Coinciding withÌýWorld Book Day on 3rd March,Ìýevery child at ÐÔÓÃÉç took part in our Book WeekÌýactivities,ÌýcelebratingÌýthe joy of language and reading.ÌýFive authors gave talks and workshops across the week, including:Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý. Younger ÐÔÓÃÉç at Byron House donned their pyjamas and returned to school for hot chocolate andÌýsnacks beside the 'fire' with teachers reading and sharing some of the ÐÔÓÃÉç's favourite stories. Another highlight was the ever popular Extreme Reading Competition which saw ÐÔÓÃÉç reading down ski slopes, inÌýtree-houses, on windy beaches and more. The finale was 'Dress as a Book Character Day' as well as the ÐÔÓÃÉç having the chance to peruse a wealth of books in theÌýHeffersÌýBook Fair.
Simon Mole is acclaimed ÐÔÓÃÉç’s poet and National Poetry Day Ambassador who runs two live online poetry workshops a month as well as having created poetry tutorial videos on his You Tube channel. Younger ÐÔÓÃÉç loved his workshops based on his books ‘I love my Bike’ and ‘Kites’. During the KG workshop the ÐÔÓÃÉç wrote two group poems about their ‘super duper amazing’ dream bike. T1 and T2 wrote poems about their dream bike in small groups and then shared them. Senior House ÐÔÓÃÉç were all inspired to create their own poems and to have the freedom to express their ideas, change ideas and refine as part of the whole writing process. His workshops were hugely energised, entertaining and the ÐÔÓÃÉç were inspired to write their own poetry after his visit.
Forms 1 to 6 were spellbound by Kevin Crossley-Holland’s talk and his words about the spell and magic of language. His tips included, ‘Don’t rush your story, but keep it purposeful. Keep it tight and brisk’ and ‘See if you can put the language of magic in your writing. Make music and pictures with your words.’ Kevin’s love is of the ancient world and of Norse myths and the ÐÔÓÃÉç were intrigued by the author speaking in Anglo-Saxon;Ìýthey came away with a real love of language.
As the Byron House ÐÔÓÃÉç came into the library they were met with an array of characters and props from Mini Grey’s picture books. The author explained that making a picture book is a bit like making a cake as you collect all the delicious ingredients and put them into your stories. Mini loves writing stories about toys having adventures, food coming to life and pets that have jobs to do.Ìý She fascinated the ÐÔÓÃÉç with tales from her latest book, ‘The Last Wolf,’ before showing themÌýhow to illustrate their own wolf stories with different expressions by drawing different eyes. When Mini is writing a new book she often makes a 'mini' book to show her publisher and the ÐÔÓÃÉç were lucky to be shown her new book ‘The Greatest Show’, due to be published in April.
Ross Welford was a business journalist before becoming a freelance writer and television producer. Ross’ debut novel,Ìý‘Time Travelling with a Hamster’Ìýwas shortlisted for nearly every major literary award including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, The Costa Book Award and The Blue Peter Book Award. ÌýThe author gave his essential tips and tricks of the trade to help the ÐÔÓÃÉç develop as writers.Ìý He passed on the essential tipÌýto rewrite and rework one'sÌýwriting, as well as how to formulate engaging characters and plot ideas. Ross entertained the ÐÔÓÃÉç whilst discussing how he became a writer and how he engaged with books as a child. He conveyed his love of reading and how this has inspired him as well as wowing everyone with his magic tricks.
Acclaimed Scottish author, Elle McNicoll, inspired Forms 1 upwards with her rise to success as a neurodivergent author. Her debut,ÌýA Kind of Spark, won theÌýBlue Peter Book AwardÌýand theÌýOverall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, as well asÌýBlackwell’s Book of 2020. She isÌýCarnegieÌýnominated, and was shortlisted for theÌýBooks Are My Bag Awards 2020, theÌýBranford Boase AwardÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýThe Little Rebels Award. She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing.
Elle explained how autism presents differently in everyone with some common traits affecting social skills, motor skills and the way of thinking; and shared her experience of being autistic but keeping it secret at school. She now believes you should always be open about who you are. Elle’s second bookÌýShow Us Who You AreÌýfeaturing two neurodivergent main characters was published on World Book Day, Thursday 4 March.