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Visit from World Book day Author
Mon 3 Mar, 2008
We had a visit today from the successful children’s author Betty G Birney. The writer, who lives in California is currently touring the U.K. as part of the promotion for World Book Day on March 6th, an annual event aimed at encouraging the enjoyment of books and reading. Betty has published 25 children’s books, including the hit series about Humphrey, a school pet hamster who gets embroiled in all sorts of adventures with the children and offers a distinctly rodent’s-eye view of the world and human nature. ‘Adventure According to Humphrey’ is one of just nine specially published books for World Book Day, with a cover price of £1, so that children can obtain a copy in exchange for the free voucher that will be distributed to all schools in the country this week. Alternatively, children can redeem their vouchers towards the cost of a higher priced book. Her career also includes writing for film and television. She has worked for the Disney Channel, contributing to major children’s programmes such as Fraggle Rock and Welcome to Pooh Corner. She holds a Writers’ Guild of America Award and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2002 for her work in television. During her visit Betty ran a question and answer workshop for the children, who were curious to know how she became a writer and where her ideas for her characters came from. She also signed copies of the latest Humphrey book for the children. "It was marvellous for the children to meet an author", said teacher Becci Hindmarsh, who organised the visit. "She really inspired them with her passion for writing and encouraged them to use their own creative imagination".
A member of the 