A TOP children's author has visited a number of local primary schools to reward them for their enthusiasm for reading.

Phil Earle, behind such books as Demolition Dad, the Bubble Wrap Boy and Superhero Street, held sessions for pupils at four schools that had the most pupils taking part in the annual Summer Reading Challenge, which encourages children to keep reading during the summer holidays.

Last week he visited Girlington Primary School, which had the highest percentage of students participate in the challenge, and St Mary's and St Peter's Catholic Primary School, which had the highest percentage of students completing the challenge.

For the past two years Bradford Libraries has had more than 4,000 children, aged four to 11, participating in the summer reading challenge.

Girlington Primary had the highest participation with almost two thirds of pupils (60.8 per cent) taking part, and that title earned them a visit from Mr Earle on Wednesday.

On the same day the author visited Keelham Primary School, which was highly commended for the number of pupils it had taking part.

On Friday he visited St Mary’s & St Peter’s Primary in Barkerend had the highest percentage of completers of the challenge, with 22.4 per cent of children finishing all six books. Menston Primary School was also visited on Friday for being highly commended.

During his sessions he encouraged children, even reluctant readers, that they can be writers and storytellers.

Reading Challenge is an annual national library scheme, delivered by libraries in partnership with the Reading Agency. Its main aim is to keep children reading over the long summer break. Children who do stop reading entirely over the break can fall behind in their literacy skills.

The challenge is for children to read six books of their choice, and every child who does so will receive a certificate and medal.

Last year Bradford libraries held scores of events to mark the 2015 challenge, which had a "record breakers" theme.

Shannele Thorne, English co-ordinator at St Mary's and St Peter's Catholic Primary School, said the school was proud that so many of its pupils had completed the challenge.

She said: "We promoted the challenge before the children finished for the summer break and sent a letter out to parents to let them know about it.

"They have to write six full books and write a report on them. Over the summer there are no teachers telling them to read, so we try to encourage them to keep it up.

"We have to give thanks to the parents. This challenge is all about getting parents involved in their children's learning."

On the visit by Mr Earle, she said: "The children really enjoyed it. He talked about the process of becoming a writer and what his favourite books are. It is something that children might not get the experience to experience again.

"We're going to try and get just as many children involved in the challenge this year."

Research has shown that it improves children's enjoyment of reading, confidence, motivation and helps prevent the summer holiday dip in literacy skills.

This summer's reading challenge which have the theme of Roald Dahl, and be called the Big Friendly Read. Events are already being planned around Dahl's famous characters like Matilda and The Twits. Events will include workshops where children can create their own Big Friendly Giant and sessions by performance storyteller John Kirk, as well as chocolate design and making based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It will coincide with the launch of the new "BFG" film from Steven Spielberg.