Sanderson’S Wynd Primary School is welcoming author Alastair Chisholm to the school as part of Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature Residency programme.

Alastair, 50, has published several popular children’s books, including Orion Lost, The Consequence Girl and Inch and Grub, which won the 2022 Bookbug Picture Book Prize.

He will come to the school for 11 sessions with classes, where he will be involved in lessons and activities to help encourage the youngsters to get into reading.

Alastair said: “I’m really looking forward to taking part in the residency.

“I’ve been involved with Scottish Book Trust for a while and was asked to be a part of their Live Literature Residency programme.

“It will be led primarily by the Scottish Book Trust and the teachers at the school, and we’re making plans on how classes will be carried out.

“The school seemed very keen to have me come in and I really wanted to do it, I enjoy encouraging creativity and working with children.

“I’d really like to find a kid who is maybe not interested in reading at all and then find them a book that they enjoy and start them reading.

“I prefer science fiction books myself, but it’s about finding what different people like and encouraging them to read.”

Alastair was approached by the school through Scottish Book Trust as part of its Live Literature Residency programme.

The author’s books had proven popular amongst the children at Sanderson’s Wynd and they specifically selected him for the residency.

Lynsey Blair, headteacher at Sanderson’s Wynd, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming Alastair Chisholm to be our author in residence after receiving funding from the Scottish Book Trust.

“We chose Alastair as our first-choice author, as the pupils who have read his books from our library found them really engaging and exciting.

“The project fits seamlessly in with our school improvement plan focus of increasing enjoyment, confidence and attainment within writing.”