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Nature writer Nicola Davies has been appointed BookTrust’s new writer-in-residence.
Davies, who takes over the role from Nadia Shireen, will use her six-month residency to encourage children to explore the natural world around them.
“I’m very happy to have been chosen to be a Writer in Residence for BookTrust - there are so many things I want to do over the next few months. I love nature, poems and pictures so there will be lots of focus on these,” said Davies.
“My aim for each of the posts of my residency is to offer you a bit of the three ‘I’s - that’s Information, Ideas and Inspiration. Information, because you may need some clues about what you’re going to write about; Ideas because you might need some help with how to write, and Inspiration so that you can really feel that your writing can be fabulous. There’ll also be a poetry writing competition that you can enter and win books and a visit from me for your school.
BookTrust c.e.o. Diana Gerald added: “We fully support Nicola on her mission to get children exploring and appreciating the natural world. We hope children across the country enjoy getting outside discovering, reading and writing about their adventures.”
Davies is a zoologist, presenter and creative writing teacher and has published children’s books with publishers such as Walker Books and Graffeg.
In 2016, she launched the #3000Chairs campaign, asking illustrators to draw pictures of empty chairs, to highlight the plight of unaccompanied child refugees attempting to settle in the UK. The artwork from that campaign will be shown at an event in Foyles on 3rd September.
The BookTrust Writer in Residence programme has been running for nine years and has featured authors and illustrators including Nadia Shireen, Cressida Cowell, Sita Brahmachari, Patrick Ness, Polly Dunbar, Bali Rai, Matt Haig, Laura Dockrill, Chris Riddell, Sarah McIntyre, Philip Ardagh, Taran Matharu and Phil Earle.