A TOP children’s author has inspired pupils from Bradford schools to kick off a week-long celebration of books.

Indian-born author Jamila Gavin visited both City Library and Manningham Library today as part of Children’s Book Week - an annual celebration of reading and children’s stories.

The author of books including Granpa’s Indian Summer, The Magic Orange Tree and The Eye of the Horse spoke to Year 3 pupils from Dixons Marchbank Academy in City Library in the morning, then Year 6 pupils from Margaret McMillan Primary and Year 5 pupils from Bradford Academy. She read stories to the pupils, spoke about her influences and answered questions from the children.

For the Bradford Academy pupils, the visit was particularly significant - the class visiting the library is named after the award winning author.

She spoke about how she made the transition from writing as an amateur and becoming a professional author and the “inspiration and perspiration” that was required. She said: “I’m hugely inspired by music and poetry. Sometimes I just look at a blank page and doodle.”

Many of her books reflect multicultural societies, and she added: “Britain is made up of lots of children from lots of different backgrounds.

“Every single one of you have a book inside you. It is just a matter of when and if you ever want to create that book.”

There are several other events planned for the rest of the week.

Margaret Mulligan, history teacher and author of Katy Parker and the House That Cried, will be reading extracts from the book and discussing events to invited schools at Ilkley Library on Thursday.

Comic book artist Doctor Simpo will be at City Library tomorrow to offer young people comic art and character design workshops.

It will be part a partnership event with Leeds Sequential Art Festival - Thought Bubble, that will also see hundreds of free graphic and comic books suitable for teenagers handed out at libraries across the district.

Other libraries will have drop-in events through the week, including story time and crafts sessions.

Books being read to children include Kitchen Disco by Clare Foges and Al Murphy, a book about how items of food in the kitchen come alive when everyone else is asleep.

Story times, followed by fruity themed craft sessions will be held at Ilkley Library on Wednesday at 10.15am, Wyke Library on Friday from 10am to 11am and Thornbury Library from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

Eccleshill Library will host Midsummer Night’s Dream activities on Thursday between 3pm and 4pm, and children will be invited to dress as their favourite book characters at a storytelling event at Holme Wood Library on Thursday at 4pm.

A full list of library events is available at bradford.gov.uk/libraries.