Last week, over 300 children were virtually visited by children's author Ross Welford to celebrate the winners of our Storystarter competition.
The competition, which was part of our Transition Read, received entries from five high schools and was judged by representatives from Read Manchester and Ross Welford. Children were asked to finish a story that Ross had started for them. The story began with:
"Just do your best,” Great-Aunty Bimba had said, as if eating something that big were the easiest thing in the world. Not only that, but it was still alive, and getting closer..."
The winner of the competition was Mira in Year 7 at Whalley Range High School. Mira wrote an exciting story about a terrifying vegetable monster hiding under the main character's bed!
Ross said: "My favourite story was Mira’s. This tale of a reluctant vegetable-eater was funny, and the main character’s deviousness was suitably paid back. I loved the idea of discarded vegetables coming to life under his bed to form a mouldy vegemonster! Mira showed a command of plotting and dialogue that made this story come alive (just like the vegetables!) and the story had a logical progression which made the ending fun and satisfying. Well done!"
As her prize, Mira's school received a virtual visit from Ross who congratulated her and provided signed copies of his latest book When We Got Lost in Dreamland (HarperCollins) to the school.
The runners-up were Eshal, also from Whalley Range, and Antoni from St Peter's High School, both in Year 7.
Ross said: "Eshal, taking on a monster in a pie-eating contest was a funny and clever way of developing the plot! Antoni, this story story was unusual because it used a historical, wartime setting to create drama and a happy ending!"
During the virtual visit, Ross spoke to the children about writing what you love: "imagine you're writing this just for yourself and no-one else will see it. You can always make changes, but write about the things that have meaning for you."