Children's Book Week: Holly Webb and the Oxfordshire Book Award

On Wednesday during Children's Book Week we welcomed "Rose" author Holly Webb.

She started off at Cholsey Primary School, talking to the girls there about her life as first an editor, and then author. Along the way she revealed some of her favourite books (such as 'The Little Princess', and possibly her favourite book, CS Lewis' 'The Horse and His Boy'), and telling the children to read, read, read if they wanted to be writers.

She had even brought along the manuscript of the fourth 'Rose' book to show the children and tell them what it's like to be an editor (which Holly used to be) and an author (which is what she is now).

And then Holly read examples of the children's writing in a very interactive session. Several of the girls had written pieces inspired by books they had read about the blitz (in fact, there was a fantastic display of writing up based on both Michael Morpurgo's Friend or Foe, and Henry Moore's Shelter Drawings). Holly was able to join in as the class advised on aspects of the writing that worked well - or could have been improved. Kudos to Holly - and also to the girls who allowed their work to be scrutinised by the class.

And then Holly signed copies of her books:

We then hightailed it across the countryside to Abingdon, where we spent a wonderful afternoon with children from Rush Common School. Some great questions from the children (there seemed to be an awful lot of budding writers at the school!):

Holly then came back to the shop before catching the train home...


The following day we were at Abingdon School for the annual Oxfordshire Book Award. We did this last year - and it is a wonderful celebration of the best children's writing, with some fantastic authors turning up to receive their awards - voted on by children in schools across Oxfordshire...

This year, authors included Michael Morpurgo, Rachel Ward, Marie-Louise Jensen, Nick Sharrat and Jill Arbuthnott.

It was an intense affair, with lots of children all wanting to meet the authors, but I did manage to slip out from behind the bookstall and meet the authors, including the great man himself (not that I'm a fan or anything...let's hope I didn't come over *too* starry-eyed...)

It was a great Children's Book Week for us, (we ended the week tired but happy). The best thing about school events is when the children come into the shop to tell you how much they enjoyed meeting the authors...and fired up to read more of their books.

Next up for us...Gervase Phinn on Oct 25, and then the return of the Mostly Bookbrains Literary Quiz for charity...

Stripey Tiger Super Tour at Carswell School

National Children's Book Week this week and - fools that we are - we were involved in five seperate events in and around Abingdon. All fantastic - and we kicked off Tuesday with the brilliant David Roberts and Guy Bass, part of Little Tiger Press' Stripey Tiger Super Tour, who arrived at Carswell School Abingdon in some style:

 

An ordinary VW Sharan magically transformed into the Tigermobile. We planned their arrival for when the children were in the playground, and - health and safety cones suitable arranged - the Tigermobile arrived bearing the two authors. They were met by teacher Debbie Emsen, and members of the school council:

Who then posed for the camera:

Guy and David then addressed a specially-convened school assembly to give a hint of the mayhem that was to follow:

The school split up - years 1,2 and 3 stayed in the hall with David, years 4,5 and 6 headed off down to the Dining Hall. David began by giving a reading of "Dirty Bertie" with some help from the kids.

Did they enjoy this? The following short, but informative film, may give you a hint:

Meanwhile, over at the Dining Room, Guy was talking about his book "Secret Santa: Agent of X.M.A.S. (short for 'Xtremely Mysterious Agency of Secrets', just in case you are not inducted yet):

Here Guy talks with the children about Christmas presents - in particular, ones that they might have received which were 'pants'...

He then read some extracts from the book...

Back to the main hall, and David was attempting to give 90 children a masterclass in drawing Bertie and his dog Whiffer. Armed with pens and paper, the children were enthralled and totally mesmerised. 

Meanwhile, Guy split his group into two teams, with two potential new X.M.A.S recruits. Kitted out in top-of-the-range 'elf' agent costumes and ray guns, the two groups raced to decipher a code to reveal one of Santa's most deadliest enemies...

...The Easter Bunny! Reunited after the main event, Guy and David signed books for the children, and posed with the suitably awed bookseller.

The feedback from the school has been fantastic, and it was a great start to the week for us. David, Guy and 'Laceytiger' Lauren jumped into the Tigermobile, and after managing to navigate the torturous Abingdon traffic system (largely closed off for the Michaelmas Fair), the sped off down the A34 en route to Wales for the next leg...