Thank you to all the schools I visited over the months of February and March 2014! It was fantastic, and I hope you are all inspired. I was delighted to receive so many beautiful thank you letters – here are some (or actually loads) from Cippenham Infant School – thank you! Happy drawing and writing 😉

Thank you to all the schools I visited in March on and around World Book Day! Some really inspiring work was produced, and there are some very talented young illustrators and writers!

Thank you Abbots Ripton School for such a warm welcome when I visited your school in October. Most of the children wore their wellies to school which made it extra special and got everyone in the spirit straight away. I had a wonderful time and I loved receiving some of your stories you developed. Well done! Keep up the great work!

Marta Altes 'No' winner of 'Read it Again' 2012

It was wonderful to be nominated for the Cambridge ‘Read it Again Picture Book Award‘ for The Boy Who Hated Toothbrushes. I had a great trip up to Huntingdon, first with a school visit at Holywell Primary School, and then for the ceremony. It is another special award voted by children. About 5,000 children voted, so that many kids read all the 8 books nominated. Brilliant.

It was also fabulous meeting some really lovely and talented illustrators, including the amazing Chris Haughton (who won it last year and presented the award). And especially well done to the brilliant Marta Altes who won the award for her truly charming book ‘No’. SO well deserved. And thank you all the children who voted – hope you enjoyed it – although my hand was really aching after all that drawing and signing afterwards! I hear a lot of them would like to be illustrators or authors – watch this space!

The Heart of Hawick Picture Book Award is a very special award as only children can vote. It was great to see so many children take part and they had worked so hard in the build up of the event, making films and animations. I met some really lovely people. And what was even more amazing was that my book won the Picture Book Category! I was totally gobsmacked to have won, and I was really not expecting it so thank you! It made the 5am start from Epsom to Scotland all worth while! And thank you Lari Don (last year’s winner) for comparing the event so well! And thank you all the children for taking part and voting – you were fabulous too. Hope you are all inspired. x

11am Saturday 19th May, Waterstones, Kingston

I will be signing my new book, The Girl Who Loved Wellies, at Waterstones in Kingston at 11am on Saturday 19th May. And you can do a bit of drawing too! There will be a ‘design your own wellies’ competition where you could win a £10 gift voucher.

12.30pm Thursday 12th April, Waterstones, Wimbledon

I will be signing my new book, The Girl Who Loved Wellies, at Waterstones in Wimbledon at 12.30pm on Thursday 12th April. If you’re stuck for something to do over the Easter holidays, please come along! And if it’s raining, bring your wellies!

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayDetailEvent.do?searchType=2&store=254|WATERSTONE%27S%20WIMBLEDON%20BRIDGE&sFilter=1

Fantastic! The Boy Who Hated Toothbrushes is shortlisted for both The Cambridge Read it Again Picture Book Award and the Heart of Harwick Children’s Book Award.

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/children/earlyyearsbooks/readitagain.htm

http://www.bgtrustonline.com/sponsorship/news-and-promotions/the-heart-of-hawick-childrens-book-awards.aspx

The children in Reception did some amazing work creating their own magical tooth sparklers! Thank you for making it so fun and inspiring!

A bird

A fire engine

A wolf with lots of legs