The Mythical Maze #Summer Reading Challenge

On Monday this week I had a great time with everyone at Rhyl Library as this year's Summer Reading Challenge got under way...

 

I spent the day telling stories, talking about books, recommending books to read and helping some of the eager readers negotiate the maze and find all of the characters that were hiding amongst the shelves. All of the artwork for this years reading challenge has been done by Sarah McIntyre - you can find out more about Sarah by visiting her website HERE.

Throughout the day the library team were busy helping children join the library, sign up to the Reading Challenge and having fun with craft activities. It was a great day and I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone at Rhyl Library for making feel so welcome...

If you haven't already signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge then get down to your local library and do it today... Just in case you don't know anything about the reading challenge, here's what the Reading Agency say...

"Children's reading can 'dip' during the long summer holidays. The annual Summer Reading Challenge helps gets three quarters of a million children into libraries to keep up their reading skills and confidence. Because everything changes when we read.

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the long summer holiday.

There is a different theme each year. Children can read whatever they like - fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books - just as long as they are borrowed from the library.
Every time children finish a book they get stickers and rewards and there's a certificate for everyone who finishes.
The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all school children and is designed for all reading abilities. Schools work with local libraries and give out information to encourage children to take part, and most libraries run Summer Reading Challenge linked early years activity for pre-schoolers.

Find out more about the Summmer Reading Challenge by visiting the Reading Agency Website HERE or for information about the Mythical Maze click HERE.

If you've read a good book for your reading challenge, why not send me an email and let me know... or you can post a comment here in the diary.

#SummerReadingChallenge @jabberworks @WelshLibraries

On This Day In 1969...

The Apollo 11 space rocket was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. On board, the three American astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were just setting out on their voyage of discovery to the Moon.

You can read all about it in my History Heroes book all about Neil Armstrong - published by Franklin Watts, and illustrated by the excellent Mike Phillips... 

History Heroes

This week I've been busy working on a picture book - not quite finished yet - and a longer book. The longer book is coming along very nicely now and I'm eager to have it finished so I can let Vicky read it all before I tweak it again and send it off to a publisher. I've also been working on my web site, adding a section for my new History Heroes books - the first two of which were published earlier this month. The pages are still in progress as not all of the books have been published yet but please do take a look and let me know what you think...

On Monday this week I returned to Ripley Junior School to  work with year 3 and with the year 2 children that will be moving to the Junior School in September. It was great seeing everyone again and we had lots of fun coming up with two stories... One about a Ghostly Granny and one about a Cat who is a Master Thief. I hope everyone enjoys finishing the stories off - It'll be great to read them.

Tomorrow I'm visiting The Heys Primary School in Ashton-Under-Lyne... see you all soon.

Neil Armstrong

Today I'm busy working on a picture book story... but while I've been eating my lunch I've been making an animated gif of Neil Armstrong for my website's History Heroes section...

What do you think???

L. S. Lowry

Just a quick diary entry while I eat my lunch...

Here's a quick hello to everyone at Ripley Junior School in Ripley, Yorkshire - I'm looking forward to coming to school again so I can work with year 3 and the up and coming year 2 children from the Primary School on Monday. . I'm sure we will have lots of fun coming up with new stories together... I love the creative process of creating character and story ideas so it should be a fun day.
 
On Thursday next week I will be spending the day with everyone at The Heys Primary School in Ashton-Under-Lyne - can't wait to meet everyone there...

Right now I'm eating my lunch - a tomato and mayonnaise sandwich - and also making a little animated picture for my website. This will go on my History Heroes page when it's finished... Here's L.S. Lowry - illustrated by the most excellent Yulia Somina... hope you like it.