Words inspire children's author

Inaugural Australian Children’s Laureate Boori Monty Pryor was in Bunbury last week entertaining Bunbury Senior High School students with stories of his life.

Mr Pryor is a highly-regarded Australian author and has worked in television, film, sport and music.

He told stories of his childhood and later life to students in Years 8 to 10, often receiving laughter in return.

Mr Pryor said he enjoyed speaking at schools, especially to younger children.

“I like the challenge of speaking to pre-schoolers because they tell you if you’re rubbish, so I strive to be entertaining for them,” he said.

“I could talk for hours because there are so many aspects, so many ways to tell stories.”

As an Aboriginal man from north Queensland, Mr Pryor has many stories to tell about racial discrimination.

While making sure the students understand the issue, he still makes sure they are kept entertained.

He said he enjoyed speaking at schools because it helped spread his love of the written word.

“I love words, wordsmiths, poetry, the images that come to you when you read and of course I love writing,” he said.

“I haven’t been able to do much writing lately because I’ve been visiting schools and other Laureate commitments, but I have a couple of books that I’m working on.”

Mr Pryor is one of two Australian Children’s Laureates for 2012-2013.

His latest book Shake a Leg, a collaboration with Jan Ormerod, won the 2011 Children’s Fiction award in the Prime Minister’s Literacy Awards.

Mr Pryor said he would continue to do what he could to get young people interested in literacy.

“By keeping on the move, the momentum helps shape the future,” he said.