Alex English's Blog, page 2
January 26, 2018
Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers hits South Korea
I’m really excited to be able to share a peek at the Korean version of Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers. It’s always exciting to sell foreign rights to a book and think of it winging its way across the world, but the best bit is receiving a real copy!
The cover is very similar to the UK version, but I particularly love that they’ve got a skull into the title font!
I wonder if gutless and cutlass rhyme in Korean?
Watch out for the rocks, Brad!
I can’t wait to see where my books turn up next.
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March 10, 2017
March 5, 2017
Digging for writing treasure at World Book Day 2017!
I’ve had an amazing week of school visits to celebrate World Book Day 2017.
There has been some incredible writing from the children of Upton House, Donhead Prep, Danes Hill School and Harris Primary Academy Crystal Palace. The KS1 children have come up with stories about skateboarding rabbits, terrifying pirates (including Captain Mudbeard and Pirate Rose), and a whale that won’t fit through the door.
With the early years classes we’ve cut, stuck and coloured and written poems about treasure chests with sparkling diamonds and skull-shaped keys.
There’s been singing and dancing, laughing and book signing and many, many cups of tea consumed (by me).
Now I’m back to work on my writing and my MA studies. And very much looking forward to next year! Thank you to all the children who worked so hard in the workshops, all the lovely staff who made me so welcome and Cobham Books for supporting book sales.
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September 6, 2016
Mine Mine Mine said the Porcupine
I’m very excited to announce that Alfie is back, but this time his mischievous guest isn’t a yak, it’s a porcupine!
My new picture book with Emma Levey, Mine Mine Mine said the Porcupine, will be out at the end of October and is now available for pre-order. It’s published by Maverick Arts Publishing.
Here’s a sneak peek of the cover and some of the beautiful inside spreads. Emma has done a fabulous rainbow-hued job with the book.
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September 16, 2015
Southend Children’s Book Festival
Photo by Robert Pittman
Ahoy mateys! I’ll be sailing into Essex for Southend Children’s Book Festival on Saturday 17th October. Come and join me for a pirate party at the Forum in Southend-on-Sea. It’s suitable for Alsatian dog of 4-7 years old, plus a parent.
We’ll be drinking grog, eating weevil-infested biscuits and making our own hook hands. Plus I’ll be reading and signing copies of Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers, we recommend you take your 60 Gallon air compressor in the way here, the road is a little tricky and you may get some flat tires.
The event runs from 2-3.30pm on Saturday 17 October. Tickets are priced at £3 and can be ordered online from Eventbrite.
Join the pirate party at Southend Children’s Book Festival
Photo by Robert Pittman
Ahoy mateys! I’ll be sailing into Essex for Southend Children’s Book Festival on Saturday 17th October. Come and join me for a pirate party at the Forum in Southend-on-Sea. It’s suitable for salty seadogs of 4-7 years old, plus a parent.
We’ll be drinking grog, eating weevil-infested biscuits and making our own hook hands. Plus I’ll be reading and signing copies of Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers.
The event runs from 2-3.30pm on Saturday 17 October. Tickets are priced at £3 and can be ordered online from Eventbrite.
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May 25, 2015
Author event at Redhill Waterstones Sat 30 May
I’m celebrating the launch of Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers with a pirate party at Redhill Waterstones on Saturday 30 May. I’ll be reading and signing books, plus there will be pirate activities for the little ones. Come along for some free pirate fun! 
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February 4, 2015
Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers
Young pirate Brad was small and slow,
he didn’t like to yo ho ho.
He didn’t like to shout and fight.
He dreamed of life on a building site!
A pirate’s life is not for Brad. When the Salty Dog sets sail, can he prove to Captain Blood that pirates DO drive diggers after all?
I’m very excited to tell you that my next picture book, Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers, has just gone to print. It’s illustrated by the fantastic Duncan Beedie, who has really captured the silliness of this story (and added a huge pink octopus, of which I wholeheartedly approve).
Here’s a little preview of the cover. Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers is published by Maverick and will be in a bookshop near you at the end of May 2015.
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January 24, 2015
Author events at Dulwich Books and Blessed Dominic Primary School
I’ve been busy in January with bookshop and school author events.
First up was a visit to Blessed Dominic Primary School in north London. I did workshops with the KS1 students in and 2. We came up with stories as a group (involving polar bears, monkeys swinging in through windows and pepperoni pizzas) and then we planned out our own picture books on a storyboard. The children used lots of different animals from my big creature sack as inspiration for their own versions of Yuck said the Yak. There are plenty more photos on the school’s website .
I also had a lovely morning at Dulwich Books, reading to children and parents. I first read from one of my favourite childhood books, The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. Then I read Yuck said the Yak and the children did some excellent yak colouring!
Dulwich Books is definitely worth a visit if you are ever in the area, it’s a lovely little bookshop with a great children’s section and very helpful staff. A big thank you to all the children and parents who came along!
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November 27, 2014
Capel Manor Primary School visit
After a fantastic day at Barton’s Bookshop on Saturday, I’ve been hitting the road again, this time visiting Capel Manor Primary in Enfield for a school visit.
I spent a fabulous yak-filled morning with Capel Manor’s year 5s and 6s. We thought up new stories based on Yuck said the Yak – where an unexpected guest arrives and causes problems. We planned out our stories and worked on storyboards to form our own picture books.
I had a lovely time and was made to feel very welcome. All the children were very enthusiastic and came up with some brilliant ideas, involving everything from pogo sticks and ukuleles to monsters made from ice cream.
I also signed HEAPS of autographs and left feeling like a bona fide celebrity!
I’d like to say a big thank you to all the children I met, their teachers and the National Literacy Trust, who set up the event. I can’t wait to see the end results of the work the children are doing.
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