Whitstable author Anthony Cooper will deliver an extra special storytime this month to pupils going the extra mile for the environment.

Schools participating in green travel schemes including Active Wow (Walk on Wednesday) and Green Footsteps will be putting their best foot forward for a walk to school contest in the hope of clinching Mr Cooper’s storytelling visit.

The winning class will see the author read his own book The Curious Tale of the Dodo, which has been adapted into an animation narrated by conservationist and former Springwatch presenter Bill Oddie. Every pupil at the school will be given their own free copy of the colourful children’s book, detailing the demise of the dodo, while a signed copy will go to the school’s library.

The contest has been organised by five-time Green Apple Award winner the KM Charity Team, which works with schools across the county to encourage families to leave the car at home and walk or cycle instead for the school run.

Mr Cooper said: “It is with great pleasure and excitement that I have teamed up with the KM Charity Team on a storytime session this month for the prize winners of the walk to school challenge! I can’t wait to meet the stewards of the future and get their feedback on the Dodo!”

The author will also be working with the children’s charity to help improve literacy through Buster’s Book Club. He has offered to donate a number of copies of his book as prizes for green travel and reading competitions for schools staged by the KM Charity Team throughout the coming year.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “We are delighted to have Anthony’s generous support in donating not only his time but also many of his books to young readers. The Curious Tale of the Dodo is written in a fun style similar to Dr Seuss so is bound to be a hit with the children, and its underlying message is one that resonates strongly with our charity.”

He added: “We hope more children will be encouraged to walk to school regularly - enjoying all the health benefits of frequent exercise - and consider their impact on the environment in other ways, too.”

The KM Charity Team’s work is supported by organisations including Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Bel UK, Orbit, Kent Libraries, Specsavers, Kent Reliance, Eurostar, Gallagher Aggregates, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Volker Highways, Kent County Council, Medway Council, London Borough of Bexley, Leeds Castle, Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons’ Charity, Whitefriars, Maidstone Borough Council, Ashford Borough Council, Swale Borough Council and Canterbury City Council.

To find out more, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk/wow or www.bustersbookclub.co.uk. Schools interested in joining Buster’s Book Club have until December 16 to register.

The Curious Tale of the Dodo is part of the Don’t Do The Dodo brand, which aims to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle in a fun and acessible format and donates 50 per cent of profits to environmental organisations. Discover more at www.dontdothedodo.com