Schools and Nurseries

For many authors, illustrators and for anybody who has something to do with books and publishing, these couple of months are the busiest time of year. I’ve already started to travel around  schools, doing readings, showing pictures and sketches from my books and doing workshops.

My school visits and workshops are brilliantly organised by Speaking of Books.

Last week I was in Stoke on Trent. I went to five schools and on Thursday I visited NINE nurseries in one day. Modesty aside, I think it’s quite an achievement!

I like talking to children in nurseries. They are fun and you know straight away if you’re doing well or not. The little ones let you know.

The purpose of my visit to Stoke on Trent was to promote and inspire reading in schools and nurseries. It’s not difficult to make children excited about books I thought. Every child likes a good story, good pictures and every child likes to play. I was thinking a difference could be made if  parents would take part as well. I’m talking about parents who find it easier to give a child an i-pad to play with or just press a button on the telly rather than open a book and read to the child.

In fact you can spot a child who is read to and a child who spends more time with a television. A child who is used to books can sit, concentrate, participate and be involved much easier and quicker. For some children concentration is a big effort. A book doesn’t flash and it doesn’t make a noise. A book needs time.As usual I do lots of drawings with children. I can’t have enough of children’s art.Here are some the masterpieces.Just look at this beautiful horse. Isn’t it amazing?I got some drawings to take home with me.A cheetah on a skateboard.The rest of the week I was got on with my book “My First Book of Animals”. I’m pleased to say that the gorillas are now finished.I also finished a picture of a viper. This is how I did the illustration.

First I painted and printed the skin of the snake,cut a stencil for the patten and here is the final picture.

That’s it for this week. I’m in five different schools next week, so I’d better get packing.