Shortlisted Mouse!

Last week I visited St. Paul’s Primary School in Leamington Spar. A really nice and friendly school. I did my usual talks and ran a big workshop, but the highlight of the day was the opening of the new school library.I’m even mentioned on the plaque!

There is always something very exciting about opening new libraries. All the school children and the adults who are involved are swelling with pride and enthusiasm and quite rightly so.

I had a great day in St.Paul’s CE Primary School.

I also popped in to a local school in Worcester where I live. The school was Cranham Primary School. We had a great morning.

I did a bit of painting with the children and I got lots of drawings to take home. Some of them are stunning.

This picture is from Sadie (St. Paul’s).

I also found time to work on the new book.

Here is a sketch for a tiger coming out of the jungle in the moonlight

and here is the final picture.



Another finished illustration is a picture of a big panda.

At the weekend I went to Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival. I did two talks to a great and lively audience.

The festival was well organised and it was also a nice opportunity for me to meet up with fellow writers and illustrators.

On Sunday it was Oxford Literature Festival. I did a workshop in The Story Museum.

This is Alexander. A good drawer and well dressed, matching the occasion.

 

And here is another great artist. Alex surprised me not just with his picture but also with the fact that he could speak Czech!

The festival was of course very well organised and I had a great audience. The Story Museum is definitely the place to visit. It’s beautiful!

And now the exciting news.

“The Mouse Who Ate the Moon” has been shortlisted  for the Independent Booksellers Week Award 2015

It’s always exciting when your book is noticed, but this shortlist is even more special to me. I associate independent book shops with people who are 100% devoted to what they are doing and with people who know the books they are selling. People who love books. It’s impossible to do it any other way if you want to compete with big bookstores.

I do admire those who do the jobs they love and they do it well.

I’m honoured to be on the shortlist this year.