Surprising secondary school librarians who run Swindon’s Youth Festival of Literature
Hi guys. I hope you had a good January. So here’s my monthly update. I have a few exciting things to share with teachers and librarians.
As you may know, I illustrate the front covers of the UK School Library Association’s quarterly magazine: TSL (The School Librarian). The magazine is a great resource and source of inspiration for School Librarians or anyone involved or interested in literacy, education and newly published books for young people. Many of you reading this are possibly members of the UK School Library Association and therefore receive their magazine. My cover illustrations for this brilliant magazine include real school librarians. In fact, this time last year I surprised a group of secondary school librarians by revealing my cover illustration of them at an event at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) in London. Well, now you can nominate someone to feature in my cover illustration! In January I received around 12 nominations. Whether or not I can illustrate every nominee remains to be seen, but I’ll try! I’ve just finished illustrating the spring cover which features a school librarian some of you reading this may know. She is a much-loved super champion for school libraries and young readers. I like to keep my cover illustrations under wraps until their printed so therefore it’s a complete surprise for the librarian. Oh, I should add that your nomination can be a school librarian, a teacher, a teacher’s assistant, a support worker or anyone that champions children’s books in a primary or secondary school setting. After all, not all school’s have government funded libraries!
To nominate someone, go here.
The TSL magazine is free to members of the the UK’s School Library Association. To find out more, go here.
In other January news, Rainbowsaurus won the School Reading List’s title of Best Children’s Picture Book 2024! What makes this really special is that it was a public vote. I really didn’t expect to win. Thank you to everyone who voted for Rainbowsaurus.
Also, I visited a school who named a class after me and was pleased to see that its shining example of how to foster of love of books was covered by regional news. You can read the article here.
photo credit: Max Mumby
I also had the pleasure of holding a creative storytime session at a recently relocated Prospect Hospice charity bookshop. Prospect Hospice has provided the only dedicated end-of-life care service for people living across north east Wiltshire including Swindon, Marlborough and Royal Wootton Bassett as well as Fairford and Lechlade in Gloucestershire. They exist because of the generosity and support of thier amazing local communities.
Speaking of charities, Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh read my picture book The Queen’s Handbag during a special visit to Treloar School and College, a specialist education centre for young disabled people. The Duchess is Patron to the Treloar’s Trust, a charity that provides outstanding education, therapy and care to physically disabled young people and empowers them to live more independent and fulfilling lives.
In local news, I visited Wroughton Library, a little known gem of a community library that really packs a punch. I plan on returning this summer for an exciting Chitty Chitty Bang Bang activity.
I am going to visit Beechcroft Library on the 20th of Feb at 10:30am and the same day I’ll be visiting Swindon’s Story Shed in the Brunel Plaza at 1:30pm.
That’s all for now! Have a great month. I’ll be back on this site to post an update at the start of March.