Last day of the My Dad is a Grizzly Bear school tour

Swapna HaddowPawsome News

Dapo and I were back with Stories by the Sea Bookshop for the last day of our My Dad is a Grizzly Bear virtual book tour. Today we visited Abingdon Primary where we saw some excellent drawings of bears and were asked questions about what it’s like to be an author and illustrator.

And then we joined Swinton Fitzwilliam School we talked about grizzly bears and lions and possible lionesses in the sequel to My Dad is a Grizzly Bear.

Thank you to all the schools and bookshops that joined us for our book tour this week. I had a blast and I’ve loved seeing all the drawings the pupils have created. Keep sending them in and I’ll make sure they are up in my gallery.

Stories By The Sea hosts My Dad is A Grizzly Bear

Swapna HaddowPawsome News

On our virtual book tour we stopped off at Rosedale Primary School where we met Heather from Stories by the Sea Bookshop and answered lots of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear questions. Some of my favourite questions were ‘is a grizzly bear bigger than Godzilla?’ and ‘is the next book My Mum is Also a Grizzly Bear?’

We then stopped off at Marine Academy Primary who showed us the brilliant grizzly bears they had been drawing during our event.

Photo (c) Marine Academy

Thank you so to both primary schools for your excellent questions – it was fantastic to see you all.

My Dad is a Grizzly Bear at Seven Stories

Swapna HaddowPawsome News

Dapo and I ran a My Dad is a Grizzly Bear workshop for over 1000 children across the UK with the bear-illiant Seven Stories today. We read from the book, learnt to draw our very own grizzly bears and talked about our favourite crumpet toppings which was lashings of butter and jam obviously.

Photo (c) Whitehouse Primary School
Photo (c) Whitehouse Primary School
Photo (c) Whitehouse Primary School
Photo (c) Hillside Avenue School

Thank you to everyone who came along. Do show us your artwork by getting in contact or sharing on social media because we love seeing your drawings and creations.

My Dad is a Grizzly Bear meets At Home with 4 Indies

Swapna HaddowPawsome News

Today, At Home with 4 Indies hosted a brilliant My Dad is a Grizzly Bear event for lots of schools and Dapo and I got to come along!

Photo (c) St. Bridget’s CofE School

They heard all about how I write and how Dapo illustrates, how much I love pyjamas and how Dapo would ideally have his own illustration cave where he could work in a robe.

Carrie from Booka Bookshop hosted a brilliant Q&A at the end and we got to see some of the children’s brilliant work on social media.

Photo (c) St. Bridget’s CofE School
Photo (c) Deri View Primary School

Thank you to everyone who came along. I hope you had a beartastic day.

My Dad is a Grizzly Bear with Tales on Moon Lane

Swapna HaddowPawsome News

Thank you so much to Tales on Moon Lane bookshop and Corinne for taking me and Dapo on a mini book tour today.

We visited Hawkesdown House School where we answered questions about writing, illustrating and what sort of animals we think we are.

Then we visited Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School who showed us their amazing grizzly bear pictures and asked us all about our books – there was even a Bear Class!

Photo (c) Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School

I had the best time meeting everyone and seeing all your bear-illiant drawings. Thank you, Tales on Moon Lane and Corinne.

Ballet Bunnies at Stratford Literary Festival

Swapna HaddowBallet Class in Session

Millie, Dolly, Fifi, Trixie and Pod danced their way over to Stratford Literary Festival and they took me with them! I had a brilliant time showing off my office and reading some of the Ballet Bunnies to everyone who joined in. And then I recruited my two helpers, my son and my dog, who assisted me in teaching everyone how to make their very own bunny ears.

Thank you to all who came along and remember the online video is up until 21st May 2021. Visit Stratford Literary Festival for all the info.

Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival

Swapna HaddowHalfway Round the World with the Haddows, Pawsome News

Today, I read My Dad is a Grizzly Bear at the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival as part of the Story Time Double Decker Bus. Kathryn van Beek and I took turns sharing our picture books with two bus loads of children, parents and grandparents.

The children helped me read My Dad is a Grizzly Bear complete with actions and whopper-sized roars. And they all took guesses at what the sequel would be about with suggestions of a lioness, another bear, a cheetah and a dinosaur.

Thank you so much to all the children and their guardians who came along and made my morning so special. You were the best bears Dunedin has ever seen.

I then got to see Kyle Mewburn in conversation with Robyn Belton and David Elliot as they discussed their picture book creative process and treated us to stories behind their illustrations. This was one of the most joyful and fun panels I have ever been to and reminded me how much I love the children’s book community – it’s packed full of the most generous and kind people in publishing.

My day was rounded off with Elizabeth Knox’s event on placing a ‘fantasy’ world inside the ‘real’ world. She spoke about her book, The Absolute Book, with Hannah Parry and treated us to a incredible reading from the book.

Thank you so much to the organisers of the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival for four days of bookish fun and frolic. I can’t wait for the next one!

Bad Panda cover reveal

Swapna HaddowThe Bad Panda Club

It’s time to show you the cover of my brand new series with Sheena Dempsey: Bad Panda!

The story follows Lin on her quest to lose her cutenesses and was inspired by a Family Haddow trip to China in 2017 where we volunteered as panda keepers:

Here we are clearing up after the pandas have had their breakfast
Here I am, making cakes for the pandas
Happy panda!
Panda in a tree
Panda keeper certificates all round!

The book is out in July 2021. And don’t worry Dave Pigeon fans, there’s an Easter (pigeon) egg in the book just for you. I can’t wait for you to meet Lin and her pals in this new book.