AN AUTHOR headed to a west Dorset school to talk to pupils about writing and illustrating.

Children’s author and illustrator, Tim Warnes, recently paid a visit to Piddle Valley First School in Piddletrenthide.

Tim’s son left the school last year and he asked to come in and talk to the children.

Headteacher at the school, Jayne Browne, said: “We were talking to him and he said he would like to come in and share some of his work with the children here in school. He read children his book the Great Cheese Robbery.”

Tim lives locally in rural Dorset with his wife, Jane Chapman, who is also an author and illustrator. Between them they have illustrated more than 180 books and are celebrating 20 years in children’s literature.

Mrs Browne said: “He showed the children how he illustrates his books. They were so engaged with him, he’s very good. He worked with the whole school as part of an assembly.”

Tim is no stranger to talking to west Dorset school’s, recently talking to several at the Dorchester Area Schools Partnerships LitFest.

Mrs Browne said: “We’re hoping that we’re going to be able to have him back next year to build on this work, maybe they can do some writing.”

The literary festival, and Tim’s visit, are part of DASP’s aim to enthuse and celebrate all things literacy.

DASP also has a literacy development plan which aims to raise standards in writing through the use of collaboration, further develop targeted cross-phase work with a focus on disadvantage, raise the status of reading for pleasure and address potential barriers to reading for pleasure for targeted disadvantaged groups.

Tim has illustrated several series including the Archie and Boris series of children’s books by Tracey Corderoy and Carrie Weston respectively.

He has also written and illustrated many of his own including Warning! This Book May Contain Rabbits! and Dangerous.

He will soon be heading north for his first appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival to talk about his book Mole and the Lumpy-Bunny-Thing.