Six-year-old author to receive national honour

Jayce wrote and published his first book when he was four years old

A six-year-old boy who has written and published three books is set to receive a national award for inspiring other children.

Jayce, from Birmingham, has been named this year’s youngest recipient of the British Citizen Youth Award, Medal of Honour, which recognises the impact he has made on his community.

He published his first book, Jayce's Sweet Tooth, about a boy who cannot resist candy, when he was four years old and became a member of Mensa with an IQ of 150 before he turned five.

Jayce told BBC Midlands Today that he felt great about the award, which he will receive at the Palace of Westminster on Thursday.

He said he was first inspired by reading other people's books and wanted to start writing his own.

“I like writing because that’s how I can inspire the children to write books,” he added.

Jayce holds story sessions at venues across Birmingham

His mother Anim said she knew he was gifted when he began reading and writing short sentences from the age of two.

Of the award, she said: “It’s an incredible achievement and it is a testament to his dedication and hard work.”

Jayce’s first two books – Jayce’s Sweet Tooth and A Beach With No Sea – were published when he was four, with his third, Jayce’s Alphabet Rules, following shortly after.

He was assessed by Mensa after his first books were published and his IQ of 150 placed him in the top 0.1% of children his age.

Jayce will receive his award at the Palace of Westminster on Thursday

As well as his writing, Jayce runs story sessions at nurseries, primary schools, libraries, bookshops and community groups.

He also hands out educational gift boxes called Jayce’s World of Learning in a bid to promote early literacy and inclusion among children.

Anim said: “He is so committed to making a difference in the lives of not just his community but the world at large.”

Jayce said his ambition was to keep on writing books so he can keep inspiring other children to read and write.