The CBeebies star has agreed to read a story to the school winning one of the Buster Book Club challenges due to be staged early next year. Classes can win the visit by the celeb by coming top or most improved with their reading.

Mr Gallagher will also be attending the Kent Literacy Awards in June when schools involved with Buster's Book Club will celebrate their success with the scheme, and the child devising the best book review will be announced, giving the winning pupil an exclusive chance to spend time with the star.

Simon Dolby from Buster's Book Club, said: "This is very exciting for our charity to have Phil - Mister Maker - supporting two of our major literacy initiatives in 2017. Next year is KM's Year of Reading and so we want a bumper number of schools using our reading scheme and a bumper number of book reviews from children to choose from. Our charity is so grateful to Phil for all his support."

Mr Gallagher, who is an Honorary Patron of the KM Charity Team, said: "I have worked alongside the charity and seen how Buster's Book Club has developed. Last year we were so close to hitting the 3 million minutes of reading achieved, so I know we can pass that figure in 2017 and make even more children members of the millionaire reading club."

The initiative is supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, Kent Libraries, 3Rs teacher recruitment, Kent Reliance, Specsavers, Bel UK, Orbit housing association and Golding Homes.

Schools have until 16 December to sign up for Buster's Book Club. Visit www.bustersbookclub.co.uk for an information pack.

Submit your book review

Children or adults can submit book reviews during the KM Year of Reading.

Any theme or style of book are eligible and the best submissions will be recognised at the Kent Literacy Awards.

Charlotte Hayes from the KM Charity Team said: "Whether you are passionate about a classic or a new book just out, whether you are mad about fact books or comics, we want to hear what makes that specific book good."

The best reviews will be published by the KM Charity Team with the main winners honoured at the literacy awards.

The charity is accepting book reviews from this week which should be submitted online at www.kmcharityteam.co.uk/bookreview

Fact-file

Busters's Book Club is run by the KM Charity Team in collaboration with local councils.

The engaging scheme provides inter-class and inter-school reading challenges giving pupils the chance to tickets to major Kent attractions including Leeds Castle.

Pupils are set a target of collectively reading more than one million minutes of reading to become members of the Reading Millionaire Club.

Last academic year more than 2.8 million minutes of reading were achieved by the 11,000 pupils involved.

Grants are available to reduce the already low cost for schools to sign up. Find out more by calling the charity on 0844 264 0291.