Primary schoolchildren are being treated to a feast of wildlife-themed entertainment after winning a regional reading challenge.

First, a Kent children’s author read to them from one of her books about the imagined lives of the wildlife frequenting one of the county’s rivers.

And then one prize-winning class was given the chance to get close to real-life beasties ranging from elk and adders to wolves and bears with free-entry vouchers to Wildwood animal park near Herne Bay.

Swalecliffe Community Primary School won the story-time session with author Faye Beerling after the children of its 3P class came top in a Buster’s Book Club regional home-reading challenge.

During a special whole-school assembly, Faye read children her book A Country Ramble, which was inspired by the creatures living along the River Stour near her home in Fordwich.

She also gave the school a signed set of six of her books and a framed illustration from one of them.

The Wildwood vouchers went to 3P class.

Following the story-time session, Faye said: “I have really enjoyed my visit here this morning to Swalecliffe Community Primary School.

“Well done – huge congratulations to Class 3P on winning the prize and having me visit today.”

Run by the KM Charity Team, Buster’s Book Club is designed to make reading cool, and sets children individual home-reading targets. Children take on a series of challenges throughout the year, including inter-class and inter-school events, which culminate with an annual record reading attempt.

Prizes for the inter-school challenges include story-teller visits, hampers of books, and free-entry tickets to visitor attractions.

KM Charity Team chief executive Simon Dolby said: “Many congratulations to Swalecliffe Community Primary, and especially class 3P, on achieving such an impressive amount of home-reading minutes.

“And thank you so much to Faye for being so generous –not just by giving up her time to come to the school and read to the pupils from one of her magical books, but also in donating a fantastic set of signed books and art work.

“Everybody had a really special day, and it shows yet again the real benefits for schools of signing up with Buster’s.”

Buster’s Book Club is supported by Little Cheyne Court wind farm, the Kent Community Foundation, Golding Vision, Orbit, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Specsavers, Leeds Castle, Planet Ice, Hornby, Wildwood and Medway and Kent councils.

Visit bustersbookclub.co.uk or contact Kathy Beel or Kay Devine at KBeel@thekmgroup.co.uk or KDevine@thekmgroup.co.uk to join or find out more.

And watch a video of Faye’s visit here: