Books need to reflect pupils' lives - Lenny Henry

Sir Lenny Henry has said it is important for children, no matter their background, to see book characters that reflect their lives.

Millions of children across the country dressed up as their favourite characters this week for World Book Day.

The actor and writer was in Birmingham for an event aimed at children from schools with low literacy rates.

Speaking at the Reading for Smiles Children's Book Festival, Sir Lenny said it was important that all pupils felt "they're included in the story".

"Growing up I read books like the Narnia books, I read the Hobbit and Tolkien and things like that, and there weren't people that looked like me in those books," he said.

"Reading opens doors, fuels dreams, and builds confidence."

He added that times had changed and authors including Malorie Blackman and many others were creating characters "that are diverse and inclusive".

"When I wrote The Boy with Wings, it was about a little black boy from Dudley, with a wonky nose and super-powers," he said.

"I never read a book like that when I was a kid and I've always wanted to see a book like that."

Selina Brown, founder and chief executive of the Black British Book Festival, which organised the event, said for many of the pupils it would be their first time at a literature festival and the team had been keen to make it "an unforgettable experience".

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