Rhyming books and poetry can help young children to enjoy reading, according to Julia Donaldson.

The Gruffalo author, who has recently moved to England after living in Bearsden for many years, said that rhyme is easier to remember than stories written in an ordinary form, which encourages youngsters' confidence in the subject.

"Children love rhyme and rhythm, it's a very natural thing," she said.

"If they are lucky, a child has probably been brought up on nursery rhymes and chants. Even if they haven't, people tend to speak rhythmically to children, even if it's just 'go to sleep, go to sleep'."

Because young children are already familiar with rhyme, it can be used in the classroom to help them learn to read.

Ms Donaldson, who served as Children's Laureate between 2011 and 2013, said that as youngsters enjoy rhyme "it will increase their overall enjoyment of reading and their love of and interest in language".

She added she had been told by many people that rhyming books and poems were more memorable for their children than non-rhyming stories.

"A child will be able to recite a rhyming book that is read to them before they can read it.

"And then, when they get older, they can suddenly decipher the words that they recognise the sound of from memory. That's very gratifying to a child and it helps with reading."

Many of Ms Donaldson's books are written in a rhyming form, such as the much-loved Room On The Broom, The Gruffalo and Tabby McTat.