AN American author has donated more than £10,000 to six Oxfordshire independent bookshops.

Multi-million book seller James Patterson, who wrote the Alex Cross series including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, gave the grants to inspire children to read.

Jaffé & Neale Bookshop in Chipping Norton received £5,000 to buy a new van to be used to tour festivals and schools.

Bookshop worker Jerry Boyd said: “We do a couple of festivals at the moment, such as Wildnerness and Bestival, but this will allow us to go to more events and schools to make books more accessible to kids.”

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Wallingford Bookshop received £900 to create a website for its monthly children’s book club, which has about 30 members.

Owner Alison Jinks said: “It’s an extra thing for them and means they can be involved even if they can’t get to the book club.”

The Book House in Thame got £1,000 to refurbish an area to be used for a new Stories by Starlight children’s book club.

Cole’s Bookstore in Bicester was given £700 towards refurbishing its 20-year-old children’s play area, while the Bell Bookshop in Henley got £2,000 towards refurbishing its children’s area and till system.

Banbury’s Books and Ink Bookshop owner Sam Barnes would not reveal her amount as she is working on a secret project to “refresh” part of the shop.

 

 

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