What a brilliant day we had yesterday welcoming acclaimed author Jonathan Meres – the acclaimed author behind Scaredy Bat, The World of Norm, and Noodle the Doodle, from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Brighton College Vietnam! Passionate about inspiring a love for reading, Jonathan regularly visits schools to share his journey as a writer, encouraging children to explore the joy of books and storytelling.

Our pupils were thrilled to meet him in person! Mr Meres captivated everyone with his lively readings and even treated us to an impromptu song – much to the delight of our younger pupils! During the interactive sessions, our pupils had the wonderful opportunity to gain fascinating insights into his inspiration for creating the Norm character and how he draws from everyday situations that many children find relatable. It was particularly valuable for them to hear that good stories often come from observing the world around us. 

At Brighton College Vietnam, we nurture a love for reading through interactive activities such as author visits, shared reading sessions, and book charity initiatives, allowing our pupils to immerse themselves in the joy of storytelling and the wonders of literature. We hope that these experiences continue to inspire their curiosity, creativity, and confidence as young readers and writers! 

As Mr Meres shared: “Reading is the bedrock of life. It sounds a little bit cheesy, but I think reading is as important as breathing, drinking, eating, or sleeping. Read what you want to read, not what you think you ought to read.”