• Super Hero is one of my favourite stories. It’s a real Father’s Day/ Dad’s and Lads kind of book. Dad is just too busy getting on with things, that he shuts his son out of his shallow life. When he realises what he is doing, he sees the light and has an amazing day with his son, rebuilding their relationship. It doesn’t take much, just a bit of time and effort.

    Get then, learn to read and share this great story with Dad. Now available on iPad so you can follow along. It contains a quiz and video drawing lesson like this one too! What more could you want to give on Father’s Day? Another pair of comedy socks that won’t ever get worn?

  • [slideshow]I had a fantastic day yesterday, and I think the children and teachers who attended the Gloucester Schools Partnership Pupil Voice Conference did too. We opened with talks from The Olympic Swimming Champion, Sharron Davies and Singer, Jono McNiel and myself, outlining the twists and turns that brought us to the current point in our careers. Sharon Davies awed us all by showing how long her arms are. She clasped her hands behind her back and wriggled them around her head so that the ended up in front of her. One girl in the audience could do the same. Apparently, apart from being a good party trick, it is a sign of a potentially good swimmer. Long arms are a physical advantage in swimming.

    Then the children went off in groups to give their own presentations based on their aspirations and how they imagine themselves in 2020. It was wonderful to see that the children’s characters really suited some of their choices. Knowing what you are good at and what suits you best is a real bonus in life – I’m still frustrated and searching for the one thing I’m really good at!

    After lunch we let balloons off into a lowering, windy sky. Each balloon carried aloft the wishes of the person who released it. (One teacher was heard to say, “I hope those balloons don’t drift off to sea and strangle an hundred turtles!”)

    Then While other children learned about karate and cake decorating and singing, I led an illustration session based on my Viking Vik Books. My children were aged from reception to year six, so it was quite a wide spread. Even though some claimed they couldn’t draw, everyone did beautiful drawings – as I know all children and adults can do if they just sit down and have a go.

    The Gloucester Schools Partnership is a wonderful idea, About forty schools belong. They meet up to share expertise within the group for professional development and organise group meeting days like yesterdays. There is another similar group in the country. I think it’s a really good idea.

    I felt really energised at the end of the day. Talking to teachers, I felt that the new, creative curriculum is starting to ease up the stultifying effects of the Literacy Hour and give more freedom and inspiration back to teachers. Just as things have started to move in a positive direction, I truly hope the new Government are not going to take us back to Victorian basics again.

    Thanks to Kevin Rowe, Melanie Newnham and everyone else who worked so hard to make it such a really great day.

  • Earlier this year, I worked with Year Five at Whitchurch Primary school in Herefordshire. We used my, now out of print, Dark Claw series as the basis for some new writing. To say it was an interesting project wouldn’t begin to describe it!

    However I learned a load of things and I hope the children did too. One of my ideas was to use lulu.com to publish their work. I would then be able to show others how to do the same. It’s been such a busy year, I’ve found it hard to find the time to sit down and really concentrate on putting the artwork together to make the book. I’ve managed it over a few hard editing and design/layout sessions. It’s actually quite a lot of hard work! knowing how hard it was just to get the material together, I’m thinking it’s probably too much to ask others to have a go – I’ve realised just how much knowledge of digital printing I’ve picked up over the years. (I started out in printing in the old, inky days, so It’s in my blood, I guess.)

    Well this morning, I could have started on the artwork for the next Axel Storm book, but I’ve got quite a big day tomorrow, so I felt I’d like to spend today clearing up loose ends.

    And… hooray! I’ve uploaded all the artwork to lulu.com, checked it, double-checked it and I’ve ordered three copies to see what It’s like. I know already that the overall design is not brilliant, but I’ve learned from that. If It all works well and smoothly, I might be encouraged to have a go at putting the Ginger Ninja back into print.

    So… fingers crossed. I’ll look out for the postman and share the joy with you here when it arrives!