25 August 2026
National Year of Reading In this very special year, the slogan, Go All In, excites me greatly and I can’t think of better message to get across to children. Find out what sparks your imagination or […]
Reading & Writing
“How to write” information, tips, and advice. Suggested reading lists, books I’ve enjoyed, and my reviews for them.
18 June 2025
There is something about being human that makes us curious. We want to know where, when, what and why things are as they are. Nowhere is this more apparent, than in our desire to explore, discover […]
1 February 2022
Why Adventure Stories are vital for our Children When I read Katherine Rundell’s ‘Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though you Are So Old and Wise’ , there were so many passages that completely resonated […]
15 September 2021
I’ve just finished reading an action-packed children’s story about time travel, history, mystery and friendship (Vesuvius by J. D. Fennell) and, after I’d added it to my shelf of ‘enjoyed’ children’s books, I permitted myself a […]
27 July 2021
If you’re used to reading action-packed thrillers, why not give a fantasy story a go? If you’re into detective stories, what about an adventure story for a change? Challenge yourself to read something new and you […]
21 June 2021
Rhu Primary School showcases its space writing skills One of the positive effects of virtual author visits into schools, is being able to ‘go’ anywhere at any time. There’s no getting caught in traffic, no thoughts […]
26 February 2021
If you’re used to reading action-packed thrillers, why not give a fantasy story a go? If you’re into detective stories, what about an adventure story for a change? Challenge yourself to read something new and you […]
17 December 2020
Rhu Primary School showcases its space writing skills One of the positive effects of virtual author visits into schools, is being able to ‘go’ anywhere at any time. There’s no getting caught in traffic, no thoughts […]
30 November 2020
How do I decide which authors to invite into our school to support our class learning, topics and curriculum? Where can I get the best recommendations for author visits? Will an author session be beneficial just […]
6 May 2020
The first full-length children’s story I wrote was, to be honest, a total disaster. My plot was obvious and uninspiring, my characters were clichés and two-dimensional and the setting was underdeveloped and poorly thought out.This was […]
14 August 2019
As you pack to go on holiday or unpack from a memorable trip away with your family, you still have chance to register and take part in the awesome: Summer Reading Challenge – The Space Chase. […]
24 April 2019
7 Days, 7 Writing Tips Once I’ve decided on my destination, carefully planned my route and packed my provisions I feel ready to set off on my writing journey. Starting a new story is a real […]
6 March 2019
To celebrate World Book Day and Read an E-book Week, how about reading something new and different? If you’re used to reading action-packed thrillers, why not give a fantasy story a go? If you’re into […]
23 March 2018
If you’re used to reading action-packed thrillers, why not give a fantasy story a go? If you’re into detective stories, what about an adventure story for a change? Challenge yourself to read something new and you […]
27 April 2017
I love the sights, smells and sounds of spring, in particular the first flowers. They remind me of the words of a new story as it finally makes its way onto paper. During the winter months, […]
29 September 2016
Lots of reading over the summer has produced some great book reviews from children. Here are the top 3! Thanks for your book reviews and look out for more at Christmas!
19 July 2016
Great books for 8-12 year olds If you’re anything like me, you like to buy or download books just for your holiday. There they sit, tempting you to just read the first few lines. If you […]
30 October 2015
Thank you to those children who sent in their fabulous poems about the moon! I’m delighted to announce that the winner of this competition is… Emma’s poem: The Moon The moon is bright The moon […]
22 July 2015
Great books for 8-12 year olds If you’re anything like me, you like to buy or download books just for your holiday. There they sit, tempting you to just read the first few lines. If you […]
15 June 2015
Smile at the moon Is the moon lonely up there in the night? All on its own – way out of sight Behind the clouds and right up high It looks quite clumsy in all […]
27 April 2015
Celebrating World Book Night…questions and answers Q: What is World Book Night? A: World Book Night is a night of celebration! Enthusiastic volunteers at libraries, bookshops and other venues give away books and share their love […]
21 February 2015
My first attempt at a children’s novel was an unmitigated disaster and one I shared with about thirty literary agents and publishers! I admit that there were perhaps one or two holes in my plot, […]