THE magic of reading and the power of stories were brought home to youngsters at Cerne Abbas First School during their literacy week.

One of the highlights of the week was a visit by children’s author Simon Arthy, whose children Joe and Zoe are pupils at the school near Dorchester.

Simon works for the government as a peacemaker and conflict adviser and spent several years living and working in Nepal with his family.

While there, he wrote two children’s books, Jack and Betty and the Yak and Yeti and Jack and Betty and the Tiger’s Tale, which he read out to the children.

But first they walked to Cerne Abbas village hall where Simon did some magic, helped by two of the youngsters, including creating a ‘blizzard’ and telling his rapt audience about the existence of the Dead Dorset Dodo which lays its eggs in a very unusual manner.

Back at the school he also read from Jack and Betty and the Tiger’s Tale, in which two children are magicked to the jungles of Nepal dressed in tiger costumes. Once there they initially scare off the other animals until they win their confidence.

They then meet a mother tiger and her cubs in a forest glade – but they spot two hunters with guns aiming at the furry family.

Will Jack and Betty be able to save their new friends and get back to their own world?

Simon said: “People think that Nepal is just mountains but there are jungles as well where there are tigers and rhinos and other rare animals.

“I self-published Jack and Betty and the Yak and Yeti and was amazed when it took off and sold really well, so I decided to do a follow-up that is a story that children can enjoy, but one with an important message of animal conservation.”

Cerne Abbas headteacher Helen Williams says she is always delighted when parents come into the school to help out.

She said: “We don’t have a lot of money but Simon is a parent and it’s important to realise that there is a wealth of experience and wonderful things in the community that we can tap into and bring in to the school.”

• Cerne Abbas First School has just 43 children aged between four and 11 and a catchment area that takes up much of the rural area to the north of Dorchester.

It was awarded an Outstanding assessment at its last Ofsted inspection.

The school is Rights Respecting, a Healthy school, an Eco School and has its silver Artsmark and Activemark 2000. There is also a Spiritual Garden where the children can go for quiet time and reflection.

The school has just three classes, called Giant, Trendle and Abbey, and is a member of the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership (DASP) pyramid.