To celebrate Going All In this year for the National Year of Reading, we sat down with illustrator Becky Thorns to find out more about what inspired her to become a children's book illustrator.

What inspired you to become a children's book illustrator?

I've always loved art and have always loved reading! So doing something that combines both as a job was an absolute dream of mine. I still have to pinch myself sometimes!

Was there a book from your childhood that made you fall in love with stories?

Very early on I loved Winnie the Pooh; I still have the Winnie the Pooh Story Treasury that my parents read to me from every night. Later on the Harry Potter books were my favourite.

I remember getting up at midnight to get the new releases from the bookstores the day they came out, then staying up all night to read the first chapters.

Tell us about some of the children's books you have illustrated.

I have illustrated lots of children's non-fiction about a range of topics, including animals, sea life, senses, inventions and even dinosaurs!

I've also illustrated a mammoth book of poetry collated by Julia Donaldson, which was such a delight and pleasure to work on.

One of the non-fiction books I've illustrated is Who Invented This? It's a book full of inspirational stories of the people who invented and discovered everything around us.

What does National Year of Reading mean to you?

Reading is by far the best way to learn more about things you love. The idea of if you're into it, read into it' is not only super exciting but becoming ever more important.

In today's world, human-crafted words and images are vital in shaping little minds and helping them delve into their passions.

Why do you think encouraging reading from a young age is so important?

I can already see the effects of reading from a young age in my own very young children!

Their imagination is ignited, their worlds are expanded and it encourages them to be more curious. I can't imagine anything more important in the early years of the development of children's interests and their understanding of who they are.

To see Becky's Artist Portfolio, click here.