A bestselling children's author has paid a special visit to a school to inspire young readers and writers.
Sam Copeland, best known for his Charlie Changes into a Chicken books, visited the Duke of Lancaster School in Fakenham to speak with students about his writing journey and answer questions about his work.
The visit was designed to encourage a love of reading and storytelling among pupils, all of whom have communication and interaction needs.
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Sam said: “Meeting children who love my characters as much as I do is an honour and one of the best parts of being an author.
"It was such a special day, and a joy to see the students' curiosity while answering their questions about reading and what it means to be an author."
During the session, Sam spoke about what it’s like to be an author, where he finds inspiration and how his stories come to life.
Students were given the opportunity to ask questions about reading, writing and his career.
Penelope Taylor-Jones, English lead at the Duke of Lancaster School, said: "Visits like this are so important because they help our children see that books don't just appear on shelves – they are created by real people with imagination, perseverance and a love of storytelling.
"Sam completely captured the children's attention, and it was wonderful to see their curiosity and confidence grow as they asked questions and talked about books.
"We hope experiences like this inspire them to see themselves as readers, writers and storytellers too."
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The visit was part of a wider day of enrichment activities at the school, which is part of the Eastern Education Group and supports children aged five to 16.
Other highlights included a ‘Spy School’ workshop led by the team from Theatre Royal, which focused on communication and teamwork through a secret mission.
This article has been published as part of Born & Read in Norfolk – a year-long initiative highlighting the importance of reading and writing, delivered in partnership with the National Centre for Writing, headline sponsor RWE and sponsor YouGarden.
Follow the campaign throughout the year in our coverage and on social media using #BornAndRead2026 or get in touch at readingmatters@newsquest.co.uk
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