Bradford and Andover was next

Last week was rather busy. It all started at the Bradford Literary Festival. I was doing a talk in the prettiest Waterstones I’ve ever been in. Just look at the picture.

The event went very well. It’s always nice doing a talk and reading at the festivals because the parents who bring their children to the events are parents who read books and their children are use to being read to. They all like picture books.

After my event I stayed to see my friend, the wonderful Vivian French. did you know that Vivian has written more than 270 books? This book is one of them. It was very popular in our house a long time before I met Vivian. My daughters loved the book also for the illustrations by Alison Bartlett and I hope I’m not telling a secret, but Vivian and Alison are having a new book together. I can’t wait to see it.

The next day I met with one of the organisers of the Bradford Literature Festival Irna, who was very nice and she took me to Canterbury Children’s Centre where I talked to a bigger group of children and parents. It was a nice event and my publisher Walker Books gave every child who came one of my books! How nice! It was like Christmas in the spring and it was really nice to see children so happy and proud to have a new book. Thank you Walker Books!

On Monday afternoon I traveled from Bradford to Andover. Luckily I had a very big book to read. It’s a long journey to Andover from Bradford.

I visited Portway Infant School in Andover. I’ve been to the school before and it’s  definitely one of my favourite schools. It was like coming home. All the teachers at the school are so friendly and jolly. It works, because the children are the same. everybody in a happy mood, no shouting no crying, just fun.

As soon as I arrived I heard two little girls talking to each other. One of them said: “I think this is Peter Horacek!” and the other little girl said: “Whoopsy Daisy – IT IS!” I knew straight away, that this will be another good day with lots of fun. And it was!

As I was in Portway Infant School before and we’ve already made two big murals, one about an Elephant and one about Suzy Goose, I was asked to help the children making a picture about Blue Penguin.

So Blue Penguin it was.I think there was about 80 children who worked on this masterpiece with me. We had lots of fun and I think the mural looks pretty good!

I also did some reading and drawing and it was nice to see children doing their own sketches inspired by some of my books.  Here are some of them.

I like this one very much.In the afternoon I did book signing and I talked to the parents of the children too. The book sale was organised by a great independent  book shop P&G Wells in Winchester. Thank you for that!

And a Big THANK You to Portway Infant School in Andover for making me so welcome – again.