Monday 28 February 2011

THINGS THEY SAY

Today I got some pleasing comments about my Storytelling session last Friday.

Parents wrote:
"Great to see their little faces gripped by Penny's storytelling."
"Thank you. Would like it again"
"Fantastic, hope to see more events like this"


Some of the older children wrote:

"I like the troll story best because it made me jump & it was funny.
Thank you"
"I really enjoyed listening to the stories and my brother enjoyed it too
because he listened really well"


And then there was the following comment:

"I lernt a lesson - if you do sumthinnck rong there is a pnishment."

It IS about a story I told. HONEST!

Saturday 26 February 2011

THE WORLD BOOK DAY ROUND BEGINS!

Two very early nights this weekend as Monday is the start of WEEK ONE of the BIG WORLD BOOK DAY ROUND for me.

In truth, it began yesterday, Friday, with a Storytelling Session for 5-8year olds in STARBECK LIBRARY, near Harrogate. A lovely library, only just re-opened in its new site, so a pity it's under threat.

I met a wonderful reader called Grace who'd come along to hear me (even though she was rather older!) just because she'd read my book A BOY CALLED MOUSE and had really liked it. What a cheering start to things! Thank you, Grace, and your little brother too..

Monday will be Administration Day, when I check I have all the information & schedules & maps gathered together. At home working Tuesday morning, but late that afternoon, I'm attending the local secondary schools Lit Quiz, THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS at ST AIDAN'S HIGH SCHOOL. I'm there as one of two people from the HARROGATE CHILDREN'S BOOK GROUP who put the Quiz together, and there's about 12 schools sending their best reading teams. All I have to do is sit there hoping we got both questions and answers right.

On Wednesday I will be visiting ST.JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, Keighley, for the day. So hello to everyone there, especially the Early Years, KS1 and Years 5 & 6 children & staff. I will wave to anyone in Years 3 & 4 as I pass by!

Thursday is my biggest travelling day as I'm going all the way over to CLIFTON PRIMARY SCHOOL in HULL, to spend a very happy WORLD BOOK DAY with everyone there.

Friday is not quite so far: I'm driving straight up the A1 to DISHFORTH AIRFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL, and I'm looking forward to having fun with everyone there.

See you all soon!

Wednesday 9 February 2011

MORE & MORE & MOOR!

Wednesday already? Impossible! On Monday I went to the opening of the renovated & newly sited STARBECK LIBRARY - yes, opened with immediate threat of closure over it - and heard the djembe drummers from STARBECK PRIMARY SCHOOL playing enthusiastically to the gathered crowd. Well done, all of you!

Tuesday was a treat as - thanks to kind staff & librarians - I was able to hear SAVIOUR PIROTTA talk to Year 8 students at a local high school. When you spend lots of time doing sessions alone, other than with your audiences, it was a real pleasure to sit back and wallow in someone esle's words and ideas. Great tales, Saviour!


Then today, up early for a drive to FRAMWELLMOOOR GATE PRIMARY SCHOOL, Durham. Far more traffic than expected on the way up and harder to find than I'd have liked despite my maps & satnav! Oh dear!

Caught up with my slightly later start by running straight through until lunchtime, and the afternoon was mostly on schedule. So greetings to everyone from the morning and afternoon Nursery sessions, and to Reception and the Year 1 & 2 Classes. Had a lovely time sharing some enjoyable stories and books with you, so THANK YOU ALL! (And I must be much healthier after walking so far between all your classrooms.)

Sunday 6 February 2011

ABOUT LIBRARIES & LANES

On Saturday morning I went to join the crowd of SAVE OUR LIBRARIES protestors outside BILTON LIBRARY, my nearest North Yorkshire library on the axe list.

Here for your information are some others. They are nearly all village libraries and some are at least ten miles from any town, and with bus services both expensive for a family outing, and due for cropping anyway.

So NO LIBRARY for AYTON,BARLBY, BEDALE, BOROUGHBRIDGE, COLBURN, EASINGWOLD, EMBSAY, HUNMANBY. INGLETON, KIRKBYMOORSIDE, LEYBURN, MASHAM, NORTON, PATELY BRIDGE, STARBECK & TADCASTER - and I don't think I even have all the names.

Of course, some places will get the super-mobile library visiting them, but only as long as there are no narrow roads on the way. Now who could imagine you'd fine narrow roads in the Yorkshire Dales & Moors.

Thursday 3 February 2011

A MAVEN, a CAT and a MOUSE

A good day! Among my emails I've found news of the BOOK MAVEN's latest blog.

The Maven - alias award-winning author and book enthusiast Mary Hoffman - reviews two good reads for juniors. The first book is Inbale Iserle's new title in what seems to be growing into a stunning series, THE TIGRINE CAT ON THE RUN. Then, to my delight, the second novel that Mary likes was my book, A BOY CALLED MOUSE. I'm so happy!



It's very hard to get any book reviewed, so all I can say is THANK YOU, BOOK MAVEN!

ps Think you'll find it a book blog well worth following . . .

Tuesday 1 February 2011

LETTERS & A LUNCH DATE

Thak you to the children from RAWDON LITTLEMOOR SCHOOL who sent such lovely letters! You said such lovely things! Will reply as soon as I can.

Today I have a sort of lunch date at ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, Harrogate, almost on my doorstep. I'll be in the library to chat to readers about A BOY CALLED MOUSE. Please can I add that I won't be offering to eat any unwanted sandwiches from lunchboxes. I can be bribed, but not in that way. See you soon!