Princess Beatrice delivers surprise story time to Croydon schoolchildren

Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice made a surprise visit to West Thornton Primary School in Croydon, south London, to read this year’s winner of the Oscar’s Book Prize.

As the prize’s Royal Patron, Princess Beatrice read When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books) by Sean Taylor and illustrator Zehra Hicks, and spoke about how picture books can spark imagination, discussing the entire prize shortlist with the year one children.

When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth tells the story of a dinosaur, ‘Smallasaurus’, who wants to enjoy her plant-based diet, but goes on a big adventure along the way. It took the £10,000 prize, beating a five-strong shortlist, in a ceremony earlier this month. 

Jonathan Owen, headteacher at West Thornton Primary School, said: “So much can be taught from picture books and we make sure our children are exposed to a wide range of stories from the very beginning of their school journey.

“The diversity of topics covered in children’s books is greater than ever, and those shortlisted for this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize were no exception to that. We have loved reading them together and it was an absolute delight to have Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice visit and read this year’s winning book – it certainly will be a story time to remember.” 

The visit celebrated the recent launch of Oscar’s Book Club, an initiative run by the prize and the award supporter, Amazon, donating this year’s shortlisted books to schools and nurseries across the country via the Amazon Reading Volunteer network.