A CHILDREN’S author who was nominated for an award for inspiring youngsters to read visited a Huddersfield book shop.

Christina Gabbitas gave a reading at Waterstones at the Kingsgate Centre.

The Selby-based author and poet wrote the Felicity Fly stories.

The rhyming stories, which feature characters including Willamena Woodlouse, William Washing Machine, Simon Spider and Veronica Vac, are about tackling childhood fears and are aimed at children from two to six years old.

Christina’s rhyming stories were nominated for an education award by Sue Ryder Care and have also been praised by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Christina said: “I started writing to encourage parents to read with children from a young age.

“When I do a reading I bring all my characters to life by giving them all different accents.”

All the books come with CD narration to enable children to read along.