Author of best-selling Charlie and Lola books inspires children at Portsmouth schools

And yesterday, Lauren Child met her characters’ namesakes on a visit to Portsmouth.

She visited Solent Infant School in Farlington, where she met classmates Charlie Richardson and Lola Measor.

Charlie, six, said: ‘I found her new story funny because Lola tried to bargain with everyone to get more things. It never worked though!’

Lola, five, added: ‘I liked the collage part when Lauren Child showed us different dresses. I am going to try this at home!’

Head of infants at Solent Infant School Laura Peterkin-Aldred said that parents were ‘absolutely flabbergasted’ by this opportunity for their children.

She said: ‘The children asked some incredible questions. We’re going to have some budding future authors amongst our pupils.’

Lauren spoke to pupils about her career spanning more than 20 years and how she created Charlie and Lola.

She said: ‘It’s lovely to be in Portsmouth. It was great to meet the children, talk to them about my work and give them the opportunity to talk to an author and illustrator.’

Lauren released One Thing, the fifth instalment in the Charlie and Lola series, in September. In total, 4.5m copies of the books have been sold and it has been adapted into a Bafta-winning TV series.

Lauren said: ‘One Thing is a story book that has counting within it and the idea is that we use numbers all the time in our everyday lives. I suppose it’s to make numbers feel more friendly.’

Lauren also visited Copnor Primary School during her whistle-stop tour, which was arranged by the Hayling Island Bookshop and Portsmouth School Library Service.

Colin Telford, events manager at the Hayling Island Bookshop, said: ‘We’ve been trying to get Lauren to come here for a few years now, so we’re 
very pleased we finally got her to visit.’