International Book Giving Day 2017

Swapna HaddowScrapbook

International Book Giving Day is back again this year and I’m wrapping books to gift. The 14th of February is the day to share the book love and help get as many books into the hands of children as possible.

For ideas and to find out more, visit the International Book Giving Day website and however you celebrate, I hope your day is full of love and books.

Illustration (c) Marianne Dubuc

Dave Pigeon in the classroom

Swapna HaddowRoosting With Dave

Here at Dave Pigeon HQ we love visiting schools and bringing some Dave Pigeon chaos to classrooms everywhere. We also love hearing how teachers, librarians and educators use the Dave Pigeon books in the classroom themselves.

If you are looking for ideas for a Dave Pigeon-inspired lesson, have a read of this brilliant ‘AAA’ Good Read Blog post. Also take a look at this equally fantastic reading guide put together by Surrey Libraries.

And do let us know what you are up to because we love hearing and seeing all the wonderful Dave Pigeon-inspired work. You can contact HQ via email and on Twitter.

The Alligator’s Mouth reviews Dave Pigeon (Nuggets!)

Swapna HaddowRoosting With Dave

Our first review of Dave Pigeon (Nuggets!) is in and I’m overjoyed because it’s a good one. Have a read of Margaret’s review here. Huge thank you to The Alligator’s Mouth bookshop for such a lovely review.

Both Sheena and I will be running a crafts session and celebrating Dave Pigeon (Nuggets!) flying on to the shelves on Saturday 28th January. Full details can be found on The Alligator’s Mouth website.

Just twenty more sleeps!

Swapna HaddowRoosting With Dave

Happy New Year!

Just twenty more sleeps until Dave Pigeon (Nuggets!) hits the shelves and advanced copies of Dave Pigeon (Nuggets!) are flying around to bloggers this month. Whilst we wait for the reviews to come and I chew my nails down to bloodied stumps, I thought I’d let the husband and the son have an exclusive read of the book. Here they are, finally finishing the book:

Dave Pigeon (Nuggets!): read by James and Phoenix

(Spoiler Alert Warning: This video contains material from the book. If you don’t want to know the ending, it’s time to log off and go and eat a jammy biscuit.)

St Augustine’s CE Primary School

Swapna HaddowRoosting With Dave

Last week we were invited to meet the pupils of St. Augustine’s CE Primary School by the wonderful staff and the very lovely folk of the Alligator’s Mouth bookshop. Without Sheena, it was the job of the pupils to help me create new characters and brand new stories and of course, with Christmas around the corner, we had to have a character or two with a pair of antlers.

I was so impressed with the imagination and brilliance of the pupils that I came away excited to get cracking on some TOP SECRET writing projects of my own. And of course decorate my Christmas tree in a way that Dave Pigeon would approve.

Here are a few photos from a fantastic afternoon at St. Augustine’s. Thank you to all the staff and children who made me feel so at home:

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