Top children’s author inspires city’s budding storytellers

Tuesday, 19 February 2019 16:00

One of the world’s most popular children’s authors has challenged children in Leeds to use their imaginations and create stories for a new competition.

Michael Morpurgo, whose novels including War Horse, Private Peaceful and The Butterfly Lion, has called on the city’s young people to take inspiration from an exhibition at Leeds City Museum about his life and work and come up with their own amazing tales.

The museum wants budding writers aged 12 and under to write a short story based on an object or installation they’ve seen when visiting the exhibition.

The winner will win a goodie bag including some of Michael’s books and merchandise from the exhibition – with a selection of the best entries displayed at the museum.

Former Children’s Laureate Michael said he hoped the exhibition would help fire the imaginations of young people and encourage them to create something personal and unique.

He said: “‘Try to write from the heart and live inside your story, try to hear and feel it all around you and become the characters. And don’t forget to live an interesting life, travel and meet people and drink in the world around you. This is what works for me.

“A Lifetime in Stories at the wonderful Leeds City Museum is just a glimpse into my dreamtime and some of the people, creatures and places that have inspired my stories. I hope you enjoy the exhibition and that it might help you to start out on your own writing journeys. Enjoy the journey! I have.”

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