WRITING about dynamic females is par for the course for Kate Pankhurst - but could it be in the genes?

Curious about her surname - and a possible link to the famous Emmeline Pankhurst, the political activist and leader of the Suffragette Movement whose sacrifices led to women being given the right to vote and which formed the foundations for many more equal rights for women - Kate was keen to include the famous feminist in her latest children's tome.

"I knew who she was because people would ask about my surname but I thought her life was a bit like the mum, Mrs Banks, in Mary Poppins. When I was a child I thought that is what the Suffragettes were all about but I learned more about them," explains Kate, who discovered Emmeline was, in fact, a distant descendant.

"For years and even when I was a kid, I used to get asked if I was related to the famous Emmeline Pankhurst. My Auntie looked into it and it turned out she is my Great Great Grandad's brother's son's wife. It is the same Pankhurst family so I am distantly related."

Published last September, 'Fantastically Great Women who Changed the World,' features women, including Emmeline, and Mary Anning, the English fossil collector, dealer and amateur paleantologist who became known around the world for important finds.

Aimed at children aged six to nine, the colourful book educates young ones about the women and their great achievements.

Kate explains the inspiration behind the book came from a conversation with her agent about a character, Lady Winkleton, from her fiction mystery series Mariella Mystery Investigates.

Kate is always keen to include strong female characters in her books and she also recognised that often women's achievements were un-noticed until later on in their lives

Originally from Liverpool and now living in Rodley, the 37-year-old refers to the paleontologist, Mary Anning, who she says discovered lots of dinosaur skeletons and passed them on to scientists, yet it wasn't until later that she was actually credited for her role in the important finds.

As well as talking about the book with schoolchildren, Kate is popping into Birstall and Cleckheaton Libraries today (August 8) to discuss her book as part of The Reading Agency's 2017 Summer Reading Challenge, Animal Agents.

Taking place between July 15 and September 16, the event is aimed at children aged four to 11 and delivered by libraries.

School and library visits give Kate the opportunity to educate children about the women in her book, to inspire them to seize their own aspirations and also to enjoy reading.

Kate's interest in books stems back to her childhood when she would accompany her father to the library.

Her foray into becoming an author developed from illustrating children's books. After studying her BA and MA illustration at the University of Central Lancashire, Kate realised she could make a living out of illustrating. Her work was recognised in 2002 when she clinched second prize in the Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration.

"Reading a lot of children's books you read them a different way when you have to illustrate them. I had always written bits and pieces and writing came a bit later," Kate explains.

She also recognises the important role libraries play in the local community.

"I really enjoy working in libraries. They are very important and their role in communities is very important. I used libraries a lot as a child with my father. A lot of books I have read have influenced me and set me on the path that I am on."

Kate is also keen to pass on her love of books to her 13-month-old son, Otto. "I think the lovely thing about reading is you have to fill in the gaps that are not in the story using your imagination. It makes you think and you have to be more actively involved in it rather than looking at something on a screen.

"Obviously TV and computers are an important part of our culture but that time spent reading a book is really important. Having that love of reading supports your development as a person, your social skills, learning and development. It is important on so many levels," adds Kate.

'Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World' is £6.99 and available from bookshops and Amazon.