Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson will be making a special visit to Weymouth Library tomorrow as part of a national tour.

As part of her Children’s Laureateship, Mrs Donaldson – best-selling author of over 150 books including The Gruffalo, What the Ladybird Heard and Zog – is embarking on a tour of Libraries that will take in England, Wales and Scotland, from John O’Groats to Lands’ End, over six weeks.

Schoolchildren from all local schools will be attending the invite-only event, which will see the laureate bringing some of her hugely popular stories to life through special dramatisations.

They will also be showing off their own acting and singing skills during a short performance inspired by children’s literature which they will present to her.

Mrs Donaldson said: “Libraries are very close to my heart, and so is performance. This tour is my way of bringing the two together, by visiting fantastic libraries all over the country, enjoying children acting and singing, and sharing my own stories with them.

“I want it to be a huge celebration of libraries and of the benefits they offer to communities and especially to children.’ Tracy Long, manager for Dorset Library Services, said: “We are really pleased Julia has chosen Weymouth Library as part of her tour, and 250 local children will be attending the event. “I am sure the show will encourage the children to read more books and hopefully also become regular library customers.”

Mrs Donaldson will be joined on the tour by her musical husband Malcolm – who recently retired from his career as a paediatrician – on stage at the events and on the road in the Laureate Libraries Tour van.