Earlier this week we returned from an amazing trip to the north of the South Island. We had a wonderful first Christmas here in New Zealand and with January now being the summer that meant SUMMER HOLIDAYS! We travelled up to the gorgeous and peaceful Nelson Lakes… And then on to Golden Bay where we camped at Pohara Beach. The …
Patron of Reading at Halswell School
I’m honoured to have been asked to be Halswell School‘s Patron of Reading this year. Of course, I jumped at the chance, having met the brilliant school librarian Zac McCallum and learning how passionate the staff and pupils are about celebrating the joy of reading. I have lots of fun things planned for the year and can’t wait to share …
Happy Holidays from the Haddows!
It’s been an incredible year for adventures and new beginnings. We couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome here in New Zealand. We wish you all a peaceful and restful break as we sign off for the year and will see you in 2019 for royal pigeons, little rabbits and more. Happy Holidays from the Haddows!
The Books of My Childhood: an essay for The Sapling
I’m so proud to have written a piece for The Sapling, a brilliant online zine which focuses on conversations about children’s books for those who love children’s books. My essay started as a piece about funny books but took a different direction as I looked at the books that shaped me as a writer. Do have a read of Swapna …
BOOKTRAILERS4KIDSANDYA reviews Dave Pigeon
The very lovely New Zealander Desna Wallace of BookTrailers4KidsAndYA has given the Dave Pigeon series the thumbs up. This means so much to me coming from a school librarian, fellow author and esteemed blogger. Have a read of the full review here.
Dave Pigeon roosting on shelves in New Zealand
Dave Pigeon’s been making himself right at home here in Christchurch. So far, he’s joined the library shelves… Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre library … He was spotted at a local bookshop by brilliant school librarian, Zac… PaperPlus in Hornby … And pigeontastic children’s book blogger Bob Docherty has given Dave Pigeon two dazzling reviews! I think Dave is loving the Kiwi …
Joining the Christchurch Library Family
It’s a couple of days until Halloween and I’m pleased to say that rather than an interview with a vampire, (90’s must-see film for all you young’uns), I had an interview with a librarian. Have a read of the full interview here and find out all about the time I fell into a canal. Thank you so much to Christchurch …
The thing about Brand New Things…
I’ve just finished writing the first book of a BRAND NEW series by me and Sheena Dempsey. It feels amazing! To celebrate, I treated myself to a curry with the family, apologised for being cranky whilst I wrote and went straight to the library to pick up a book to the read that couldn’t be more different to what I’d …
New Zealand: one month in
We are back from our mini-tour of the South Island and here is a Halfway Round the World with the Haddows update on how we are doing. The three flights were long but with an excellent selection of movies, a never-ending supply of in-flight cookies and only one mad dash between two airports to make our final flight, we arrived …