QUENTIN Blake's iconic artwork will be seen around around town next week as child literacy charity, the Book Bus, sets off on a UK road show, including a pit stop in Tavistock.

Wrapped in eye-catching Quentin Blake designs – Blake is a trustee of the charity – the bus will be setting off from Land's End on Monday, October 14, visiting schools, libraries, universities and workplaces across the UK on a three month road trip.

The first stop will be Tavistock on Tuesday, October 15, when the bus will park up outside the Pannier Market to spread awareness of the charity, recruit volunteers for Book Bus projects overseas and raise funds to run mobile libraries in Africa, Asia and South America. The day will culminate with a talk by Mark Davison from Venture Co, the local tour operator that arranges the Book Bus trips, at the Bedford Hotel at 6.30pm.

Founded by publisher Tom Maschler, the Book Bus works in local communities to raise literacy levels within primary school-age children around the world. The permanent crew, assisted by up to eight volunteers, visit schools and act as reading mentors. Their task is to bring books to life and this is achieved through storytelling, puppet-making arts and crafts and a variety of other media. The emphasis is to bring an element of fun to the task of learning to read.

Volunteers can then opt to add on further travel adventures to their trip with Venture Co.

The Book Bus will make further regional visits January, February and March 2014. Schools are being invited to request a Book Bus visit. Check out the road trip schedule at http://www.thebookbus.org/roadshow.htm">www.thebookbus.org/roadshow.htm

For more information on the Book Bus and attending the free evening event on October 15, contact Mark Davison on [email protected]">[email protected]