Feedback & photos from a few of Andrew Norriss’s visits to schools and libraries.
Leeds SLS Book Awards 2016 Winner of the 11-14 category
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Toynbee School Literacy Reward with author Andrew Norriss
As a reward for their reading achievement and quizzing as part of the Accelerated Reader Scheme, ten of our Year 7 pupils were privileged to be invited to meet the author, Andrew Norriss. Andrew gave an enlightening talk about his recently published book Jessica’s Ghost and he spoke about the complex topic of depression, which is interwoven within the book. He described how his career as an author and writer for television had progressed and answered questions from the audience. Students then had the opportunity to have their books signed by Andrew. March 2016
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St Anne’s Catholic Primary School library transformed.
Andrew Norriss opens the new Enchanted Forest library at St Anne’s School.
AN ENCHANTED forest has been created in a new school library in a bid to inspire children to read for enjoyment. more
Basingstoke Gazette Oct 2012
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‘Andrew Norriss – Reading is the most essential skill of all’
Click here to read the full interview in the Oxford Mail & Oxfordshire’s Reading campaign.
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” The children really were inspired by your obvious passion for the the craft of writing, and were fascinated to hear how you devised the plot of Aquila.” Steve at St Andrew’s School, Hove
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The Solent Lit Quiz at Bridgemary School, Gosport 10/07/2012
Congratulations to Bay House who triumphed this year.
Author team of Andrew Norriss, Ali Sparkes, Craig Simpson & Judy Waite competed against teams from
Bay House, Bridgemary, Brune Park, Cams Hill, Hamble, Henry Cort & Swanmore Schools.
The evening was splendidly organised by Janice Goldie of the Hants SlS and many wonderful school & SLS librarians.
Andrew loves talking to children, parents & librarians about what they’re reading, schools & life in general…
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Hampshire School Library Service South East Lit Quiz, Wednesday 27th June 2012
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Essex SLS Author Event 2012
An extract from SLS Newsletter Issue 23
Ofsted’s recent ‘Moving English Forward’ report states that greater emphasis on reading for pleasure and enjoyment is the key to achieving success in all areas of the curriculum. Our brand new ‘Meet the Author’ events are all about making reading fun and inspiring a love of stories. Who better as our first author than award winning writer of ‘Aquila’, Andrew Norriss.
Andrew met a group of Essex school children at The Stanway School, Colchester. Andrew’s enthusiasm, his love of a good story and his energetic presentation were infectious. He talked to the pupils from years five, six and seven about how he writes his books and read from his new title ‘Archie’s Unbelievably Freaky Week’.
As Miss Banks from Chappel Primary School points out there is incredible value in meeting an author face to face:
“My class had a lovely time and were completely inspired by what they had listened to. So inspired, that while waiting for the bus at the side of a busy road in Colchester, they made me read a chapter of one of the books to them. As you can imagine I got several strange looks from people passing by.”
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National Library Day at Andover Library Feb. 4th 2012
Andrew was delighted to be invited to Andover Library. His talk was enjoyed by a full house of children, parents & Librarians. There was a splendid display in the Library window & the children enthusiastically offered some great ideas.
2012 Hiltingbury Junior
Thank you so much for the wonderful sessions you gave to Hiltingbury Junior pupils and for being so patient and generous with your time.You must have been very tired by the end of a busy day as the children didn’t give you much breathing space!
I have had very positive comments from all staff and lots of children who all enjoyed the day enormously. The children are avidly continuing to read your books and the teachers have said that lots of children have been inspired to write a story. Mrs Brennan told me this morning that one of her year 4 boys has brought her in a lovely piece of writing today ……which has been very influenced by Ctrl-z! Perhaps one of them will become an author themselves one day. That would be marvellous! CB
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Anton Junior School
Opening the new library at Anton Junior School 2011. Read Andrew’s interview with Andover Sound here.
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Children always remember meeting Andrew – he shakes their hand, looks them in the eye and asks a question…
Medina School team at the Kids Lit Quiz in Portsmouth 2011
And read here the well written report by a child from Rushey Mead School who met Andrew in Leicester for Author Week
Mrs Paddi Ross’s Literacy Circle read ‘The Unluckiest Boy in the World’ at Rogers Elementary School in Canada. More here
Jack, Kai and Justin enjoy reading ‘The Unluckiest Boy in the World’ in their literacy circle.
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Author Week in Leicester
After Andrew’s talk to Leicester 150+ school children. A brilliantly organised event, with many dedicated teachers, librarians and The Reading Shop, and authors, changing Leicester children’s lives for the better.
‘…what a terrific speaker Andrew Norriss is (author of Ctrl-Z) If you are reading this and fancy a good read and a really good laugh, BUY THIS BOOK!!…’ The Reading Shop Blog
March 2011
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World Book Day 2011
Lovely account of Andrew’s visit to St Francis School, Chandler’s Ford here
Brilliantly organised by the amazing librarian Pauline Brown who always sells huge numbers of books!
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Portsmouth Junior Kids Lit Quiz March 2011
Celebrity authors team! Ali Sparkes, Anna Dale, Guy Bass and Andrew Norriss. Congratulations to the winning team from Solent Junior School.
“Thank you so much for your kindly and generous support of the Portsmouth Literature Quiz today. That a great time was had by all is due in a very good measure to the fact that you turn up and give it your star quality! As each year passes I am more and more convinced of the power for good in getting children rubbing shoulders with authors at this sort of event, so thank you so much for giving generously of your time.” Peter Bone, School Library Service Manager, Portsmouth
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So many pre-orders for next week’s school visits that the sittingroom is turned into a bookshop!
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Feb 2011 The fantastic Anton School in Andover.
Just the best yet!
More photos on school website here
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The Stockport School Book Awards 2010
Ctrl-Z by Andrew Norriss is the KS2 Winner
They are ‘Mad About Books’ in Stockport!
Waterstone’s West Quay Nov. 2010
email me at anorrissbooks@btinternet.com for copies
Wessex Book Festival 2010
Celebrating Hampshire Authors: Craig Simpson, Andrew Norriss and Mark Walden
A greatly entertaining event organised and run by the amazing Anne Marley (Head of Children’s, Youth & Schools Library Service in Hampshire). The Winchester Discovery Centre Performance Hall is a fantastic space for such an event…
Andrew’s visit to George Heriots School in Edinburgh Sept 2010.
Beautifully organised visit and lovely displays thanks to Elaine Clarke.
Meet the Author at Waterstone’s August 2010
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These are a few of the lovely readers we met in Waterstone’s in Alton on Saturday 7th August. Especially good to see Andy with his delightful son Luka who had made a long train journey. Once Luka had his books he was not to be parted from them – for days! Thankyou to Kirsty Scard at Warterstone’s for inviting Andrew along.
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Black Country Libra
ries Book Quiz in Wolverhampton July 2010
I was lucky enough to see Andrew in action and in sparkling form. Although the round of questions on Aquila had him flumoxed!
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The Thankyou cards made by Ocklynge School get larger every year! So a big thankyou back to the lovely Helen Dennis for allowing Andrew the pleasure of talking with the delightful E+ group.
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Lovely visit to St George’s College, Weybridge brilliantly organised by Librarian Angela Disher and books supplied by The Travelling Book Company. Click here for details.
Mrs Angela Disher Librarian said ‘The Upper School is buzzing with excitement and Andrews books are always out on loan. The children can’t wait for their Summer Holiday reading Aquila 2. It was a very successful day and one which will help inspire the children not only with their reading but also with story writing’
Click here for more photos of Andrew at St Georges College Junior School in Weybridge from the Surrey Herald.
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Participating schools: Bay House, Bridgemary Community Sports College, Cams Hill School, Crofton School, Hamble Community Sports College, Henry Cort Community College, and Swanmore College of Technology.
Organiser Janice Goldie of the Schools Library Serice.
‘Question master’ Anne Marley Head of Hampshire Children’s, Youth & SLS.
Books on sales from Wells Bookshop, Winchester
Refreshments kindly supplied by Sainsburys
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June 9th Visit to Sarum St Paul’s School. Brilliantly organised by Lizzie Barratt.
May 25th Lovely visit to St George’s Junior School, Weybridge. Click here to see the school’s news page…
Lovely photos and account of Andrew’s visit to Medina Primary School here .
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“Thank you also for being such a super speaker. The staff and children really enjoyed your visit and are very enthused about your books- every copy of your books in school is being read avidly and we have waiting lists of children wanting to read them- so a great success!
Thank you again.”
T L Andover Feb 2010
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“I have had parents coming up to me to tell me how enthusiastic their children are over your stories – raving might be a better word, and certainly one used by one mother! … A boy who doesn’t usually talk to me much about books came up, asked me if I’d read Ctrl-Z and proceeded to tell me all about it. ” Caroline Hounsell Purbrook Junior School, Waterlooville
Click on the photo to view Portsmouth News write up of Andrew’s visit to Purbrook Junior. 
Books were supplied by the brilliant Hayling Island Bookshop.
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Frensham Heights
“Author visits are one of the highlights of the job for me and this was the perfect one to finish on! It was great to see all the children so enthusiastic about your books. Your talk will certainly get them hooked on reading and who knows there might be some budding writers amongst them too! You certainly give value for money! ”
Marion Crawford (Librarian)
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East Sussex Book Award 2009
Pip Jenkins ‘Yes it was a fantastic event and I was thrilled to meet you again Andrew and your wife.
Ocklynge s performance was amazing.’Suzanne Jones ‘You were amazing with the children – it was a great experience, Thank you!
p.s Being the author of a book as brilliant as The Portal makes you a winner everyday!’……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Alverstoke Primary School June 2009
“What a wonderful day. I couldn’t have hoped for better. Andrew was enthusiastic and inspiring. My primary aim for book week was to get boys reading and enjoy it and thanks to Andrew this was achieved. There was a buzz around the school when he left and it still continues. Regards Michaela”
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Andrew talking to the ‘Chatterbook’ children and parents to launch the Bedfordshire Children’s Book Award 2009
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Newtown Primary, Gosport
“The visit from Andrew was very successful. All of the children seemed to enjoy his visit which was backed up by the teachers. All of his books I have in the library are out on loan. I had parents in afterward his visit asking where they could buy his books. I cannot think of anything that Andrew could improve on. The sessions were great.” Eve Troise
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Western School, Winchester
“Our thanks to Andrew for coming to speak with our Year 6. Kids were impressed with Andrew’s knowledge of other current authors and enjoyed having a chance to ask him questions. The magic rope trick went down very well, too!
You might like to know that Ctrl-Z has been put in our recent PSHE planning for circle-time discussions throughout the school on making mistakes. For older children the sessions will be directly linked to the book. Kids can find it so hard to accept their own mistakes. A humourous look at someone else’s mistakes might just give a little needed perspective.
We look forward to the next book and the next visit.” Gale Stone
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Wicor School, Fareham
“We thoroughly enjoyed Andrew’s visit. 
It was wonderful how you took the time to speak to each child individually in their classes and to sign the bookmarks for them. The Fiction Fanatics have said it was their “best session ever”! The visit made a big impact on the children’s reading too as your books have not touched the shelves yet and are in constant demand.” Ali Richardson
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Cottage Grove Primary School, Southsea
“Thank you so much for your fantastic visit last week. The event went really well and everyone echoes that verdict. ‘Everyone’ includes pupils, teaching staff and learning support staff as well as me!
Thank you for your kind attention to each child who spoke to you – and that was every child in years 3, 4, 5, and 6. The pupils were engaged in your talks and because they enjoy your books they were able to participate fully in grilling you with some good enquiries.
We are celebrating your visit with a display in the Library using all of your book covers and some photographs taken on the day.” Ann Macfarlane
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Woodcot Primary School, Gosport
“On Thursday 12th March 2009, author Andrew Norriss visited our school. He had us all using our imaginations on how to create a great story!” … As to practical feedback on the visit the length and timing of the sessions, the different pitch to the age groups was just great. … all of Andrew’s books are out at the moment, and I have a reservation list running for when they are returned. Many thanks again to Andrew for a lovely visit and for helping to spread the fun of reading to our children.” Lesley Ward
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St Francis Primary School, Chandlers Ford
“There is still great enthusiasm for Andrew’s books and all the children are enjoying Ctrl-Z. ” Pauline Brown (Librarian)
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St John‘s C of E Primary School, Gosport
“I must tell you, your books are flying off the shelves in the library I have noticed a significant rise in the number of times I see one of your books in the trolley ready to be returned to the shelves, even my librarians commented on it !! So thank you once again for inspiring our children.
Jacqui Puddicombe (Library Manager)
Andrew Norriss - Children's Author & Winner of the Whitbread (Costa) Award 
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