So many wonderful things to report from Writing HQ today. Dr Diplo and his pals have been making a DINOSAUR-sized splash in the world of children’s books with Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings. Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings has been longlisted for the Jhalak Children’s and Young Adult Prize 2025. And Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings has been shortlisted for the Queen’s Knickers …
‘Ten Titles Not to miss in July’ – The Bookseller
My brand new book, illustrated by Jess Bradley, is in The Bookseller as one of the ‘Ten Titles Not to Miss in July’! How to Save your Granny from a Runaway Train has been a dream project and a return to one of my first loves: science. I was a kid who loved making sense of the world through science …
Happy World Book Day!
Happy World Book Day, readers! I started my World Book Day celebrations at the Otago Literacy Association’s local authors showcase. Alongside Samantha Montgomerie and Rachel McCoubrey, we were invited to share our books with teachers from all across Dunedin. It was so inspiring to hear Sam and Rachel talk about their work and I got to speak about my 2025 …
The Night Before Holi with Scholastic Schools Live
Thank you to everyone who tuned in to join me, Aditi and Rosie for our read and drawalong for The Night Before Holi. I had a blast reading the story and showing off pictures of my family enjoying Holi and then taking part in Aditi’s drawalong. I’m now an official Holi rocket illustrator! If you took part in the drawalong, …
The Night Before Holi is out now!
Today is the day! The Night Before Holi is out now! I had the most fun riffing off Clement Clarke Moore’s poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ and celebrating one of my favourite festivals during my time as the University of Otago Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence in 2022 and now finally the book is here! The Night …
What a year!
It’s been an incredible year for books and I’ve had quite the crop in 2024. I can’t thank you all enough for all your love and kindness. Sending a WHOPPER-sized hug of thanks to all the booksellers, librarians, teachers, educators, bloggers, caregivers and most importantly, BRILLIANT readers who have supported my books – I appreciate you all. To say thank …
The Big Teddy Bear Sleepover
October 12th marked Bookshop Day. Here in Dunedin, University Book Shop hosted The Big Teddy Bear Sleepover with The Sleepy Storytellers. Making up The Sleepy Storytellers were me, Emma Wood, Gillian Torckler and Susan Wardell. Children were invited to bring along their teddy bears for a story time and a crafts session where they made a bed for their bear. …
The Open University’s Reading for Pleasure Author Spotlight
I’m chuffed to bits to be September’s Open University Reading for Pleasure Author in the Spotlight. You can read about my favourite books and why I choose to read here, with a handy download for classrooms and projects available too. Thank you to The Open University and all they do to encourage reading for pleasure.
Book Week at Trinity College
It’s Book Week at Trinity College and I was invited to meet with years 7, 8 and 9 to talk all things books. I spoke with the pupils about discovering books as a child, my connection to Matilda and why ALL our stories are important. It was fantastic to get so many questions about writing, being an author and how …
Happy World Book Day!
It’s World Book Day but the World Book Day fun started, for me, last week with the Pass the Pen takeover on Twitter. World Book Day in collaboration with BookTrust champion emerging authors and illustrators and I was paired with the BRILLIANT Natalie Denny who took over my account on 27th February to talk about her fantastic series Keisha Jones. …