Neil Humphreys Inspires Young Writers in Malaysia!

This November 2025, a few selected schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor had the rare opportunity to host Neil Humphreys, the internationally acclaimed author of more than 30 books, including best-selling children’s series such as Princess Incognito, Awful Agatha, and Abbie Rose and the Magic Suitcase — all published by Scholastic.

Originally from the UK and now based in Singapore, Neil is well-loved across Asia for his witty, creative, and meaningful stories. His books have inspired countless young readers to see the funny side of everyday life — and this is exactly what his talk, “How to Write Funny,” was all about.

During his school visits, Neil shared how he finds inspiration for his stories and encouraged children to look for humor in the world around them. “Funny stories are everywhere,” he reminded them, showing how everyday moments can spark the best ideas. His engaging storytelling style kept every student captivated and laughing throughout his sessions.

This special author visit was brought to children by Scholastic, with Acquire Learning serving as the liaison with participating schools and the official Scholastic Book Fair Partner in Malaysia. During the events, students and teachers also enjoyed a vibrant Scholastic Book Fair organized by Acquire Learning.

The book fair featured over 100 popular Scholastic titles for children of all ages, offering exclusive book fair deals and special prices available only during the event. Students, teachers, and even parents had the chance to browse, discover, and purchase quality books at great value.

Neil Humphreys’ books were the highlight of the fair — and they sold out throughout his November tour! Many parents placed pre-orders, while excited children rushed to purchase his books during the event just so they could get his autograph in person. For many students, that autograph became a meaningful reminder to keep reading, keep writing, and most importantly — to have fun with stories.

Neil ended each session by reminding students of his personal motto — a message that perfectly captures his lifelong mission: “Keep reading, keep writing, and keep inspiring.”

Neil Humphreys Inspired Students

Children who attended Neil’s talk left with smiles and renewed enthusiasm. They learned:

• How to find ideas for funny stories

• The importance of reading as the foundation for good writing

• Storytelling techniques to make their writing come alive. Many left inspired to write their own stories — and even dream of becoming authors one day.

Benefits for Teachers

Teachers found Neil’s sessions equally valuable. His approach offered practical ideas on how to:

• Engage students through humor and creativity

• Encourage reluctant readers and writers

• Build a love for storytelling in the classroom

Benefits for Schools

Hosting Neil Humphreys provided schools with a unique literacy experience at no cost, combining creativity, storytelling, and reading inspiration for both students and teachers.

Neil continues to travel across Asia, inspiring children to read, write, and find joy in storytelling.

A Scholastic Initiative: Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)

The Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) campaign is a literacy initiative launched by Scholastic to encourage children to develop a lifelong love of reading. The idea is simple — to set aside time each day to stop whatever you are doing, pick up a book, and read.

As part of this regional initiative, Scholastic flew in Neil Humphreys to Malaysia to inspire children to read, laugh, and write through his school talks and storytelling sessions. To support the campaign, Scholastic also offered exclusive book fair prices and collaborated with Acquire Learning to bring the DEAR program to more schools across Malaysia.

The DEAR campaign is completely free for schools and students to join. Schools can take part by organizing reading moments, book fairs, or special literacy events that promote reading among children.

For more information about the DEAR campaign, click here.

If you are an educator or school leader interested in hosting a Scholastic Book Fair or joining the DEAR campaign, contact Acquire Learning — the official Scholastic Book Fair Partner for schools in Malaysia.

Together with Scholastic, we continue to bring world-class authors, exciting reading programs, and meaningful literacy experiences to schools across the country.

GET IN TOUCH