tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91737119723616856372024-03-18T16:30:48.681+00:00Helen MossHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12019882584997019736noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-62353271771598441932024-01-22T16:54:00.004+00:002024-01-22T16:54:59.684+00:00Balto and Togo Virtual Bookshop Event<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvFVluhu7A1-JP0Y9Ienn6w0G6vHh1_RXlmSjkq9RWTaZwHUBpmuCj8XIOj17_fxrxYS1qCWbRAwXYfYuBeRy9NcPtF_bZSKZsDgp_MWYlyiQA-367g_ew6scY3XmT-QhANDDdIEN_vPCX9lN0tfDQZYb7omIv2tyN29ReY37GLz2HsQqGA2E9dPwg0A/s900/bookofwonderevent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="900" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvFVluhu7A1-JP0Y9Ienn6w0G6vHh1_RXlmSjkq9RWTaZwHUBpmuCj8XIOj17_fxrxYS1qCWbRAwXYfYuBeRy9NcPtF_bZSKZsDgp_MWYlyiQA-367g_ew6scY3XmT-QhANDDdIEN_vPCX9lN0tfDQZYb7omIv2tyN29ReY37GLz2HsQqGA2E9dPwg0A/w400-h210/bookofwonderevent.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I'm thrilled to have been invited to take part in a virtual book panel event hosted by the fantastic Books of Wonder - only the biggest and best children's bookshop in New York City - (if you've seen the film <i>You've Got Mail</i>, this is where they filmed it!)<br /></p><p>I'll be reading from<i> Balto and Togo, Hero Dogs of Alaska,</i> talking about the the real-life events behind the book and and answering questions - along with other panel members, including AJ Sass, whose new book, <i>Just Shy of Ordinary</i> is about to hit the shelves - it looks fantastic.<br /></p><p>The great news is that you can join the audience for this event wherever you are - you don't have to fly to New York (although that would be fun!) - you can tune in remotely by following this link to the <a href="January 28th at 4PM ET Virtual New Middle Grade Titles to Enjoy! These new books are full of daring adventures and brave pursuits! With an awesome journey to deliver medicine, and someone facing their fears in the face of much uncertainty, you're sure to be inspired! Tune in for: Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. SASS. Ever since their mom lost her job, the two had to move in with family friends, and the world went into pandemic lockdown, Thirteen-year-old Shai’s been unable to control their picking at the hair on their arms. To reduce their anxiety and create a brand new normal for themself, Shai makes a plan to go to public school. But when they're placed into 9th grade instead of 8th, it sets off a chain of events that encourages Shai to learn how to accept life's twists and turns, especially when you can't plan for them. Balto and Togo: Hero Dogs of Alaska by HELEN MOSS. It's the winter of 1924 and a diphtheria outbreak is threatening the population of Nome, Alaska. The only way to stop the deadly illness from causing a full-blown epidemic is to immediately deliver one million units of the diphtheria antitoxin to the affected communities, which seems impossible given the only way to reach any place in Alaska at this time of year is by dog sled. The stakes are high, and the snow is piling higher — will the antitoxin make it in time? Or will the infection spread faster than they can treat it? Sunday, January 28th at 4PM ET via Crowdcast!">event page on the Books of Wonder website. </a></p><p>It's on Sunday 28th January, 4pm US Eastern Time; that's 9pm here in the UK. It's a bit late on a school night, I know, but worth staying up for!<br /></p><p>Here are the details . . . <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span class="meta-item event-date">January 28th at 4PM ET
<br /> Virtual
</span>
</p><div class="rte border-under cf">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">New Middle Grade Titles to Enjoy!</h2>
<p>These new books are full of daring adventures and brave
pursuits! With an awesome journey to deliver medicine, and someone
facing their fears in the face of much uncertainty, you're sure to be
inspired!</p>
<p>Tune in for:</p>
<ul><li>
<a href="https://booksofwonder.com/products/9780316506175"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Just Shy of Ordinary</strong></span></em></a> by <strong>A.J. SASS</strong>. <span data-mce-fragment="1">Ever
since their mom lost her job, the two had to move in with family
friends, and the world went into pandemic lockdown, Thirteen-year-old
Shai’s been unable to control their picking at the hair on their arms.
To reduce their anxiety and</span> create a brand new normal for
themself, Shai makes a plan to go to public school. But when they're
placed into 9th grade instead of 8th, it sets off a chain of events that
encourages Shai to learn how to accept life's twists and turns,
especially when you can't plan for them.<br /><br />
</li><li>
<a href="https://booksofwonder.com/products/9781250792532"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Balto and Togo: Hero Dogs of Alaska</strong></span></em></a> by <strong>HELEN MOSS</strong>. <span data-mce-fragment="1">It's
the winter of 1924 and a diphtheria outbreak is threatening the
population of Nome, Alaska. The only way to stop the deadly illness from
causing a full-blown epidemic is to immediately deliver one million
units of the diphtheria antitoxin to the affected communities, which
seems impossible given the only way to reach any place in Alaska at this
time of year is by dog sled. The stakes are high, and the snow is
piling higher — will the antitoxin make it in time? Or will the
infection spread faster than they can treat it?</span>
</li></ul>
<p><strong>Sunday, January 28th at 4PM ET via <a href="https://www.crowdcast.io/c/great-middle-grade-reads-1-28-24">Crowdcast</a>!</strong></p></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12019882584997019736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-3169305035653092682024-01-04T11:00:00.002+00:002024-01-04T11:00:40.481+00:00Balto and Togo out in the world<p>Happy New Year! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKUewfSnNTmhNIDd_xK3cit5oHOnEjpE8ErI9rWhdfxo7LJlyE5XfvULGQ6q5N0X33lnfGzn-68FO2drFnhZDr0HWxJqCoEPU1lgHGW7jfQqLk76AUS-GLs6maZ02-sZV3xU-8Pe0sg0gGF09u0W3ga-3KsQ183TCyCkzq8T7R8bOZyi2LJZMeAy2iWk/s1024/WinterBooks_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKUewfSnNTmhNIDd_xK3cit5oHOnEjpE8ErI9rWhdfxo7LJlyE5XfvULGQ6q5N0X33lnfGzn-68FO2drFnhZDr0HWxJqCoEPU1lgHGW7jfQqLk76AUS-GLs6maZ02-sZV3xU-8Pe0sg0gGF09u0W3ga-3KsQ183TCyCkzq8T7R8bOZyi2LJZMeAy2iWk/s320/WinterBooks_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I hope that your 2024 will be filled with joy and peace, and of course, lots of great books to read. <br /></p><p><i>Balto and Togo: Hero Dogs of Alaska </i>was published at the end of the 2023 - almost exactly 99 years since the events described in the book, when brave sled dogs and their mushers saved the town of Nome from a serious diptheria outbreak.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Balto and Togo's</i> brilliant illustrator, Soloman Huges sent me these photos of our book, posing alongside the famous statues of Balto and Togo in Central Park, New York. Thank you to Sol, for taking these great pictures and for sharing them with me. <br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpNFXt7-mz2xt16Rv4GvW_im6R-iUGTgx0qV2e2pmQMJBHGRaSYPTr9kOoqxjm7Ww8gj8s8gD2rcQHynVKSDhi_MM8z2Vw5JQ7WYsmWNRo_Vi9wH2jQjv-S0HU_voV3G4XJEwlg5X-Xd-ekjKme0Vyvx4HY3LgcCEFrWgQ5ilci4UN_GLLkskIlZrT9o/s4080/20231211_152135.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpNFXt7-mz2xt16Rv4GvW_im6R-iUGTgx0qV2e2pmQMJBHGRaSYPTr9kOoqxjm7Ww8gj8s8gD2rcQHynVKSDhi_MM8z2Vw5JQ7WYsmWNRo_Vi9wH2jQjv-S0HU_voV3G4XJEwlg5X-Xd-ekjKme0Vyvx4HY3LgcCEFrWgQ5ilci4UN_GLLkskIlZrT9o/s320/20231211_152135.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5tjDQBr5DN7MK269MCPC1yfQyuM55nCDf_Mqw37voGEbg8s0iy1pe-Ov2VVznOIhXL2jEaqJykB62F2ERkG6_d8cPiW_a6WCQNh5H0kErhxlsmkk4FpKs3aVW_B6N4PQbgdMd2aDFQZM5qwLoTf-KdyACthvM6FxpLveRTFv0Hv6368FaVpqYdnvbzk/s4080/20231211_161620.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5tjDQBr5DN7MK269MCPC1yfQyuM55nCDf_Mqw37voGEbg8s0iy1pe-Ov2VVznOIhXL2jEaqJykB62F2ERkG6_d8cPiW_a6WCQNh5H0kErhxlsmkk4FpKs3aVW_B6N4PQbgdMd2aDFQZM5qwLoTf-KdyACthvM6FxpLveRTFv0Hv6368FaVpqYdnvbzk/s320/20231211_161620.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>And some lovely reviews have come in too. I'm specially delighted with this one in <i><a href="https://www.timeforkids.com/g56/good-reads-g5/">Time for Kids</a></i> magazine's Good Reads feature - and thrilled to be included in such a great line-up of books.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKUewfSnNTmhNIDd_xK3cit5oHOnEjpE8ErI9rWhdfxo7LJlyE5XfvULGQ6q5N0X33lnfGzn-68FO2drFnhZDr0HWxJqCoEPU1lgHGW7jfQqLk76AUS-GLs6maZ02-sZV3xU-8Pe0sg0gGF09u0W3ga-3KsQ183TCyCkzq8T7R8bOZyi2LJZMeAy2iWk/s1024/WinterBooks_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKUewfSnNTmhNIDd_xK3cit5oHOnEjpE8ErI9rWhdfxo7LJlyE5XfvULGQ6q5N0X33lnfGzn-68FO2drFnhZDr0HWxJqCoEPU1lgHGW7jfQqLk76AUS-GLs6maZ02-sZV3xU-8Pe0sg0gGF09u0W3ga-3KsQ183TCyCkzq8T7R8bOZyi2LJZMeAy2iWk/s320/WinterBooks_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="readAlong" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Balto and Togo, by
Helen Moss, is a delicate blend of fiction and history that will keep
you on the edge of your seat. It is an amazing piece of art. The story
is set in Nome, a small community in Alaska. A diphtheria pandemic
breaks out, and it’s up to Balto and Togo, along with the rest of the
dogsledding team, to deliver the life-saving serum. Will they make it in
time? This book is great for action readers and adventure seekers! —By TFK Kid Reporter Dylan Patel</i></span></p><p> What a great start to 2024 and to Balto and Togo's new journey!<br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12019882584997019736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-45387755945493412282023-10-06T13:03:00.004+01:002023-10-06T13:27:25.473+01:00New Book Alert<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe9zqevd32BBLbLGBNJvWoS-HPNO2RfzOK53aogVgfbV6dYtJOT68IsRYJ_zcuAHHolu1zDKKGkJPFax7qmFW1VcEGlOCTxQr5DQ3jyCSUH4mRrXnd3tFi5OMnVJft5jo5hc2QRGbjcybtrQGIuOk5r7ad_XGMqEd0ZJPGLslgY6c4TowKuRjNuAvrF0/s845/herodogscover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe9zqevd32BBLbLGBNJvWoS-HPNO2RfzOK53aogVgfbV6dYtJOT68IsRYJ_zcuAHHolu1zDKKGkJPFax7qmFW1VcEGlOCTxQr5DQ3jyCSUH4mRrXnd3tFi5OMnVJft5jo5hc2QRGbjcybtrQGIuOk5r7ad_XGMqEd0ZJPGLslgY6c4TowKuRjNuAvrF0/s320/herodogscover.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>I'm delighted to share news of my latest book - coming out in the US on November 28th 2023.<p></p><p>My first foray into creative non-fiction, <i>Hero Dogs of Alaska</i> is a retelling of the events of Winter 1924-5, when a relay of sled dog teams sprang into action to deliver life-saving diptheria serum to the remote Alaskan town of Nome. </p><p>Balto and Togo are the best-known canine characters, but I've included many other lesser known dogs and their mushers too, emphasising the importance of team-work at all levels. <br /></p><p>This is a story that has fascinated me since first hearing it, and then including it as part of the fictional adventures of the time-travelling pack in my previous book <i>Time Dogs: Balto and the Great Race</i>, so I was thrilled and honoured to be invited to re-tell the story - closely based on the true story, but imagined through the eyes of the hero dogs - and humans - involved. This book became even more of a labour of love as most of the writing took place during the COVID lock-downs of 2020 and 2021, when saving lives from a deadly pandemic couldn't have been more relevant.<br /></p><p>For readers of 9-12 years - or anyone who loves adventure, dogs, and true stories that are even more amazing than fiction. <br /></p><p>Make sure to snuggle up warm with a mug of hot chocolate to read this book - the dramatic, atmospheric illustrations by Solomon Hughes will transport you to the frozen wilderness!<br /></p><p><a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250792532/balto-and-togo-hero-dogs-of-alaska" target="_blank">Find out more and read an extract on the Macmillan website</a>. <br /></p><div class="section-title section-title--book-main">
<div class="section-title__container container">
<div class="section-title__inner">
<h1 class="section-title__heading align-c h1">Balto and Togo: Hero Dogs of Alaska</h1><h1 class="section-title__heading align-c h1"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"True to life and compellingly dramatic" KIRKUS REVIEWS</i></span> <br /></h1> <div class="section-title__content">
<div class="section-title__creators">
<div class="section-title__creator f jcc">
<p class="section-title__content p1">
<span class="section-title__label h5 bold">Author:</span> Helen Moss; illustrated by Solomon Hughes </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div><p>Published by Godwin Books/Macmillan, November 2023, </p><p><span class="a-list-item"><span class="a-text-bold">ISBN-13
:
</span> <span>978-1250792532</span> </span></p><p></p><p>The blurb . . .<br /></p><p><i>It's the winter of 1924 and a diptheria outbreak is threatening the
population of Nome, Alaska. The only way to stop the deadly illness from
causing a full blown epidemic is to immediately deliver one million
units of the diptheria antitoxin to the affected communities ––a task
that seems impossible given that the only way to reach any place in
Alaska at this time of year is by dog sled. The stakes are high, and the
snow is piling higher. Will the antitoxin make it in time? Or will the
infection spread faster than they can treat it...<br /><br />Follow along as Balto and Togo lead the way in this race against time to get the antitoxin and save lives.</i></p><p>You may not find the book in UK bookshops as it is only being published in the US (for now!) but you can order - or even better, pre-order it<a href="https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Balto-and-Togo-Hero-Dogs-of-Alaska-by-Helen-Moss-author-Solomon-Hughes-illustrator/9781250792532"> here at Blackwells on-line</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balto-Togo-Hero-Dogs-Alaska/dp/1250792533/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IQZB1MKXINTT&keywords=balto+togo+helen+moss&qid=1696593235&sprefix=balto+togo+helen+moss%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1" target="_blank">on Amazon</a> as a hardback or Kindle edition.</p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>Reviews for Balto and Togo: Hero Dogs of Alaska</b></p><p class="active"><i>Inventing minor details as needed to construct a
seamless narrative while sticking closely to participants’ memoirs and
other documentary evidence, Moss recounts each leg of the nearly
700-mile relay—capturing both its urgency and the serious dangers faced
by the 19 teams of dogs and men who undertook it. Exerting authorial
license around a claim that the “malamute chorus,” a sort of canine news
and social network that even worked over long distances, was a real
Alaska thing, she tells the tale from doggy as well as human points of
view by weaving in engaging exchanges of canine banter: “I can feel it
in my bones—we’re headed for Norton Bay. I know that Togo here loves the
sea ice, but it gives me the heebie-jeebies.” Still, nearly every
member of the cast, two- or four-legged, was real, as were the extreme
cold, severe winds, blinding snow fog, and other obstacles faced by the
tough dogs and rugged-looking, fur-clad men in Hughes’ stark
black-and-white illustrations. The disease claimed one child identified
as Inupiaq/Norwegian, and one musher was part Athabascan; otherwise the
human cast reads as white.</i></p><p><i>
True to life and compellingly dramatic.</i></p><p>KIRKUS REVIEWS <br /></p><p> </p><p>There are some lovely comments from early readers <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60405338-balto-and-togo">here on GoodReads too. </a></p><p>Like this one . . . <br /></p><p><span class="Formatted"><i> "All-in-all just a really great piece of writing
blending fact to tell a story in a way that makes it flow like fiction.
A really great addition to any classroom or school library!"</i></span></p><p><span class="Formatted">And this . . . <i><br /></i></span></p><p><i><span class="Formatted">"This book is so well researched and then written
from the perspective of not only the humans but what the dogs might
have thought during this as well. " </span><span class="Formatted"><br /></span></i></p><p><span class="Formatted">Thank you, lovely reviewers! Comments like these make all the hard work absolutely worthwhile! </span> <br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12019882584997019736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-20575051914946426462023-08-30T14:11:00.002+01:002023-08-30T14:54:11.553+01:00Let's Get Reading!<p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sahKiqDustCPA8ajaPBgZx0eLP66wmQG1OGQbqvQv5orsbYXYRChK748JMfBz5XaPcJI_tDQ-rZ_qSayfDYdopnUTAzQCFMMPRseSZOtJcSp9exCk0LbT-C_Fr4lSHZ8K3li2wveSK9G9eMTLJamfOPbvwBIVXoXvq5WZ6c4fCZ6mWynr6YnlERLKb0/s1127/bookcoverset1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="1127" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sahKiqDustCPA8ajaPBgZx0eLP66wmQG1OGQbqvQv5orsbYXYRChK748JMfBz5XaPcJI_tDQ-rZ_qSayfDYdopnUTAzQCFMMPRseSZOtJcSp9exCk0LbT-C_Fr4lSHZ8K3li2wveSK9G9eMTLJamfOPbvwBIVXoXvq5WZ6c4fCZ6mWynr6YnlERLKb0/w320-h113/bookcoverset1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I have written more than twenty books for young readers from 5 to 14. In the <i>Adventure Island </i>series, you can join young detectives Emily, Scott, Jack and Drift the dog, as they follow clues in classic mystery-solving style. If you like some history with your mystery, why not try <i>Secrets of the Tombs </i>series, and explore world's most intriguing archeological sites with teenage duo Cleo and Ryan, as they solve baffling crimes from both the present day and ancient history. Or, for younger readers, hop aboard the <i>Time Dogs</i> series and travel through time with a lovable pack of canine friends, meeting real-life famous dogs from the past along the way - with lots of fun and adventure guaranteed.<br /></p><br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12019882584997019736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-87601802429442453522023-04-27T17:49:00.002+01:002023-05-12T18:39:16.268+01:00ALL CHANGE<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Dear book friends,<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I'm busy refreshing my website. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Broken links will soon be fixed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Out of date content will vanish.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Shiny new things will appear in their place. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I look forward to welcoming you back soon to the new and improved version.</span><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJob21HcCtp8DN5wKnoMPPgnuSxRTprL3c5KewRmotjVbns464-YHMpdJcSGlNKw51XrPXjc2HfanJ1eXd7Gz4xI9yfQ-Zi9hKdde2BbrAj9GctcFwjweRi5jHl5arnCyFG2ndG6RuW6D2puuOEiFKNg1xL705GQp6lJTiOsoTJaeISvot19DOQML/s3149/newsboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1589" data-original-width="3149" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJob21HcCtp8DN5wKnoMPPgnuSxRTprL3c5KewRmotjVbns464-YHMpdJcSGlNKw51XrPXjc2HfanJ1eXd7Gz4xI9yfQ-Zi9hKdde2BbrAj9GctcFwjweRi5jHl5arnCyFG2ndG6RuW6D2puuOEiFKNg1xL705GQp6lJTiOsoTJaeISvot19DOQML/w400-h201/newsboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12019882584997019736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-68615902348097827312020-11-02T16:48:00.007+00:002023-04-28T14:05:28.329+01:00School Vist Happy Dance Time!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">With so much gloom and uncertainty in the air these days, being invited to visit a school <i>in person</i> was the most enormous bright and shiny burst of sunshine. And this wasn't just any school. This was the wonderful St Marys, Stansted, where the reading superstars in Y5 and Y6 have been reading <i>The Phoenix Code</i> as part of their Ancient Egypt topic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMeEy7-6GevzGtRCj7YEUXVfL8Un1YR7KfMpHpZOT5x38ucAuiq0aotUZHyqcfWwTY2wyFRtG9IeP5jAjyX8e3T6TEYMui0BCj0UJF3O5XATTaiqlqk-Swj98iak1moPOJarigVSzEoAlGhIzJodjw28wOhuPD79w_-7ZexKSbsGIWSLTnDVXMcBC/s320/stmarystorymap1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMeEy7-6GevzGtRCj7YEUXVfL8Un1YR7KfMpHpZOT5x38ucAuiq0aotUZHyqcfWwTY2wyFRtG9IeP5jAjyX8e3T6TEYMui0BCj0UJF3O5XATTaiqlqk-Swj98iak1moPOJarigVSzEoAlGhIzJodjw28wOhuPD79w_-7ZexKSbsGIWSLTnDVXMcBC/s1600/stmarystorymap1.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>There's always a lot of work involved for a school to organise the logistics of an author visit at the best of times - but right now, it's in another league. So I'm hugely grateful to everyone at St Marys for going the extra mile to make it possible - especially to the inspirational Ms Dawson - who made sure that everything ran like clockwork. With all the extra COVID health and safety considerations - distancing and visors and hand-washing and remote book signing orders - that was no mean feat.</p><p>What a treat it was to be back in <i>an actual real school</i>! The children were clearly loving learning, playing, chatting - and reading, together. It was obvious the moment that you walked into the classrooms that they have the most exciting and vibrant of reading cultures. It's a true honour to know that they had all read <i>The Phoenix Code, </i>and so much fun to discuss every plot twist and character arc with classes full of total experts (and a special shout-out here to Sam, who was the super-expert, having read all three in the series). </p><p>The enthusiasm of the class teachers and teaching assistants had really rubbed off on the children - a shining example of what a sharing a book as a reading community is all about. I especially loved how <i>The Phoenix Code</i> was just part of the whole topic, with connections through every subject. </p><p>These beautiful artworks, linked to a quote in the book, brought tears to my eyes (in a good way!</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUshaaZtxKD3oNYWh71HZT-NoxAK3_aXgHbn-eNSapmIBiuPomejDuaN9x6cBbdGutSapbnro5BliprKujlJoms1kvq6n4xs-kHpPFIVED65wma_lsEjGuW9U4vg_pUY1H58dk3nFHtF3ro93X6_JcyaSMJBEnCvnNrr8XXwlZd1x_fXTEsr0JhZ7M/s398/stmarysart1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="398" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUshaaZtxKD3oNYWh71HZT-NoxAK3_aXgHbn-eNSapmIBiuPomejDuaN9x6cBbdGutSapbnro5BliprKujlJoms1kvq6n4xs-kHpPFIVED65wma_lsEjGuW9U4vg_pUY1H58dk3nFHtF3ro93X6_JcyaSMJBEnCvnNrr8XXwlZd1x_fXTEsr0JhZ7M/w400-h198/stmarysart1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br />And, so did these extraordinary pencil drawings, based on the chapter head illustrations by Leo Hartas. The children worked on them while they were listening to the book being read aloud - what a fantastic idea. I think Leo would agree there are some budding book illustrators here.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2nemq8n1VrBVPRgyg_VkkOzCPgzmglM3-Pk98l5sdYVV1cIrL13b-Qlj7otCAeZT2kOZgw5_oRnSGeyuJ04eyehDbWWvJtya_C4gi8qCLghqKmMlpsUyPMwzOJ4GFEwHZj1IiFRChAWtSMtc7pAIu25uPrOHV60KENqeSP8Fk2TVNYlUM6JcHw51/s320/stmarysillo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="320" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2nemq8n1VrBVPRgyg_VkkOzCPgzmglM3-Pk98l5sdYVV1cIrL13b-Qlj7otCAeZT2kOZgw5_oRnSGeyuJ04eyehDbWWvJtya_C4gi8qCLghqKmMlpsUyPMwzOJ4GFEwHZj1IiFRChAWtSMtc7pAIu25uPrOHV60KENqeSP8Fk2TVNYlUM6JcHw51/s1600/stmarysillo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And then there were the most detailed and well-thought-out story maps that I've ever seen . . . I just can't stop looking at these pages of gorgeousness (and this is just a tiny sample - every single one was a wonder.)<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMeEy7-6GevzGtRCj7YEUXVfL8Un1YR7KfMpHpZOT5x38ucAuiq0aotUZHyqcfWwTY2wyFRtG9IeP5jAjyX8e3T6TEYMui0BCj0UJF3O5XATTaiqlqk-Swj98iak1moPOJarigVSzEoAlGhIzJodjw28wOhuPD79w_-7ZexKSbsGIWSLTnDVXMcBC/s320/stmarystorymap1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMeEy7-6GevzGtRCj7YEUXVfL8Un1YR7KfMpHpZOT5x38ucAuiq0aotUZHyqcfWwTY2wyFRtG9IeP5jAjyX8e3T6TEYMui0BCj0UJF3O5XATTaiqlqk-Swj98iak1moPOJarigVSzEoAlGhIzJodjw28wOhuPD79w_-7ZexKSbsGIWSLTnDVXMcBC/s1600/stmarystorymap1.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>Thank you to everyone at St Marys for making me so very welcome in your school and for giving me the wonderful gift of bringing my book to life. My writing batteries have been recharged by your reading energy! <br /></p><p><br /></p><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-46742609880417930542020-03-24T15:16:00.001+00:002023-04-28T14:08:15.940+01:00Uncharted Territory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP65dbXnBKsP54AJsaI7G_dQjhQYVtiWAzsfubRWli-8GtPsOdHqbxWHr-_J2hUHqoXwOdIfEIhVg9fzJAmF0OOqAKAznYiQjIHxmDgdH9eluGBDOg5BJXw89lRMIywiA49VoG9b19sET-uPM8vNSVN16dG77LsY4iXeNyaNCy9Axdthm-fcLC7r7W/s2048/newcoton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP65dbXnBKsP54AJsaI7G_dQjhQYVtiWAzsfubRWli-8GtPsOdHqbxWHr-_J2hUHqoXwOdIfEIhVg9fzJAmF0OOqAKAznYiQjIHxmDgdH9eluGBDOg5BJXw89lRMIywiA49VoG9b19sET-uPM8vNSVN16dG77LsY4iXeNyaNCy9Axdthm-fcLC7r7W/w240-h320/newcoton.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>How is it possible that World Book Day was only a couple of weeks ago?<br />
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I was trekking all over the country, squeezing into busy trains, eating in crowded cafes, meeting hundreds of friendly children, exchanging handshakes, high fives and hugs . . . <br />
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That seems like a lifetime away. The pandemic has swept us all up on a journey that none of us asked to go on; we have no maps, and even our guides aren't quite sure what lies ahead. But like all great explorers, we are going to learn a lot about our world, our fellow
travelers, and especially ourselves as we venture into uncharted territory.<p></p><p>Whether you're at school or learning from home over the next weeks and months, you might find it hard to focus at first, with so many changes and distractions (if you're anything like me, that is!), but soon you'll settle into a new pattern. Enjoy reading widely, writing stories, illustrating stories, sharing stories with your families, or with your friends on-line. Why not try keeping a journal of all the things that happen - it will be SO interesting to look back on when you are older . . . one day you can say to your grandchildren . . . <i>I remember 2020, when schools closed and we had to stay at home and the shops didn't have any toilet rolls!</i></p>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-72359324603117690612020-03-24T15:07:00.000+00:002020-04-06T12:17:32.036+01:00What a Wonderful World (Book Day)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My WBD super-hero costume - can you guess who?*</td></tr>
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. . . or rather, wonderful World Book <i>Week</i>.<br />
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It all got off to a great start, not too far from home, at Bassingbourn Primary School. I loved hearing all about their mystery-themed week, completely with strange goings on in school (who stole the P.E. equipment?) and doing Mystery Masterclasses with Y3 and Y4 - we had fun being criminal masterminds, plotting our almost-perfect crimes, and deciding which pets we wanted to join our detective teams. <br />
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Later in the week I was super-lucky to have back-to-back visits with my two brilliant Patron of Reading schools. First, it was off to Princethorpe Juniors in Birmingham. <br />
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great fun joining in with their "power of reading" super-hero themed
day, judging the classroom door displays - but wow, what a difficult job;
they were all so amazing! <br />
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Followed by reading stories to each class and meeting parents at a reading-together workshop.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrek was one of the stories I read to Y5 and Y6 - and led to lots of discussions about books, stories and film adaptations</td></tr>
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Then at Kensington Community Primary in Liverpool, I worked with my dear old friends in Y6, talking about writing suspense and danger scenes.<br />
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To round off the week was what is always a highlight of the year; a visit to Waterstones in Liverpool with the winners of the book cover competition - two from each Year Group - so that they could all choose a book of their own to keep.<br />
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Finally a very long train journey home to Cambridge and a long lie-down!<br />
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Thank you to all the teachers and support staff for organising the
visits and looking after me so well- here's to the great work you do to promote reading for pleasure all year round. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OF8pcW3RVQ8/XoRZdV-LkYI/AAAAAAAAEdw/ygl9EOzGKh4TzPQq3Xegvz2pU3_wupQzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aliceasemilywbd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OF8pcW3RVQ8/XoRZdV-LkYI/AAAAAAAAEdw/ygl9EOzGKh4TzPQq3Xegvz2pU3_wupQzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/aliceasemilywbd.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VE18-xkwTg/XnkK8mpw9pI/AAAAAAAAEdk/RRAMP6GaMiM-1qoSEVw395D-BRa8ZogDACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wbdoutfit.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VE18-xkwTg/XnkK8mpw9pI/AAAAAAAAEdk/RRAMP6GaMiM-1qoSEVw395D-BRa8ZogDACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wbdoutfit.png" width="240" /></a><br />
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And a special thank you to two fantastic young readers (and their to their mums, for e-mailing me the pictures and giving permission to share them here) for these amazing pictures of their Emily Wild World Book Day costumes.<br />
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The first Emily is Hazel . . . . I love the investigation kit - complete with Emily's initials, and Drift, of course!<br />
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And then, Alice, also with trusty sidekick, Drift, and her magnifying glass at the ready, looking for clues.<br />
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I spotted that you have both picked <i>The Mystery of the Cursed Ruby</i> as your Adventure Island book - I wonder if that's because its' the case where Drift has to carry out the most heroic of rescues to rescue Emily from peril?<br />
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Thank you, Hazel and Alice! You both make perfect Emily Wilds! I hope you had fun on World Book Day and that you found a mystery or two to solve too.<br />
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<i>* In case you didn't guess, I was the greatest super-hero of them all! </i><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-30639689034883640302020-02-28T17:06:00.000+00:002020-02-28T17:07:16.090+00:00Happy World Book Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-90440809923069984162020-01-20T14:59:00.002+00:002023-04-28T14:19:10.455+01:00Stories from Poland<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
I've just returned from my first visit to Poland. It wasn't a research trip for a specific book, but whenever and wherever I travel I'm <i>always </i>on the lookout for stories, and squirrel many of them away as possible inspiration for future books.</div>
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We started out in the capital, Warsaw, where I was fascinated to learn about the Warsaw Uprising in WW2. There is whole museum devoted to it, telling the stories of so many brave people who stood up to the Nazi occupation of their city. People like the poet, Krystyna Krahelska, who volunteered for the dangerous work as both a messenger and a nurse. She wrote the words of <i>Hey Boys, Bayonet on the Gun</i>, which became the most popular song of the uprising. Sadly, she was killed at only 30 years old when rescuing a wounded soldier. Her image lives on in Warsaw - she was the model for a famous statue of the Warsaw Mermaid. </div>
<br />
(Why the symbol of Warsaw is a mermaid when it <i>nowhere near </i>the sea is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid_of_Warsaw" target="_blank">whole other story</a>!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Pomnik_warszawskiej_Syrenki.JPG/1024px-Pomnik_warszawskiej_Syrenki.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Pomnik_warszawskiej_Syrenki.JPG/1024px-Pomnik_warszawskiej_Syrenki.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>Back in December I was lucky enough to meet Elizabeth Wein, who kindly signed a copy of her new book <i>White Eagles </i>for me. <i>White Eagles </i>is also set in Poland in WW2, and is the story of a brave young pilot who has to make a daring escape from Poland after her twin brother is killed. The characters are fictional, but it is based on real events of the time and is a fantastic read - highly recommended.</div>
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We then went to Krakov - home of one of the biggest medieval squares in Europe, gorgeously beautiful - especially festooned with Christmas lights and trees; yes, it's still officially Christmas in Poland - until February 2nd!). From Krakov we went on a very moving trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau. More than a million people, mostly Jewish, as well as those from other communities, such as Roma, were killed in these camps in WW2. If you have read Anne Frank's diary, you will know some of the background to this terrible period of history. It was very difficult to look round a place where so much suffering happened, but it felt important to witness it. There is a quote by the philosopher, George Santayana engraved on a plaque there, which gets to the heart of it:<i> Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.</i></div>
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There were many important books in the bookshop there, all helping us to learn from history. One in particular caught my eye, a children's book (of course!)<i> - Hana's Suitcase, A True Story </i>by Karen Levine. I read it on the way home. It combines the tragic true story of Hana Brady, just one of the many children who died at the camp, with the determined detective work of Fumiko Ishioka, director of Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Centre, who set out to find out the truth behind the owner of the suitcase that had been donated to her centre - one of thousands still kept at Auschwitz. Her search led her to Hana's brother, Georg, who had miraculously survived and eventually emigrated to Canada. <i>Hana's Suitcase</i> is told in a sensitive and accessible way, with many photographs. (The content may be upsetting for very young readers.) </div>
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Back in Krakow I found one last story. On the way to the famous Wawel Castle, I came across this peculiar statue. Ever since writing <i>Time Dogs</i>, I've been obsessed with stories of real dogs in history. Many cities have stories of super-loyal dogs who have sat faithfully waiting for their owners to return, sometimes for years, when those owners have sadly died. There is Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh, Hachiko in Tokyo, and I now discover, <i>Djok</i>, in Krakov. He does look very sad in this statue! Perhaps if I get to write a fifth <i>Time Dogs</i> book, Baxter and the pack could go back to 1991 and cheer poor Djok up a little.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUQ6dYLA116WhSoP666JL0IFiKEG5wto9DyD0X4Ipki73upn1hiYC6Th-0Pt0Zu9mo_IZV8hkgk4Do7JsGoiR57QgIrAmk1ZRqMiDR3d-VIV2ErE9pJJnjoxfxLIXPVj-ZYKfq9BZOnl_gtrswulbFQsH3lonxUSMp0hiRVysFVKABR2VgtQKuly7/s1024/djokthedogstatue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUQ6dYLA116WhSoP666JL0IFiKEG5wto9DyD0X4Ipki73upn1hiYC6Th-0Pt0Zu9mo_IZV8hkgk4Do7JsGoiR57QgIrAmk1ZRqMiDR3d-VIV2ErE9pJJnjoxfxLIXPVj-ZYKfq9BZOnl_gtrswulbFQsH3lonxUSMp0hiRVysFVKABR2VgtQKuly7/s320/djokthedogstatue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(c) Wizzard: public domain</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div>
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<b><br /></b><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-34909834850059029212020-01-07T11:04:00.002+00:002023-04-28T14:50:36.544+01:00Yours Hieroglyphically<br />
Shortly before Christmas I received a fabulous package of letters from Class 5F at Shakespeare Primary School in Leeds, who had been reading <i>The Phoenix Code</i>. I was SOOOO impressed by your writing - both the polite, thoughtful and interesting content, and the neat, clear and stylish presentation. Every letter was enriched with striking artwork that made the letters a pleasure to behold.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihw2gybUgMJC4WHfqX-87BusTMhq7V6qmuP6FtcKUOvC7Nd967ttPnYfYEyS8f0lg_Bp59i02KWRYH0X0X-3BwAQhNDkpGjpItIjNmxwH-lYgBzUsov0P7h3ZFikiTN76sbXAuYrd0FHJiiwKkPmDXin8ci4aApMP1VmfvDI8-LqIzwZ_ibySF7Zk7/s3264/lettersfromshakespeareprimary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihw2gybUgMJC4WHfqX-87BusTMhq7V6qmuP6FtcKUOvC7Nd967ttPnYfYEyS8f0lg_Bp59i02KWRYH0X0X-3BwAQhNDkpGjpItIjNmxwH-lYgBzUsov0P7h3ZFikiTN76sbXAuYrd0FHJiiwKkPmDXin8ci4aApMP1VmfvDI8-LqIzwZ_ibySF7Zk7/s320/lettersfromshakespeareprimary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />
I'm really honoured that you put in so much time and effort to write and tell me that you enjoyed reading <i>The Phoenix Code</i>.
It was a pleasure to write back and answer all your questions. I'm just
sorry I didn't have the time (or talent!) to illustrate my replies as
beautifully as you did.<br />
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I'm always delighted to hear from schools who are reading <i>The Phoenix Code - </i>often to tie in with a topic on Ancient Egypt in Year Five.<br />
<br />
<i>The Phoenix Code</i>
is a loooong book - full of historical intrigue and mystery, so I'm
really impressed by children - and their teachers, of course - who take
it on as a class read. It's quite a commitment!<br />
<br />
When I wrote the <i>Secrets of the Tomb</i>s
series I had readers of 10+ and in mind, so the plot and vocabulary may
be quite for Y5 - although those who have raced through Harry Potter
and other mammoth volumes will have no trouble, of course!<br />
<br />
As
an author, there's simply nothing better than to hear from readers.
It's so great to know that classes that are enjoying following Cleo and
Ryan's adventures as they search for the missing Benben Stone. I hope
you all have an exciting journey and that along the way, the story will
give you some insights into the amazing world of the Ancient Egyptians
too. And I know you'll love Leo Hartas's illustrations, which bring the
story to life, cleverly reflecting the modern day action in the style of
Ancient Egyptian wall paintings. <br />
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Thank you to all the children at Shakespeare Primary who sent me letters, and to your teacher, Ms Fox, who kindly forwarded them to me. Ms Fox also wrote me a lovely letter to say that she had enjoyed reading the book to the children - you can always tell when the teacher is enthusiastic about reading because it really rubs off on the class and sparks something magical. Ms Fox has given me permission to share some of your letters.<br />
<br />
Apologies to everyone whose letter is not shown here - they were <i>all</i> brilliant - but this post would have been nearly as long as <i>The Phoenix Code</i> if I'd put them all in, so I've picked a selection.<br />
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If you are a teacher or a student planning to read <i>The Phoenix Code</i> in your class I'd love to hear from you. I'd be very happy to answer children's questions and reply to letters. You can reach me by email (see the school visits page) or Twitter at @hmadventure.<br />
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First it was off to Capel St Mary Primary near Ipswich. Year 5 have all been reading <i>The Mystery of the Whistling Caves</i>, and it was lovely to chat to so many children who knew all about the characters and setting and plot - they had lots of predictions about who had stolen the Carrickstowe Hoard, so I had to be very careful not to give away any spoilers. These children had all become total mystery experts!<br />
<br />
I loved working with each of the three classes to create new missing treasure mysteries. We came up with three very different, but equally brilliant stories - involving everything from mysterious alien rainbow orbs to ancient Egyptian gold.<br />
<br />
Then it was off to Walsall to Park Hall Junior Academy - my third visit to work with successive Y5's to tie in with their reading of <i>The Phoenix Code</i> for their Ancient Egypt Topic. It was a delight to be back - the enthusiasm for reading and writing for pleasure in this lovely school is a joy to behold. It was great fun to come up with new lost artifacts with legendary powers for Cleo and Ryan to search for on their next adventure - I particularly liked <i>The Silver Potato of Brazil.</i><br />
<br />
By the end of the same week I was back on the road (or rather the rails; my car has been out of action so it was cross-country train time) to one of my other favourite schools, Kensington Primary in Liverpool. - where I'm honoured to be Patron of Reading.<br />
<br />
It was a very busy morning - including the official opening of their new library - it's been beautifully decorated so that it's like walking into a magical enchanted forest. I was proud to cut <a href="https://twitter.com/i/status/1184852197932240896" target="_blank">the ribbon</a> (there's a little video of the moment on the Kensington School twitter feed!) - ably assisted by members of the the Liverpool FC Academy, who stayed on to read with the children. I also spent time chatting about Time Dogs with Y2 and reading them a few chapters, and doing a mystery-book vote with Y4. (The book the children chose (based on the blurb and the first page alone, was <i>A Moon Girl Stole My Friend</i> by Rebecca Patterson - a great read!)<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/KensingPrimary/status/1184785575209029632/photo/3" target="_blank">There are pictures from the Y4 mystery book compeition here and from the </a><a href="https://twitter.com/KensingPrimary/status/1184753324643495936/photo/1" target="_blank">Y2 reading here.</a><br />
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Thank you to all the teachers, teaching assistants and office staff at all the of the schools for organising these visits and making me so welcome.<br />
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If you would like me to come to your school, please see my School Visits page for more information. <br />
</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-55699323235395396092019-09-22T15:38:00.002+01:002023-04-28T15:16:18.729+01:00Book Pen PalsI love the BookPenPals scheme!<br />
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If you've not heard of it, this is what it's all about . . . <br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #351c75;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeCghxqb-yM0Ukic_qKw8ZxVMdO79gV5PsvHEWXlS1ckhqx4crrgqOjNzUUpJ74ADV7I4wEtb9BKBoCohsUm3wjRzJfgBbw6ZxWqwCdQ67VcKn1insO5CCjAvqmRiCTB69onVeoxidSJv4khtRDeQdqhYBXYzq9WMl6_d50-yRdxThRK-sB1meB19/s1446/bookpenpals_logo-1a5d9374ba4be0fe8aec78aaad70b7f1e1dfc09acb4bef96fab6194e8960d5c0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1446" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeCghxqb-yM0Ukic_qKw8ZxVMdO79gV5PsvHEWXlS1ckhqx4crrgqOjNzUUpJ74ADV7I4wEtb9BKBoCohsUm3wjRzJfgBbw6ZxWqwCdQ67VcKn1insO5CCjAvqmRiCTB69onVeoxidSJv4khtRDeQdqhYBXYzq9WMl6_d50-yRdxThRK-sB1meB19/s320/bookpenpals_logo-1a5d9374ba4be0fe8aec78aaad70b7f1e1dfc09acb4bef96fab6194e8960d5c0.png" width="320" /></a></div>"BookPenPals pairs UK authors and illustrators with UK schools to make
book recommendations via postcards. Schools reply with a postcard of
their own. The Pen Pals pairings last for one school year, and the joys
of reading, writing and drawing multiply."</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
Set up by the amazing duo, Kate Scott and Sarah Moorhead, the scheme has been an incredible success, with more and more schools, authors and illustrators signing up. Last year I was delighted to be paired with two lovely schools, one on Merseyside and the other in Lincoln.<br />
<br />
This year I've got three fab newschools; Great Malvern Primary (Y6) and Castlemorton Primary (Y3/4) in Worcestershire and Brownlow Primary (Y6) in Leicestershire.<br />
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I can't wait to get to know my new schools. If there's one thing I like almost as much as reading and writing books, it's talking about books, so this is so much fun! <br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #351c75;">"Authors and illustrators recommend other people’s books to a class, over
the course of a school year. They can also send occasional writing
advice or drawing tips. Schools reply to let their Pen Pals know if
they’ve enjoyed the recommended books. Lovely relationships between
schools and authors/illustrators develop!"</span></span></blockquote>
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I've just written my first postcards - and introductory letters - it's hard to fit everything onto the back of one postcard. They'll go in the post tomorrow. It's always hard to choose which books to pick out of all the amazing books out there, and I like to include a few different options each time - after all, not everyone likes the same kind of book.<br />
<br />
It's a great excuse to read more and more and sneak a few more books into my shopping bag each time I'm out (as if I even needed another excuse!)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bookpenpals.com/" target="_blank">Find out all about Book Pen Pals on their website here. </a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Would you like to know which books I'm recommending this month? </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I'll tell you as soon as I know that the schools have received their postcards - I don't want to give away any spoilers . . . let's just say I couldn't stick to one book, and there's a mystery, a history, a funny one and a dog story . . . </span><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-8538566080717134862019-09-10T13:49:00.003+01:002024-03-18T14:08:52.711+00:00Out Of This World Library Event<br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHms4VWKNk-aigoBxzqvejKdHWBDfVaoswbEumT51t3usWjpfYMfkFJBpFS_n2juBltBmpU1UU3wCYfq4dFCViEiP24F6v2JV-W9OFfbrW2HQgrsOTUiRuCWk8DkpCUV9xtFwzBTN93r_oStHxOBbAEoxh40TM0quuWobNIjuTVU0yQ3kNMy5txm55_aU/s615/Cambridge-Central-Library.webp" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHms4VWKNk-aigoBxzqvejKdHWBDfVaoswbEumT51t3usWjpfYMfkFJBpFS_n2juBltBmpU1UU3wCYfq4dFCViEiP24F6v2JV-W9OFfbrW2HQgrsOTUiRuCWk8DkpCUV9xtFwzBTN93r_oStHxOBbAEoxh40TM0quuWobNIjuTVU0yQ3kNMy5txm55_aU/w320-h213/Cambridge-Central-Library.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Cambridge Central Library was a buzz of bookish activity on Saturday - even more than is usual for a <br />
busy library, that is.<br />
<br />
An entire chapter of authors and illustrators gathered for the SCBWI* Local Author event to meet readers, read stories, and run craft activities and workshops. There was a great quiz and a raffle too, and a chance to buy books and have them signed by their creators.<br />
<br />
<i>*SCBWI=Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (a.k.a. an all-round good thing). </i><br />
<br />
I had a very lovely afternoon catching up with author/illustrator friends, meeting young readers and their families and running an action-packed creative writing workshop in conjunction with Camilla Chester (fantastic author of<i> Jarred Dreams, Eats</i> and <i>Thirteenth Wish</i>).<br />
<br />
To tie in with the <i>Space Race </i>theme of this year's Summer Reading Challenge, the workshop was all about writing stories that are out of this world . . . using a snakes and ladders board template to come up with characters goals and obstacles for a space quest story. The super-imaginative group of kids and adults came up with some brilliant ideas - including the main character - Embers Marshmallow, a girl with fiery superpowers.<br />
<br />
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It was lovely to see a little girl called Maya win copies of <i>Time Dogs</i> (complete with a fluffy collie puppy) in the raffle, and to be able to sign the books for her. I hope she will enjoy them.<br />
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<br />
Thank you to everyone who was involved in organizing this brilliant event, which is fast becoming a favourite fixture in the Cambridge children's literature calendar! Special mentions to organiser-extraordinaire, librarian and SCBWI member, Anita Lehmann, SCBWI regional network organiser, Debbie Edwards, all the library staff who helped, and to Heffers, Cambridge (in the person of Clair!) who ran the book stall.<br />
<br />
Predictably, I came home with a bag of new books by my SCBWI friends!</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-91652227563386216112019-09-01T13:14:00.001+01:002019-09-02T11:25:28.476+01:00Storyteller Update<br />
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My last post was all about The Storyteller - the interactive story-writing show on BBC Radio <br />
Lincolnshire that I've been involved with.<br />
<br />
Back in July I was interviewed on the show by fantastic presented, Ella Wydrzynska, and the first chapter of the story - written by me - was read out.<br />
<br />
Since then, five more great authors have featured on the show, and each has added their own amazing twist to the story with a new chapter. There will be ten in total and in a moment of madness, I've agreed to write the last chapter and try to tie everything together - it's going to be quite a challenge as the story has gone inter-galactic (literally!)<br />
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If you'd like to listen to <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07fb825/clips" target="_blank">the story so far, you can find all the chapters here.</a><br />
<br />
It's impossible to summarise . . The adventure starts out with our main character, twelve year old James, in the sewers beneath Lincoln, but soon involves an inter-galactic band of talking animal super-heroes including Frank the Tracker Badger, Trevor the Crocodile and Gerald the Mouse, who are fighting an an evil pan-dimensional being who is trying to destroy our world (as a school project), James's friends Freya and Jayden, a race to find three magical rings, being trapped in a video game . . <br />
<br />
You can have your say about what should happen next by listening on Sunday afternoons at 2pm and texting in your suggestions. Just don't come up with anything TOO crazy, otherwise I'll have to deal with it in my final chapter . . . who am I kidding? Feel free to come up with the craziest thing you can think of . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-71066248447075397882019-07-19T13:11:00.002+01:002024-03-18T14:33:20.804+00:00The Story TellerI'm delighted to have been invited to appear on BBC Radio Lincolshire this weekend as a guest on a new show called <i>The Story Teller. </i><br />
<br />
The show is hosted by Ella Wydrzynska, the winner of a fantastic competition called <i>Be The One. </i>Contestants had to pitch their idea for a new show and present a sample episode. First prize was to make the whole ten-week series for broadcast. <br />
<br />
Ella's concept, <i>The Story Teller, </i>was a show all about stories, books and reading for children - a subject close to her heart, as she is studying for a PhD in children's literature at Nottingham University. Ella proposed to interview a different writer each week, and - the fun part - to ask each writer to come up with a chapter for an interactive story - based entirely on suggestions sent in by listeners!<br />
<br />
I'm sure you'll agree it's a great idea. Luckily the judges agreed, and Ella won first prize.<br />
<br />I was so happy to be asked to take part in <i>The Story Teller.</i> I've known Ella for a long time. Ever since she was in sixth form and did a course with the amazing Villiers Park and I was an on-line mentor - someone that students could ask for advice or feedback about the careers they were hoping to move into - creative writing/publishing in this case. Over the years, we exchanged e-mails, discussing ideas and options. I really did very little, other than stand back in admiration, as Ella's determination and creativity led her from success to success; from degree to Masters to PhD. Alongside her academic studies, Ella has also built up an impressive portfolio of experience in student radio - which leads back to the Radio Lincolnshire competition.<br />
<br />
So, this Sunday I'm off to Lincoln to be on the show. I'm really looking forward to chance for a good old discussion of children's books. Not least, because I have never actually met Ella in person - although we've chatted by e-mail all these years!<br />
<br />
And then there is the interactive story element. I have the job of writing the first chapter, based on audience suggestions from last week. I won't give too much away, but let's just say that it will feature sewers, a talking crocodile and a dog called Skipper. I've decided that Skipper will look a little like this:<div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYwZFZUYJqduMwwmRP0xPh57hlsLsIXTJ87WDomJV6v38OPcj4DAQ5uqRtqkKF3Eyqfmjptnc_EgIlPA7QhuTUztgSSgenn5Y-eIAjMLXqO9do1csq2CcMEMj9bxJPsyT0T2fq7E4LYEy9l4ibe6NWIVSdoCjkKPIoytPhZVGkRZkbK6mMyuvjsoISg4/s729/Chinese-Crested-On-White-01.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="729" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYwZFZUYJqduMwwmRP0xPh57hlsLsIXTJ87WDomJV6v38OPcj4DAQ5uqRtqkKF3Eyqfmjptnc_EgIlPA7QhuTUztgSSgenn5Y-eIAjMLXqO9do1csq2CcMEMj9bxJPsyT0T2fq7E4LYEy9l4ibe6NWIVSdoCjkKPIoytPhZVGkRZkbK6mMyuvjsoISg4/s320/Chinese-Crested-On-White-01.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Skipper ready for adventure (photograph from American Kennel Club)<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Tune in on Sunday to find out what happens . . . I'll be on from 2-3pm.</div><div><br />
If you've not heard of <a href="https://www.villierspark.org.uk/" target="_blank">Villiers Park, do have a look at their website to find out more.</a> They are a charity committed to equality in educational outcomes, access
to higher education and careers across the UK, with more than 50 years'
expertise, working with 2,000 young people each year.</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-71776700864796379962019-05-22T17:14:00.001+01:002023-05-12T18:44:04.957+01:00The Time Dogs Have LandedToday my author copies of Time Dogs 1 and 2 arrived.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QPZsaFT91NCtacWBIiewNR78MqFyEbs4cwG3apAN2fpEX_Kcg9JhC0-9jISQqHJLba_m3yuXYygqDO1s5rG1m2baJFCUlbAYIbXOhzCLbf2TtKLtNGzAjBn0Y5MzRqre6cAJrvEwZRTCHxNb7jjhqKv6oFdu25zwyLJUVuxn9ZH_ARTFOvJaUC0m/s1280/helentimedogs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QPZsaFT91NCtacWBIiewNR78MqFyEbs4cwG3apAN2fpEX_Kcg9JhC0-9jISQqHJLba_m3yuXYygqDO1s5rG1m2baJFCUlbAYIbXOhzCLbf2TtKLtNGzAjBn0Y5MzRqre6cAJrvEwZRTCHxNb7jjhqKv6oFdu25zwyLJUVuxn9ZH_ARTFOvJaUC0m/s320/helentimedogs2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Nothing beats the feeling of seeing stories that<br />
have lived in your head and in notebooks and in files on your laptop transformed into real books. These are extra-special because they are my very first hardbacks. They are beautifully designed and feature gorgeous illustrations by Misa Saburi on almost every page - she has a lovely style - the pictures are sweet and adorable at the same time as being elegant and timeless. I'm very lucky and grateful to have been able to work with the amazing Laura Godwin and her team at Godwin Books/Henry Holt/Macmillan.<br />
<br />
I loved writing these books. They combine just about all my favourite things; history, adventure, friendship - and, of course, dogs. <br />
<br />
If you would like to see an excerpt of the books you can read the first few pages on the <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250186362" target="_blank">Macmillan Kids website.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>-An exciting new illustrated chapter book series for dog-loving readers!</b><br />
<br />
<b> Time Dogs 1. Balto and the Race Against Time</b><br />
<br />
When a pack of senior dogs find themselves transported back in
time—and turned into puppies!—they must make their way back home,
helping real-life historical dogs along the way. <br />
In this first
adventure, meet Baxter, Trevor, Newton, Titch, and Maia—the time
dogs!—as they find themselves transported through time and space to 1925
Alaska. There, deep in the wilderness, the puppies must help Balto in
his famous sled race to deliver medicine during a diphtheria outbreak.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://images.macmillan.com/folio-assets/interiors-images/9781250186331.IN01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b> Time Dogs 2: Seaman and the Great Northern Adventure</b><br />
<br />
In this second adventure, Baxter, Trevor, Newton, Titch, and Maia—the
time dogs!—find themselves transported through time and space to 1805 on
the Missouri River. There, deep in the wilderness, the puppies must
help Seaman, the dog of legendary explorers Lewis and Clark.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.macmillan.com/folio-assets/interiors-images/9781250186355.IN01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://images.macmillan.com/folio-assets/interiors-images/9781250186355.IN01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The books will only be available in the US to start with, although you can order them via <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Dogs-Balto-Race-Against/dp/1250186331/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1558537742&sr=8-1-fkmrnull" target="_blank">Amazon </a>and other international suppliers. Paperback editions will be published next year. They are also available everywhere on Kindle.<br />
<br />
Maia was very impressed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jipZ_jdfGGg/XOV02A299YI/AAAAAAAAEP8/mELCG9L5ok0kNDZKX0jdSeDN2q3i04sKQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0287.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jipZ_jdfGGg/XOV02A299YI/AAAAAAAAEP8/mELCG9L5ok0kNDZKX0jdSeDN2q3i04sKQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0287.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Storm not so much. <i>I'm a dog, missus, I can't read. Can't you see I'm busy having my afternoon nap?</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yC41AAN4j4w/XOV1JEHt28I/AAAAAAAAEQE/KidWPm0j2ycFoaDRCHZyAbaysrKe2_BrQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0290.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yC41AAN4j4w/XOV1JEHt28I/AAAAAAAAEQE/KidWPm0j2ycFoaDRCHZyAbaysrKe2_BrQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0290.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<i> </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-76402468249266644632019-03-31T15:51:00.000+01:002019-03-31T15:51:08.872+01:00Stories and Salamanders<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tbXiJFBRWcA/XJ85t5TaJ7I/AAAAAAAAEOc/ugMlGvecROATHXanjxyudhpMEeDFEeMMgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_f25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tbXiJFBRWcA/XJ85t5TaJ7I/AAAAAAAAEOc/ugMlGvecROATHXanjxyudhpMEeDFEeMMgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_f25.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Thank you to everyone at Willingham Primary School for making me so welcome at your school when I came to visit last week. I had a great day working with all three Y3/4 classes as well as with a lovely mixed-age group in the morning - where we got to work spinning tales of adventure and magic using my newly created Story Factory - modeled here by Scruffy. Scruffy comes along on all my school visits to dispense cuddles and perform as Drift's stunt double. Well done, everyone, for your brilliant imagination and enthusiasm. <br />
<br />
<br />
And a huge thank you to Willingham Parish Council whose generous donation to the library funded the visit, and to Cambridgeshire Libraries who organised the event - complete with a display of my books at Willingham Library - and especially to top librarian, Wendy Law, for making sure that everything ran smoothly on the day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLsS9gdNQfs/XJ85yfwPhSI/AAAAAAAAEOg/few_2FlhrxQ8Q_oFgNdZhFho12WvqZujwCLcBGAs/s1600/Helen%2BMoss%2Bwillingham%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLsS9gdNQfs/XJ85yfwPhSI/AAAAAAAAEOg/few_2FlhrxQ8Q_oFgNdZhFho12WvqZujwCLcBGAs/s320/Helen%2BMoss%2Bwillingham%2B1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mystery of the Black Salamander was the basis of the Y3/4 workshop - might just explain why I have a salamander on a stick in my pocket!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SMucLUcvds/XJ85yvGr2RI/AAAAAAAAEOk/VxLxkSlAc7AP0TjAZuJa_pBwhJBpvS1IgCLcBGAs/s1600/Helen%2BMoss%2BWillingham%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SMucLUcvds/XJ85yvGr2RI/AAAAAAAAEOk/VxLxkSlAc7AP0TjAZuJa_pBwhJBpvS1IgCLcBGAs/s320/Helen%2BMoss%2BWillingham%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely readers after the book signing. Drift is ready for his basket after a very busy day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-1042824240529733302019-03-18T18:42:00.001+00:002019-04-25T18:56:39.078+01:00World Book Day Round-Up<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hORY8ks-Vgs/XI_h82j3GDI/AAAAAAAAEOE/qVSsWrWz9HEztuEdyiIKDHsPp618adxvwCLcBGAs/s1600/lucyemilycostume.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hORY8ks-Vgs/XI_h82j3GDI/AAAAAAAAEOE/qVSsWrWz9HEztuEdyiIKDHsPp618adxvwCLcBGAs/s320/lucyemilycostume.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy as Emily Wild, complete with investigation kit</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank you for sending in your fantastic pictures of Adventure Island World Book Day costumes - I loved seeing them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_MllDvFTlg/XI_he14COiI/AAAAAAAAEN4/sU_t3mlzlZsw02SEe2ACKOGpCybv2fN6ACLcBGAs/s1600/emilyWBD2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1329" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_MllDvFTlg/XI_he14COiI/AAAAAAAAEN4/sU_t3mlzlZsw02SEe2ACKOGpCybv2fN6ACLcBGAs/s320/emilyWBD2.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a brilliant Drift badge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvbafD_nwqQ/XI_heyhddDI/AAAAAAAAEN0/rWeUQou1cKsA9nCyHQLkHqaL5wYO6fBoACLcBGAs/s1600/WBDlolaasDrift1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="439" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvbafD_nwqQ/XI_heyhddDI/AAAAAAAAEN0/rWeUQou1cKsA9nCyHQLkHqaL5wYO6fBoACLcBGAs/s320/WBDlolaasDrift1.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lola as Drift, with perfect face paint - one black ear, one white with brown spots!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had a great week, with visits to some of my favourite schools.<br />
Here are a few of the things I got up to . . . <br />
<i>Tuesday at Litcham School in Norfolk</i><br />
Led a workshop on travel writing with a Y8 group. Students pitched their ideas for new travel books based close to home, including, <i>Rubbish: One student's quest to throw a piece of litter in every bin in Norfolk</i> and <i>Dave: One student's quest to meet every man called Dave in South West Norfol</i>k. Then we journeyed farther afield. Inspired by extreme quests like Tony Hawkes'<i> Round Ireland With A Fridge</i>, how about <i>From Little Mileham to South Africa with a Sloth</i> <i>but no Sugar.</i> Playing the part of editor, the ideas were so great, I commissioned them all, and sent everyone off on their imaginary travels with super-generous imaginary expenses. I really enjoyed running a poetry workshop on the theme of Home with a Y7 group too - so many great ideas and lots of thoughtful, interesting work. Well done, everyone! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://litchamlibrary.edublogs.org/files/2019/03/Helen-4-1h94rss-23zkoks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://litchamlibrary.edublogs.org/files/2019/03/Helen-4-1h94rss-23zkoks.jpg" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="278" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
There is a lovely write-up of the visit on the <a href="http://litchamlibrary.edublogs.org/2019/03/18/celebrating-world-book-day-with-helen-moss/" target="_blank">Litcham Library blog. </a>Thank you for your kind words, everyone! <br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Wednesday at Princethorpe Junior School in Birmingham (by video!)</i><br />
Recorded a video to play in the WBD assembly tomorrow, announcing the winners of their hundred word story writing competition and reading out the winning story. I got to growl in the voice of a monstrous brute with the head of a lion and the body of a bull and wave a sword around. Well done, Logan! Logan's story can be seen on the Story Showcase on the Young Writers page. As an extra prize I'm going to write a short mystery featuring the winning children as the intrepid investigators.<br />
<br />
<i>Thursday at Coton Primary School near Cambridge</i><br />
Almost cried in assembly. As the children began singing <i>I am the Lord of the Dance </i>I
was ambushed by the accumulated memories of the long-ago nativity
plays, harvest festivals and leavers' assemblies I attended when my sons
were there.<br />
Helped a Y3 class invent tarantula cars
and hedgehog bikes and unicorn planes and a supercars called the
Lamborghini Big Pancake.<br />
Met aY3 girl- called Emily -who had dressed up as Emily Wild. As if
that was not enough joy, her little brother in Y1 was
dressed up as Emily's dog, Drift!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EmCOBBOSSx4/XLh1EHWWkbI/AAAAAAAAEPc/6WhWgCwV3r0VGTNVvEQHKEOyUrpfxkNygCLcBGAs/s1600/cotonWBDdrift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EmCOBBOSSx4/XLh1EHWWkbI/AAAAAAAAEPc/6WhWgCwV3r0VGTNVvEQHKEOyUrpfxkNygCLcBGAs/s320/cotonWBDdrift.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Drift the dog!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Friday at Kensington Primary School in Liverpool</i><br />
Accompanied
the head and seven children - one winner per year group of the 'design
a book cover for your favourite book' competition - to choose their
very own book prize in lovely Liverpool Waterstones. <br />
Created
dangerous writing suspense scenes with Y6 - including much discussion
of hero cats, killer hamsters, ninja dogs, being sucked into TVs,
exploding cities, failing WIFI signal . . . the list goes on!<br />
<br />
<i>Saturday at home</i><br />
Collapsed in a heap on the sofa . . . with a good book of course!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-52225225249167330962019-02-26T11:26:00.003+00:002019-02-26T11:26:40.198+00:00Travel Time<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KUCNkEWGFPE/XG3EU3MdJCI/AAAAAAAAEL8/LVWNJTfAsX8g6u0b-3c_jqUgXErfB8ZhgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_ee2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KUCNkEWGFPE/XG3EU3MdJCI/AAAAAAAAEL8/LVWNJTfAsX8g6u0b-3c_jqUgXErfB8ZhgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_ee2.jpeg" width="240" /></a>How lucky am I? I've always wanted to go to Australia and here I am
having a lovely time on the beautiful beaches of the Sunshine Coast and
exploring the city of Brisbane. We came home via Thailand (I know, I
told you I was lucky!) where my brother and his family live. <br />
<br />
Holidays mean long journeys, which I love because that means lots of time for reading too. I really enjoyed Hilary McKay's <i>The Skylark's Wa</i>r and Bai Rai's <i>Now or Never</i>. I'd thoroughly recommend both of them <br />
<br />
Whenever I'm on my travels I always like to pop into the local bookshops
to say hello. I left with a pile of books by Australian author from a lovely independent bookshop in Brisbane with the great name, <i>Where The Wild Things Are.</i><br />
<br />
I'm
home again now. Back to snowdrops and surprisingly warm Spring sunshine
and happy dogs. And back at my writing desk . . . I feel some new
stories coming on.<br />
<br />
Australian scenes . . .<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pSaXqJL308/XHUhAUgX-7I/AAAAAAAAENI/JNePQx4FcGQVJKJH3BN_CIOU7eGCegcawCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/fullsizeoutput_eed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pSaXqJL308/XHUhAUgX-7I/AAAAAAAAENI/JNePQx4FcGQVJKJH3BN_CIOU7eGCegcawCPcBGAYYCw/s400/fullsizeoutput_eed.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brisbane skyline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-75h5b7Zb7x4/XG3GLQWvIqI/AAAAAAAAEMI/rTMKOSgAuL0C_769zbOgWwiJcMc6_VkQQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_ee5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-75h5b7Zb7x4/XG3GLQWvIqI/AAAAAAAAEMI/rTMKOSgAuL0C_769zbOgWwiJcMc6_VkQQCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_ee5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A surfer heading for the waves on a beautiful empty beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjxkJGwU99o/XG72RDe3peI/AAAAAAAAEMs/1AezB8EvqngV4dBuAeth9N17YGacB__tgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_ee8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1335" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjxkJGwU99o/XG72RDe3peI/AAAAAAAAEMs/1AezB8EvqngV4dBuAeth9N17YGacB__tgCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_ee8.jpeg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging around at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary</td></tr>
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<br />
Home again . . .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOC344hINS8/XHUfLnmD_dI/AAAAAAAAEM8/py2ED9-H1mYhTv5QGdszbOHctnC9yYe9wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_9593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOC344hINS8/XHUfLnmD_dI/AAAAAAAAEM8/py2ED9-H1mYhTv5QGdszbOHctnC9yYe9wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_9593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice photo-bomb, Storm!</td></tr>
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<br />
My Australian book haul . . .<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-64993276302730512572019-01-14T21:12:00.003+00:002019-01-14T21:30:47.926+00:00Happy New Year<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Eve - Santa has been!</td></tr>
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After a festive season full of family, food and fun I'm back at my desk finishing the first draft of Time Dogs 4 and looking forward to the first two school visits of term next week.<br />
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I love the beginning of a new year. It's like opening a new notebook, the umpire's whistle at the start of a netball match or waking up to freshly fallen snow. That blank page demands my neatest handwriting. That whistle reminds me to play better than last time. Fresh snow invites running around and snow angels.<br />
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This year I'm planning to start writing something new. I have lots of ideas but I don't know which one I'll run with yet. I'm going to set myself some big physical challenges. I'll maybe climb a mountain or run a marathon - I haven't decided yet. I'm going to travel to some far-off places. I'll be looking out for great stories ideas all the while. <br />
<br />
Travel will be the theme for 2019. Time travel to be precise! In June the first two books in my new <i>Time Dogs</i> series will publish in the USA. They're all about a group of canine friends who accidentally discover a time machine and zoom off through time and space on some extraordinary adventures - meeting real dogs from history along the way. These stories have already had a long and winding journey from the initial idea several years ago, so I'm hugely excited (and nervous!) that they will soon be<i> real actual books.</i> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time Dogs One</td></tr>
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Would you like a sneak peak at Books 1 and 2? Of course you would! You're in luck - you can see the covers and the first few pages here on the <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250186331" target="_blank">Macmillan website.</a><br />
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I'm so delighted and honoured to have been paired with the brilliant illustrator, Misa
Saburi. Misa has brought the stories to life with gorgeous line drawings that
capture the characters and action perfectly. I love the way she drawn the dogs - the balance of cuteness and realism is just lovely. I couldn't have asked for more.<br />
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<i><b>Happy New Year. </b></i><br />
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Wishing you joy and peace and success and fun in everything you do this year - even if it includes time travel!<br />
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Here's to new notebooks and fresh snow!<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-65857256688810632752018-11-21T19:40:00.001+00:002018-11-21T19:40:07.338+00:00School Visit Round-upI've had some lovely school visits this term, including a return visit to the fantastic Park Hall Junior Academy in Walsall, where I spent a lovely day talking about Ancient Egypt and creating new long-lost artefacts with Y5. Thank you to everyone for making me so welcome, and especially to Ms Ragdale for organising the visit.<br />
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I've also been back to the wonderful Litcham School where I'm lucky enough to be Author in Residence. In the morning, several groups of Y2, Y3 and Y4 students from some of the surrounding primary schools came in for a combined creative workshop. We invented supervehicles with animal powers and made up stories about them. In the afternoon it was back to Ancient Egypt with the fantastic Golden Eagles class - venturing into the tomb of Phraraoh Smenkhkare. As always a special thank you to librarian extraordinaire Cathy Berry for organising it all and looking after me.<br />
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Here are just a few of the amazing animal supervehicles we invented.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beatrice's Bee Bike won the prize book</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H_W6vCEbcnI/W_Wyd5C791I/AAAAAAAAEKg/A3nYlSQqK-UsbreYx4v5FE2XJ5yWetJhACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_d9c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H_W6vCEbcnI/W_Wyd5C791I/AAAAAAAAEKg/A3nYlSQqK-UsbreYx4v5FE2XJ5yWetJhACLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_d9c.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Meg-Lab</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Super Snail Car</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjAdJlL2UAk/W_WyeI1bBvI/AAAAAAAAEKk/QAhC7Eq2sDQSro5TTYIHLH0n-miyehXVwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_d9d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjAdJlL2UAk/W_WyeI1bBvI/AAAAAAAAEKk/QAhC7Eq2sDQSro5TTYIHLH0n-miyehXVwCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_d9d.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Octodragon </td></tr>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-53308256087724297432018-10-03T18:40:00.000+01:002018-10-30T14:01:44.234+00:00October 4th is National Poetry Day . . . Which makes it the perfect day to share some brilliant poems by students at Litcham School in Norfolk <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thinking about home</i></td></tr>
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I'm not a poet, but I love poetry, so I was delighted to be asked to spend a day creating poems with a Y7/8 group at Litcham - where I've been lucky enough to be Author in Residence for the last two years. <br />
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I had lots of discussions with the wonderful Litcham librarian, Cathy Berry, about the content of the workshop. We wanted to tie in with the theme of homelessness that the students had been focusing on. Around the same time I saw an announcement for the Betjeman Poetry Prize - a national competition for young people, with the theme of PLACE. <i>There's no place like home,</i> I thought . . . and we went from there.<br />
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The workshop brought together the two strands of home/homeless and a sense of place. The students were fantastic, responding to the prompts in such a thoughtful way, and entering into wide-ranging discussions about what home means to us, what it means to not have a home,
and the places where we feel most at home vs. not at home at all. Once we got writing, everyone had their own take on the home/place theme -varying from funny to fantastical to political to joyful to extremely moving.<br />
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There is a lovely write-up about the workshop <a href="http://litchamlibrary.edublogs.org/2018/05/16/workshop-with-helen-moss-on-the-theme-of-place/" target="_blank">on the Litcham Library blog.</a> <br />
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Having generated the kernels of the poems in the workshop, students then continued to work on them in school over the following weeks (thank you, teachers!) and Cathy sent some to me for feedback.<br />
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When I received a big bundle of all the final poems I was overwhelmed. I cried more than once as I read them. It was amazing to see the final versions that had blossomed from the first seeds in the workshop, the way they had grown and changed (and, in some cases how lines had been just right from the start and had not changed at all.)<br />
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None of the poems made it onto the Betjeman Prize shortlist but that didn't stop us having our own competition. It was really hard to pick winners, but I finally managed to narrow it down to two that I thought captured the home/place theme most powerfully. I had great fun selecting book prizes that were a match for these two talented writers. <br />
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So . . . this is the good part! Here are the winning poems.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Summer Scenes: Beetley River </b><br /><br /><br />When the weather's hot, the rivers are low.<br /><br />A daring trout leaps high to catch a helpless mayfly.<br /><br />Dace and chub's silver sides<br /><br />Twinkle like stars underneath the water's surface,<br /><br />And pike stalk the deep holes where the roach hide.<br /><br /><br /> Where the river widens, the water slows.<br /><br />Lily pads release seamless ripples,<br /><br />As frogs leap from one to another.<br /><br />Dragonflies prance from reed to reed,<br /><br />Looking for a partner to waltz with.<br /><br /><br /> Where the willow arches and sweeps.<br /><br />A resilient bumblebee struggles to keep airborne,<br /><br />Weighed down by pollen.<br /><br />Red admirals spread their wings<br /><br />To absorb the last of the day's sunrays.<br /><br />And a lone iridescent kingfisher<br /><br />Flits homeward from deep within the bridge.</span><br />
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<i><br />by Leo Bodiam </i><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Prize: The Old Man and the Sand Eel, by Will Millward</span></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Sibling Stuff</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Half drunk cups of tea,<br /><br />Rucked up bed sheets,<br /><br />Star Wars posters hanging on the wall,<br /><br />Dirty clothes thrown in a heap.<br /><br /><br />View of the street below,<br /><br />Cars flying past the window,<br /><br />Rain pattering on the glass.<br /><br />How has the time gone so fast?<br /><br /><br />Memories of tickle fights,<br /><br />Sibling arguments,<br /><br />The good times and the bad,<br /><br />Seem such a long way from now. <br /><br /><br /> Running down the park,<br /><br />Playing cricket in the sun,<br /><br />Chasing each other round the house,<br /><br />Fighting over who had won.<br /><br /><br /> But now you're all grown up,<br /><br />Off to start a new life: good luck,<br /><br />I hope I will see you soon,<br /><br />To remember the sibling stuff,<br /><br />And do it all again.<br /><br /><br /> <i>by Ashleigh Beale</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Prize: The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle by Victoria Williamson</span></span></i><br />
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Congratulations to Liam and to Ashleigh. I love both these poems - so very different, but both with great depth of feeling, beautifully expressed. And well done to <i>everyone </i>who took part in the workshops and wrote poems. It was a joy to work with you and a privilege to read your writing.<br />
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<a href="https://www.betjemanpoetryprize.co.uk/" target="_blank">Find out more about the Betjeman Poetry prize and read the finalists' entries here . . .</a><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-84864022165659200022018-08-31T12:48:00.006+01:002023-04-30T15:51:34.058+01:00The Writer's MapI
love maps - faded old maps, shiny new maps, everyday street maps, maps
of extraordinary expeditions, maps of imaginary worlds in the pages of
books . . .<i> </i><br />
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<a href="https://tmm.chicagodistributioncenter.com/IsbnImages/9780226596631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="large_jacket" height="400" src="https://tmm.chicagodistributioncenter.com/IsbnImages/9780226596631.jpg" title="The Writer’s Map (High Resolution)" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
So, I was very excited to be asked to contribute an essay to a fantastic and beautiful new book, <i>The Writer's Map</i>: <i>An Atlas of Imaginary Lands</i>. It's edited by Huw Lewis-Jones, and it includes pieces by the most incredible line-up of authors - some you might just recognize! I can hardly believe that my name is casually hanging out in such an illustrious list!<br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsP3ckvXbiMME4A9MRTN0vsvT86Rf0XhBJtV0iAtdq0NyExtN35GHUQzjwOsWL3EFXcP7YMX9rZNjoNbdqrZWxcmzSd-4Cx0-AgQQVsW0P5irch0MULl0nlaH_1aNtDXWm8q_F1wt8w9xnlPs8B_NehFp1ete_OFfa51ZKMOr3JvHQOuTRO0VUIuf/s474/writersmapbackcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="474" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsP3ckvXbiMME4A9MRTN0vsvT86Rf0XhBJtV0iAtdq0NyExtN35GHUQzjwOsWL3EFXcP7YMX9rZNjoNbdqrZWxcmzSd-4Cx0-AgQQVsW0P5irch0MULl0nlaH_1aNtDXWm8q_F1wt8w9xnlPs8B_NehFp1ete_OFfa51ZKMOr3JvHQOuTRO0VUIuf/s320/writersmapbackcover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It's all down to the lovely maps of Castle Key that appear in all the
Adventure Island, of course. They are drawn by Leo Hartas, and I can't
tell you how much I love them. In <i>The Writer's Map,</i> you can see
my original scrappy sketch of Castle Key - the one that Leo had to work
from to produce the lovely final version. You can also find out what
maps mean to me and why I love them so much.<br />
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<i>The Writers' Map</i> will be published in October by Thames & Hudson and by the University of Chicago Press in America<br />
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I can't wait to read the articles by all the other writers - and to pore over all the maps, of course! I think I'll be buying extra copies for Christmas presents for all my map-loving family and friends too.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173711972361685637.post-76995066998664301392018-05-28T12:14:00.005+01:002024-03-18T14:57:51.351+00:00If you like Adventure Island you'll love . . . The other day I had some fantastic book post (the best kind of post!) when the lovely people at Laurence King publishers sent me a copy of a brilliant new book they've just bought out. <br /><br />
They thought <i>Adventure Island </i>readers might like to hear about <i>Hoakes Island.</i><br />
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I'm pretty sure they're right!<br />
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If you enjoy<i> Adventure Island</i> (and/or <i>Secrets of the Tombs</i>) it's a safe bet that you are a big fan of mysteries. I'm guessing you really like maps, and brilliant illustrations and working out clues. Like me, you probably love animals too.<br />
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Well, <i>Hoakes Island</i> has ALL THESE THINGS!<br />
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<i>Hoakes Island, by Helen and Ian Friel </i>is an interactive mystery packed full of riddles and codes and puzzles you have to figure out in order to save Hoakes Island park (and the amazing animals that live there) from from being destroyed. It's a great mystery story and is beautifully illustrated. Best of all, your guide through the puzzle is a talking anteater (and genius) called Rita. If you've read <i>The Serpent King</i>, you'll remember Shadow, so you know how much I love anteaters! Hoakes Island comes complete with a big fold-out map so you can plot the trail of clues and a special magnifying glass.<br />
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This is a really special book. There's so much to look at and do and find. Some of the puzzles are quite tricky, so it will keep you busy for hours - perfect for a long journey or a rainy weekend!<br />
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I'm going to have to keep a very careful eye on my copy in case Emily gets hold of it. I'm only halfway through and I can't wait to finish solving the mystery.<br />
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<a href="http://www.laurenceking.com/en/category/children-s/hoakes-island-a-fiendish-puzzle-adventure-1/" target="_blank">You can find out more about it and order a copy here. </a><br />
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All this got me to thinking about other books that <i>Adventure Island </i>and <i>Secrets of the Tombs</i> readers might like. So I've started a list - just a few ideas for now - I'll add more soon, including some that aren't mysteries (I do read other kinds of books sometimes too!) <br />
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Have you read any great books you think other readers would like? Why not send me your recommendations (helen@castlekey.org.uk). I'll add them to this list. If you can add a few words about what you think is so special about the book that would be even better. We could start a whole new book-share page . . .<br />
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<b>Mysteries</b><br />
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<i><b>Historical</b></i><br />
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Murder Most Unladylike Series by Robin Stevens<br />
The Sinclair's Mysteries by Katherine Woodfine<br />
Lady Grace Mysteries by Grace Cavendish<br />
The House of Eyes series by Patricia Elliott<br />
The Ghosts of Shanghai series by Julian Sedgwick<br />
The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence<br />
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<i><b>Modern</b></i><br />
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The Laura Marlin Mysteries by Lauren St John<br />
The Marsh Lane Mysteries by Elen Renner<br />
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd<br />
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson<br />
The Children of Castle Rock by Natasha Farrant<br />
The Model Under Cover series by Carina Axelson<br />
Eats by Camilla Chester<br />
The Secret Breakers series by H L Dennis<br />
The Spy Dog series by Andrew Cope<br />
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<i><b>Classic</b></i><br />
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The Famous Five, Five Find-Outers and Dog and Mountain of Adventure series by Enid Blyton<br />
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper<br />
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<i><b>Interactive</b></i><br />
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle">Maths Quest: The Museum of Mysteries by David Glover</span></div>
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