Mr Panda Fundraising Book Launch for Coram Beanstalk

Sat 8th Feb saw the fundraising book launch of We Love You, Mr Panda at Swindon Central Library, in aid of Coram Beanstalk. Amongst guests were public librarians, school librarians, teachers, fellow authors and illustrators and family and close friends. I recognised many guests, including winners of previous art competitions. Arlo, the boy who helped publicise the new Mr Panda library card, was there too. Leandra Lucas yet again delighted everyone with her latest cake creation - Mr Panda piloting his podgy plane over the book’s full cast of characters. Marc managed the raffle and sale of limited edition prints and badges, managing to sell over 100 tickets within 90 minutes. I was delighted that Coram Beanstalk volunteer Debbie won one of the raffle prizes, which included signed books, a signed sketch and a second Mr Panda cake by Leandra. The cake went to fellow author-illustrator Elena Arevalo Melville.

23.jpg

Altogether we raised £300 for Coram Beanstalk. Coram Beanstalk recruit, train and support volunteers to provide consistent, one-to-one reading support to children aged 3-13 who need their help. Their reading helpers give them the support they need to improve their reading skills, reading ability and confidence. They also provide training to people within the school community who want to help children learn to read for pleasure whilst improving their reading skills. 

Thank you to everyone who came to support this very special event. I would especially like to thank Swindon Libraries for their continued support. I now look forward to the next fundraising book launch, which will be for Green Lizards and Red Rectangles and the Blue Ball. The venue and chosen charity are yet to be confirmed, although I can say that the event will take place in the summer. If you would like to be kept informed on future events please sign up to my newsletter at the bottom of my website.

Below are some photos taken by good friend, Terry Bassett. A video by South West Media will be posted here in due course.

7.jpg
11.jpg
4.jpg
2.jpg
1.jpg
3.jpg
5.jpg
6.jpg
8.jpg
9.jpg
10.jpg
12.jpg
13.jpg
14.jpg
15.jpg
16.jpg
17.jpg
18.jpg
20.jpg
21.jpg
22.jpg
24.jpg
25.jpg

For more information on Coram Beanstalk, including how to support their work, please visit www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk

This Summer's Swindon Library Art Comp is Out of This World!

Celebrating 50 years since the first moon landing, this years Summer Reading Challenge will be blasting off in all Swindon’s libraries from Saturday (13 July), along with an out of this world art competition, open to all ages! Design your own planet!

I visited Crowdys Hill School yesterday to launch the art competition, in which you get to design and name your own planet! Their will be 14 winners, one from each library, and each will win a signed copy of my latest picture book, Amazing. I will also pick an overall win, who will win a class visit from yours truly.

Last years art comp was so much fun - design Mr Panda’s Hat - and we received over 500 colourful entries. The year before we had the Design a Doughnut comp which was great fun too.

You can take part in the Summer Reading Challenge and the Design your own Planet competition by visiting your local Swindon library where you can pick up a competition sheet. Deadline: Sept 9th.

Pictured with Miss Little’s Class, along with Outreach Librarian, Debbie.

Pictured with Miss Little’s Class, along with Outreach Librarian, Debbie.

Last year’s entries

Last year’s entries

This Summer's Swindon Libraries Summer Art Comp

Last year I held two art competitions for Swindon Libraries: Design a Doughnut and the When I Grow Up art comp. We received hundreds of amazing entries from across the borough. This summer I'm launching a brand new creative competition with Swindon Libraries - Design Mr Panda's Hat! 15 winners will receive a signed book (and possibly some extra bonus goodies!) and the overall winner will receive a class visit from yours truly.

How will you design Mr Panda's hat? Patterned? Full of doughnuts? Stickers? Pick up an entry form at your local library from this Saturday the 21st of July! This art comp is for Swindon Borough only. You can pick up a competition sheet from any one of Swindon Borough's 15 Libraries. Deadline: Sept 9th. I can't wait to see all the entries!

Screen Shot 2018-07-20 at 12.02.54.png

An Open Letter to Swindon Council About the Closure of Our Libraries

I sometimes hear people say things like 'Libraries are the beating hearts of our communities.' but does our UK government fully understand just how true this is?

Can our government really justify the closure of literally hundreds of libraries across the UK? The Borough of Swindon, in which I live, is shockingly set to lose 10 of its 15.

 The Bookseller Magazine has been closely covering this national crisis and have kindly published my open letter to Swindon Council, which you can read here:  http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/open-letter-swindon-council-446346

To find out more on the ongoing campaign to save Swindon Libraries please follow Save Swindon Libraries.  Thanks to the campaign, the total number of libraries to be retained has increased from one to five. What the campaign has managed to achieve so far is an absolute inspiration.

We all have the right to a quality library service and to be heard. It's not just my Borough. Visit My Library By Right for more on the nationwide campaign.

I've personally emailed each and every Swindon Councillor to direct them to my open letter and would like to add that those who've responded are very much in favour of saving our libraries - as with almost everything, it boils down to money. I am hopeful a way will be found to keep as many of our libraries open as possible.