writer if you don’t read.

“I read a lot of history books and biographies but also a lot of books by my contemporaries.”

News Group Newspapers Ltd
David says he loves to reach out to children who think books are boring or ‘not for them’[/caption]

At the moment David has no plans to write for adults.

He says: “It’s not unthinkable that it will happen and comedians such as Stephen Fry and Ben Elton have done it very successfully.

“However, I really enjoy writing children’s books. I love the fact I can go anywhere with them.

“In grown-up books you tend not to blast off into space on a whim!

I move around the house a lot with my laptop and I reward myself with a Jaffa Cake at the end of each chapter

David Walliams

“I do enjoy thinking how to dream up incredible scenarios, and a lot of my working day is spent looking at the wall, thinking.”

David, who lives in London, has made full use of the lockdown and has written more than ever.

He says: “As a writer, it often feels as though you’ve got homework for the rest of your life. Your work is very rarely done.

“However, I feel very lucky that I’m able to do a job where I’m on my own and I’ve tried to use the time constructively.

Great titles

  • The first World Book Day was in 1995
  • Last year, 95.9 per cent of children had heard of the event
  • WBD gave out 1.03million £1 books in the UK and Ireland in just five weeks in 2020
  • WBD and its partners distribute more than 15million £1 book tokens to young people each year

Visit worldbookday.com to learn how £1 book tokens work. This year’s titles include:

  • The What The Ladybird Heard Story Play, Julia Donaldson
  • There’s A Wolf In Your Book, Tom Fletcher
  • Protect The Planet, Jess French
  • Kill Joy, Holly Jackson
  • Skysteppers, Katherine Rundell
  • Planet Omar: Operation Kind, Zanib Mian

“The Covid situation has been demoralising for many and I can understand that many people are finding that their hunger and ambition might have been dulled by their mood being lowered.

“But I’ve tried to focus on the positives.

“When writing, one of the key things is not to be disturbed too often — and keep distractions, such as notifications on your phone, to a minimum.

“I move around the house a lot with my laptop and I reward myself with a Jaffa Cake at the end of each chapter.

Rex Features
David has made full use of the lockdown and has written more than ever[/caption]

“You can’t rush writing a book. If you try, it won’t be right. If I get stuck, I’ll go out for a walk and invariably an idea will come to me.”

David’s first picture book was The Slightly Annoying Elephant, published in 2013.

He says: “When writing picture books, the illustrations are much more important. Every time you turn the page there has to be something new to look at.

“Although I can’t draw, I’m always thinking about what the pictures might be.”

Rex Features
At the moment the Britain’s Got Talent judge has no plans to write for adults[/caption]

David ensures a book is part of his son’s routine and regularly shares stories with Alfred, whom he co-parents with his ex-wife Lara Stone, 37.

David and the Dutch model divorced in 2015.

David says: “When Alfred was younger I’d make up a story for him every night.

“He’d tell me who he wanted to be in it and I’d include them.

“We’ve always read as well. One of the things I’ve enjoyed about lockdown is we’ve had more time to read together.

“Rather than reading one chapter, we might do two or three instead.

“It’s been wonderful to revisit old favourites from my childhood with him.”

  • Fing, by David Walliams, is out now in paperback, ebook and audiobook, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. ©David Walliams 2019. Cover illustration ©Tony Ross 2019.

David's favourites

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, JK Rowling

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney

War Horse, Michael Morpurgo

Noughts & Crosses, Malorie Blackman

Noah’s Gold, Frank Cottrell-Boyce

The Twits, Roald Dahl

Mic Drop: A High Rise Mystery, Sharna Jackson

Punching The Air, Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Illegal, Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin

What We’ll Build: Plans For Our Together Future, Oliver Jeffers

The Crossover, Kwame Alexander

Julian At The Wedding, Jessica Love

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk

Москва

Мечевой бой состоялся в павильоне «Спорт для каждого»

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Ria.city






Read also

Gluten-Free Beignets Recipe (Just Like Disney World!) - Gluten-Free Baking

Trendy drink loved by Kourtney Kardashian and Halle Berry ‘blasts fat stores and mimics fasting’

Nwaneri signs a professional contract, now the challenge begins …

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Российская теннисистка Калинская покинула WTA-1000 из-за проблем со здоровьем



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Мечевой бой состоялся в павильоне «Спорт для каждого»



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Мечевой бой состоялся в павильоне «Спорт для каждого»


Новости России

Game News

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)


Russian.city


Москва

"Известия": на Дмитровском шоссе нашли оружейный схрон террористов из "Крокуса"


Губернаторы России
Роман Абрамович

Миллиарды Абрамовича не помогли: либерал глумился над ЧП в "Крокусе"


Заказать недорогой ремонт кухонной мебели в районе в Москве и Московской области

Басманный суд арестовал девятого фигуранта дела о теракте в «Крокусе»

Європі потрібно звикнути жити з думкою про війну, що насувається, — Туск

МИД: РФ и Египет заявили о важности прекращения боевых действий в Газе в Рамадан


Эффект Карабаса: Почему Моргенштерн взялся спасать молодых коллег от музыкального лейбла Rhymes Music

Концерт лауреатов музыкального конкурса «Волшебные звуки» прошел в Воскресенске

Баста, Валерия и "Любэ" исполнили песни Муслима Магомаева

Тариф – Большой Концертный Тур. Организация серии больших концертов.


Александрова обыграла первую ракетку мира на турнире WTA

Хачанов: хочу вернуться в топ-10 ATP

Рыбакина о том, что не играла в Индиан-Уэллс из-за болезни: «К сожалению, восстановление заняло много времени»

Теннисистка Касаткина отреагировала на высказывания Винер о россиянах



Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Архитектурные доминанты округов Москвы

Пассажир рейса Москва — Пермь попал в реанимацию

Перенос дат II этапа культурного проекта «Классика: история и современность» в Дмитрове


Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Бизнес в огне. Почему так часто горят склады

Продвижение Песен и Музыки в Плей-листах Яндекс.Музыка.

Чемпионат по зимнему плаванию пройдет в Пскове


Красивый бизнес: как выйти на премиум аудиторию fashion-индустрии

Март в Expostroy

Россия закрыла мониторинговую миссию ООН по КНДР

Перерождение Новосибирска: концепция «город в городе»



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Сергей Брановицкий

Тариф – Большой Концертный Тур. Организация серии больших концертов.



News Every Day

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости