Author inspires trainee teachers

We were delighted to welcome author MG Leonard to the Falmer campus as the guest at this year’s Read to Inspire event.

The annual Read to Inspire event is organised for our trainee primary teachers and has welcomed a host of authors over the years including Emily Gravett, Liz Pichon, Polly Dunbar, Chris Riddell and Sophy Henn.

MG Leonard is an award-winning author of children’s books including the international bestseller Beetle Boy.

She spoke to the students about her journey and how she hadn’t done well at school but was able to overcome challenges to become a successful author. She spoke about the power of reading, the importance of creativity in writing and her inspiration as a children’s author. She has been fascinated by beetles in particular since she was a child and has evolved this interest into storytelling. Many of her book characters are based on her family.

MG Leonard asked: “If we all cut ourselves open like a stick of rock – what books would be at the core of us?”

The books MG most identified with were The Twits and The Secret Garden. She explained her passion for nature-inspired literature and how, since becoming a parent, her love and interest in minibeasts and insects. She is the proud honorary president of a bug charity.

Comments from the students included ‘inspirational’ and that they loved both the talk and the Q and A at the end.

Following the talk MG did a book signing with books provided by The Book Nook who offer our students a 15% discount.