March - Libraries Comp, TSL Cover, 'We Can!' Book Tour and a Look Back at World Book Day Week
Hi guys!
So where do I even start? I guess I will start with what I feel is the most exciting news - this month I revealed which school librarian made it onto my cover illustration of this spring’s TSL Magazine. The TSL (The School Librarian) is the UK School Library Association’s quarterly magazine. As many of you will know by now, the school librarian featured on this seasons cover is none other than the marvellous Karen King. Karen was nominated by Sara. This is some of what Sara had to say about Karen.
So far I’ve surprised over 30 school librarians with my cover illustrations.
Karen has been a librarian for many years at a neighbouring secondary school in my area - Beckfoot Oakbank. Karen goes above and beyond helping students. She is also very busy on the Secondary School Librarians Facebook page, offering advice, information and often emotional support to other school librarians up and down the country.
And here she is on the cover! I couldn’t resist including myself and Mr Panda in his new costume (look out for a cover reveal on my socials for the ninth Mr Panda book!).
On to my next bit of library news. As you may know, I do a lot here in my hometown with Swindon Libraries - whether state-funded or community-funded. There are 14 altogether. Every year I run a creative competition for library card holders in the borough, and this year will be my 10th! I regularly meet with my good friend, Outreach Librarian Debbie, to discuss fun ways of attracting more families to their local library. This year we met to discuss the competition is Swindon Story Shed: a community-focused bookshop and creative arts hub. Here is a list of all the annual creative competitions we’ve launched over the years. In no particular order…
Design a Doughnut
Design Mr Panda’s Hat
Draw What You Would Like to be When You Grow Up
Make a Marvellous Monster
Create a Planet
Create a Colourful Creature
Make a Pair Of Silly Socks
Make a Robot
You Can Create a Picture Book Cover
Outreach Librarian Debbie and I meet regularly to organise activities for the community.
So now we need a title for the 10th competition. We have already decided the theme: underwater. So mermaids, submarines, sea life, magical water wildings. Anything underwater. Debbie and I need help with the title so we’ve invited library members to come up with ideas. If you can think of a cool title, maybe a fun alliteration, feel free to get in touch here or via my socials! Debbie and I will launch the completion in Swindon later this year. Over the years We have seen thousands of entries.
March saw World Book Day. Over the course of World Book Day Week (as it’s commonly called by authors and illustrators) I had the pleasure of visiting five different schools including Radnor House, Hayes Park, Loddon Primary, Brookhurst Primary and Speenhamland School. I also visited the not-for-profit travelling bookshop, Swindon Story Shed. I saw some pretty impressive World Book Day costumes. My favourite was of Alexis Deacon’s Beegu character, which I spotted at Radnor House. I had the pleasure of meeting several teachers and school librarians including Katie, Kay, Loll (Loll Kirby is also an author - check out her work here), Sandra and Florence. This was my tenth World Book Day as a published author and illustrator. It’s one of my favourite times of year. It’s pretty amazing to see children dressed up as my characters (and my friend’s characters). Thanks to all the teachers for the great converastions and keeping me caffienated. If you are a teacher or school librarian and would like to book me for your school during World Book Day week press here.
The followjng week I took part in a Booktrust panel discussion about the importance of representation in early years children’s books alongside author Patrice Lawrence, Children’s Lauraete Wales Alex Wharton and Sioned Jones, Director of Booktrust Cymru. Booktrust’s new Writer in Residence Camilla Reid also gave a talk.
March also saw the start of the ‘We Can!’ tour which Alex Strick and I launched at the Farnham Literary Festival - we visited two schools including William Cobbet School where I met school librarian Caroline and her little librarian bear. Several days later Alex and I drove all the way to Salford in Greater Manchester to meet Martha from Salford’s National Literacy Hub and visited two schools, Lewis Street Primary School and St Joseph’s. Lewis Street Primary School’s Head Teacher showed us the school’s new library space which was funded by the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Libraries for Primaries’ initiative. Alex and I visited the National Literacy Trust’s Swindon Hub last year and were keen to work with the NLT again to take our tour to disadvantaged areas.
Near the end of the month I had the absolute honour of becoming an ‘Author Champion’ for Primary Pupil Library Assistant Winner, Darcie, at the UK Pupil Library Assistant of the Year 2025 Award Ceremony at the Pearson building in London. It was wonderful to celebrate all the young library champions and meet their proud families. Below is a picture of all the authors and illustrators who attended.
In short, it’s been a busy month. I post a lot on Instagram so if you’re interested in following my journey you can do so here.
I have a lot less events in April, plus I’ve just recently met a picture book deadline (more on that in next month’s blog post) so I should finally be able to add more useful content to this website. Below are a bunch of photos from March.
Bye for now!
Stay Creative,
Steve x
