Leeds-based children’s author Scott Allen, is on a mission to get more boys reading with the launch of his latest book Llamas Go Large in Leeds on 23 June.
The Macmillan author, who lives in Roundhay, has teamed up with independent retailer The Little Bookshop in Chapel Allerton to bring his footballing llamas to life at a series of World Cup related-special events aimed at getting more kids in Leeds reading and involved with books.
Scott Allen said: “Children’s books are enjoying a golden period, thanks to a slew of celebrity authors. However, while girls are reading more than ever, getting boys to read can be a bit of a battle.
“Boys tend to stop reading for fun when they move to secondary school, as the lure of the gaming console draws them in.
“I know parents who are tearing their hair out over games like Fortnite and PUBG taking up their children’s every waking moment.
“I’ve been a gamer since a young age and I was also a reluctant reader. The Beano, Tintin and Roy of Rovers were the sum total of my early literary diet, so I totally understand what is going on in the head of a young boy. Games are awesome, who wouldn’t want to play them?”
Scott, who is counting down the days until Rockstar’s western sandbox game Red Dead Redemption II arrives in October, advocates a ‘time and room’ management approach to getting the right split between gaming and reading.
“You can’t deny children time on a games console but you can easily limit the limit time they spend on it to certain periods of the day. And remember to give them a countdown when their time is coming to an end – there is nothing worse than having your game turned off in the middle of a crucial Fornite battle!
“Then keep certain rooms game/device free, and set up for reading. The bathroom and the bedroom are great places to read. Reading in the bath, bed or even on the loo for ten minutes is a great way of getting kids to discover brilliant characters and storylines that they will become hooked on and enjoy for the rest of their lives.
“Get out and about and hands-on with books too. The Little Bookshop in Chapel Allerton is a fantastic place for kids to explore and there are bookshops and libraries like it across Yorkshire that host free events all year round – check them out and pop along to meet authors and get kids reading.”
The launch of Scott’s second book, the ‘Llamas Go Large World Cup Party’, is at the Little Book Shop in Chapel Allerton, on Saturday 23 June, and will include workshops, competitions and book readings.
Scott added: “I wanted to do a launch party for my second book back where it all began in Leeds and amongst the families and communities that have shown me so much support for Llama United. I love hearing from boys and girls that have read the book and the support I get when I go in to Leeds schools is just phenomenal.”
The author’s second book is published by MacMillan, and is the follow-up to successful debut, Llama United, and sees the book’s characters step on to the global stage at the World Cup.
Llamas Go Large is the second hilarious Llama United book from Scott Allen, full of football funnies and laugh-a-minute llamas, illustrated by Sarah Horne.
Allen concluded: “There are too many serious and stuffy books on the market that kids are a bit scared to pick up so I wrote Llama United and Llamas Go Large to appeal to that kid who just wants to read something light-hearted, a little bit mad-cap, and funny.”
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For all media enquiries please contact Scott Allen: scottallenauthoruk@gmail.com
Book free tickets at https://www.thelittlebookshopleeds.co.uk/whats-on/
About Scott Allen
Scott Allen was born in Epsom, Surrey and now lives in Leeds with his wife and two children. He is a former sports journalist who turned his hand to writing children’s fiction in 2015. His second book, published by Pan Macmillan is Llamas Go Large, the follow-up to his successful debut novel Llama United.
Llama United was nominated for book of the year in the 2018 Islington Book Awards and is appearing at the Deer Shed Festival in North Yorkshire 20-22 July.