I really enjoyed World Book Day 2019. This year I visited quite a few new schools in the Sheffield area as well as return visits to schools I have been visiting since my first book was published. Here in the UK. We celebrated World Book Day on the 7th March, but I call it ‘The World Book Day Fortnight’, because I try and fit in as many school visits as possible around that time. I always say that I am available to visit schools, nurseries, preschool’s etc all year round, but as to be expected these two weeks of the year are very popular. As always, the schools I have visited have been wonderful. All staff have made me feel very welcome and the children have really enjoyed my stories. The characters, as usual have been a big hit and I love to see the children’s reactions when Billy takes a pretend photo of them with his little camera. I have been asked some very interesting questions about how my books are made. Also when I’m asking the children questions about the story afterwards, they are always spot on with the answers. I like this, as it shows how well they have been listening. I am also amazed at their powers of observation and how they notice even the smallest of things about the story and things that could be easily missed.

The older children have found it very interesting learning how the whole process goes from just an idea on paper ( or tablet in my case ) to the finished published picture book. My visits have clearly inspired many of these youngsters. I’m amazed at the number of children over the past fortnight, that have come up to me and said how much they would like to write or illustrate a story themselves. These children are our future and hopefully many of them will fulfil their dreams and go on to be published authors and illustrators. As soon as I have some some photos from my visits, I will add them to this post.