PRESS RELEASE
Maisy Mouse and Michael Morpurgo team Up for Reading
Favourite children's characters and renowned authors support sponsored reading
initiative to support Down Syndrome Education International
PORTSMOUTH - 6 November 2007 - Favourite children's characters
Maisy Mouse, Cyril, Tallulah and friends today teamed up with renowned children's
authors and illustrators Lucy Cousins, Michael Morpurgo and Quentin Blake to launch
the Up for Reading sponsored reading campaign.
Up for Reading encourages young children to engage in reading activities and supports
work to improve early intervention and teaching for children with Down syndrome
everywhere.
Up for Reading is raising funds for Down Syndrome Education International- the leading
Down syndrome research charity. Based in the UK, the charity helps thousands of people
with Down syndrome around the world by improving our understanding of the difficulties
they face and informing families and teachers of how best to support all areas of
their development.
"I am delighted to support the charity's Up for Reading campaign. It's
a great way to encourage young children to read books and also support a unique
charity." said Lucy Cousins.
Michael Morpurgo OBE, a Patron of Down Syndrome Education International, said "I'm so pleased to support the charity's Up for Reading campaign.
I can't think of a better way to have fun and raise money than by reading books
– nor a better cause to raise it for."
Professor Sue Buckley OBE, Director of Science and Research at
the charity, said "Up for Reading offers a fun and engaging way to encourage
all young children to participate in reading activities. It also offers the opportunity
to help children with Down syndrome achieve more. Up for Reading is particularly
appropriate as research suggests that reading skills are often a relative strength
for children with Down syndrome. Reading also helps to improve their spoken language.
It is an excellent example of how research informs better support and progress for
people with Down syndrome."
Up for Reading is also generously supported by National Book Tokens, Walker Books
and Waterstones.com.
The Up for Reading campaign runs until 31 March 2008. Full details of the campaign
can be found on the Up for Reading web site at
http://www.up-for-reading.org/
Further information
- Down Syndrome Education International is the leading Down syndrome
research charity, registered in England and Wales, number 1062823.
http://www.downsed.org/
- Lucy Cousins is the best-selling author and illustrator of countless
children's books, including the world famous Maisy Mouse series.
http://www.walkerbooks.co.uk/Lucy-Cousins
- Michael Morpurgo OBE has written over 100 books - and his books
have won the Children's Book Award in 2000, the Smarties Prize and the Whitbread
Children's Book Award. Michael was the Children's Laureate from 2003 to
2005. http://www.michaelmorpurgo.org/
Photographs
Contacts