Storyteller Camilla proves a hitCamilla's rendition of her favourite children's book was a hit with three and four-year-olds who shouted at her "again" and "again" when she had finished.
The Duchess narrated New Zealand author Lynley Dodd's Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, a story about the adventures of a hairy dog, as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Bookstart reading programme.
Camilla is the patron of the reading and writing charity Booktrust which runs the Bookstart project which provides free books to youngsters,
A host of names from the world of children's literature were guests at the event celebrating the programme with famous names including BBC 6 Music presenter Lauren Laverne, singer Cerys Matthews, former children's presenter Floella Benjamin and author Margaret Drabble.
Sat amongst the youngsters from a primary school and children's centre, at the exclusive venue of Kensington's Roof Gardens in central London, Camilla donned her spectacles to read to the hushed audience, raising and lowering her voice and putting on voices.
At the end when she closed the picture book a little boy called out "read it again" and many of the other children joined in but she had to leave to join the adults at a reception in another part of the gardens.
Lauren Laverne also read to the children and described the importance of introducing her sons, aged and four and one, to books: "My kids love books, we love reading together. It's a real pleasure reading aloud to them, there's a lot of pleasure for both of you.
"It doesn't have to be a chore, if it is you're probably reading the wrong thing."
Bookstart provides free books to babies, toddlers and three-year-olds and during the past 20 years has gifted 30 million books to parents to read to their children.
Copyright © 2012 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
Thanks to John McIntyre of The Children's Bookshop, Wellington for sending me this story.
1 comment:
How cool is that! Go Hairy Maclary!
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