Southdown Primary

A huge HELLO to everyone at Southdown Primary School in Buckley. I've visited lots of local schools over the years but this will be my first visit to Southdown and I'm really excited about spending the day with you all. I've got lots to show you and have lots of stories to share.

I'd like to share something new that I'm working on with Year 5 and 6 and I would love to hear what you think of it. I'll tell you more tomorrow. 

Right now, I'm writing about dinosaurs - not the two you can see here though. This is Deano and Seren - two of the little dinosaurs that appear in some Dinosaur Stories that will be published later this year (the first ones in August) and have been beautifully illustrated by Hannah Wood.

The dinosaurs I'm writing about now are much scarier. Do you have a favourite dinosaur? Let me know if you do...

Young Writers

 Tomorrow I'll be getting out from behind my desk to spend the day with some excellent young writers at Monks Coppenhall Academy in Crewe - so here's a HUGE HELLO to everyone that's coming from Mablins Lane Community Primary, Gainsborough Primary and Nursery, Haslington Primary, Shavington Primary, and Monks Coppenhall itself.

I can't wait to meet everyone - it's going to be a fun day!!!  

Today I'm busy working on a new series of books - so I'd better get on with it. 

Psst... dinosaurs might be involved.

Mather Street Primary

A huge HELLO to everyone at Mather Street Primary School in Failsworth, Manchester. I'm really looking forward to meeting you all tomorrow.

As far as I know, this will be my last school visit of 2023 but 2024 is already looking like it's going to be busy - both with writing and visiting schools. 

I've got a few new writing projects coming up, including a few exciting, adventure books involving dinosaurs. I can't tell you any more about them at the moment but I can't wait to get started. I'll tell you more as soon as I can.  

Hello Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog

I'm busy writing today but here's a quick hello to everyone at Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog in Groesffordd Marli... I'm looking forward to meeting everyone in the morning.

Local Schools, Tigers and Caverns

 As well as writing, this week I'm delighted to be visiting a couple of local schools - Venerable Edward Morgan School in Shotton, and Ysgol Wepre School in Connah's Quay. I've been lucky enough to visit both schools in the past and it is always a pleasure meeting everyone there... I can't wait to see you all soon.

  

Last week was our wedding anniversary and to celebrate we had a few days away from home and a few days visiting local places. 

The tiger and her cubs lazing on the rock were at Chester Zoo. The stalagmites and stalactites were at Poole's Cavern in Derbyshire.

Nothing beats getting out from behind your desk to help fuel the imagination. 

Discovering Dinosaurs

Discovering Dinosaurs, my latest non-fiction book will be published tomorrow and I can't wait to see the finished copies. Keep a look out for it in your school or library.

Dinosaurs are really famous. We see them in movies. We read about them in books and magazines. There are even dinosaur action figures and cuddly toys. This is pretty impressive, especially when you think that the last land-living dinosaurs died out 66 million years ago! 

This book will take you on a visit to the dinosaur museum, where you'll discover: - the ways that dinosaurs are classified and what their names mean - how people identify dinosaurs from their fossils - the mistakes people have made about dinosaurs - what happened to the dinosaurs and whether they still exist today.... 

Discovering Dinosaurs is part of the Reading Planet Cosmos range of books from Hodder Education. Cosmos provides a vibrant collection of fiction and non-fiction books that will widen children's reading horizons. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills. Reading age: 8-9 years.

A Huge Hello to two Small Schools

This week I'm delighted to be visiting two small schools, that are quite close to home - Ysgol Esgob Church In Wales VA Primary School in Caerwys, and Lixwm Church in Wales VA Primary School in Lixwm. A huge hello to everyone there - I can't wait to meet you all on Wednesday. I've got lots to show and lots of stories and rhymes to share.  

I thought I'd start right now by showing you the covers of two of my latest books - Running From Rex, and Valley Adventure... two books about a group of dinosaur friends and the adventures they have together. These books aren't published until October next year, so they really are new.