World Book Day inspiration from Dermot O'Leary

More than 500 children have received some inspiration ahead of World Book Day from the broadcaster Dermot O'Leary.

He attended an event at Oswestry School, organised with the help of the town's Booka book shop.

Store manager Carrie Morris said it had taken nine months to plan and involved 10 schools.

O'Leary, who is best known as an author for writing his Toto the Ninja Cat stories, said: "If you can just entertain a kid and that kid walks away thinking about maybe writing, reading or drawing then you've done your job."

He joked that most of them would go home and not remember his name, but he hoped his enthusiasm for writing would stay with them.

During his visit, he said he talked about his life, his own writing and about his most recent book. He then took questions from the children.

Morris said: "I think it is those in real life moments really that can make a difference for a child and it can drive them into books in various different ways."

O'Leary agreed about the value of meeting people in-person and added: "I remember when a travelling theatre came to our school and I remember it as clear as day."

Morris said she had been pleased to hear the "really lovely buzz of excited chatter" and to see hundreds of children drawing together with O'Leary.

O'Leary said while talking to children was a bit different to his usual work, entertaining people came naturally to him and he enjoyed the experience.

"I get as much out of it as they do," he said.

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