ONE of the world’s most famous publishers has given a primary school a bumper box of books thanks to a “superhero” pupil who reads stories to care home residents.
Harri Shone, five, hit the headlines when it was revealed he’s been spreading joy at Pendine Park’s Highfield care home in Wrexham – and has even popped up on prime time TV after The One Show made a film about him.
The book-loving youngster enjoys reading stories to the residents from the Biff, Chip and Kipper books he has been learning at his school, Ysgol Penrhyn, New Broughton, near Wrexham.
When the publishers of the popular series, Oxford University Press, heard about Harri, they were so impressed with his kindness that they offered to donate the books to the school.
A delighted Ysgol Penrhyn headteacher Beth Davies said, “It is so generous of the publishers to donate such lovely books for all our pupils here to enjoy. The series is really popular and an extremely helpful learning tool for all ages.”
Oxford University Press is one of the world’s oldest and most respected publishers.
Its bosses got in touch with Harri’s mum, Laura Shone, a senior care practitioner at Pendine, about the idea of giving a selection of new books to Harri after they learned about his story telling sessions in the media.
Laura said they were so impressed by his initiative that they wanted to do something as a small reward for all his efforts, and giving books to his school so fellow pupils can benefit too was the perfect idea.
Laura said, “We cannot thank them enough. Harri is delighted that his classmates and other pupils of all ages in the school will get to enjoy such wonderful new books.”
Head Beth Davies said the box contained a wide selection of publications including spellings and games books, large-size class readers which pupils can read together, interesting adventure tales and colourful picture-stories.
She said, “It really is a good set which we will all treasure. There is something for all age groups from nursery to junior pupils. We are very grateful to Oxford University Press and to Harri whose volunteering sessions led to such a generous donation. He is a great role model for his classmates and all other children his age.”
In an accompanying letter to the school the Oxford University Press Biff, Chip and Kipper team said, “We were so impressed to see Harri reading to residents on BBC Wales that we wanted to get in touch and say hello.
“We are the publishers who make the Biff, Chip and Kipper books that you are enjoying reading. We are so glad that they are your favourites Harri! We know that Floppy the dog would give you a great big wag of his tail and possibly even a lick as he would be so pleased too.
“We are sending you some more books so that you can keep on reading. We hope that you enjoy them. We’ve also sent you some books for your teachers to read to your class so that you can all have the `lovely treat of being read to that you are giving to the residents.
“We think that reading is a superpower and you are definitely a reading superhero Harri, well done!”
Harri was thrilled with the gift and the fact that his classmates get to share in such exciting stories too.
Having his photo taken with his classmates Gabe, Jayne and Hallie, he said his favourite book is Land of the Dinosaurs, but he loves reading all kinds of stories, adding, “I try to read a book a day.”
Gabe said the new books delivered to the school are “100 out of 100 brilliant”, adding, “We all love them and can’t wait to read the stories.”
Hallie agreed, “They are such good books, with fantastic pictures in too.”
Harri’s class teacher Beth Edwards said reading is a very important part of the school curriculum and is something which pupils can do together when reading in class, or after school when they can read exciting storybooks at home.
She said, “This is such a lovely collection and will be a fantastic addition to our small school library. The Biff, Chip and Kipper team can rest assured that these stories will be lovingly read by generations of our pupils to come.”
