CHILDREN S authors were invited to meet their readers to celebrate book awards voted for exclusively by youngsters. Andy Stanton and Sophie McKenzie spent the day at Beech Hyde Primary School in Wheathampstead as guests of the St Albans Children s Book Gr

CHILDREN'S authors were invited to meet their readers to celebrate book awards voted for exclusively by youngsters.

Andy Stanton and Sophie McKenzie spent the day at Beech Hyde Primary School in Wheathampstead as guests of the St Albans Children's Book Group.

Andy's book, You're a Bad Man Mr Gum! emerged as overall winner while Sophie's Girl Missing was winner of the older-reader category in the Red House children's book awards.

The authors spent time talking to pupils about being a writer and Sophie held a creative writing workshop.

Andrea Goodall, of the children's book group, said it was a great afternoon and a rare opportunity for the youngsters to meet authors. She added that getting the children to vote for the books had persuaded many who never read books to take it up.