Curtis ends his leg of the Reading & Writing Relay at Marple Hall

Curtis Jobling has completed the first leg of the Reading and Writing Relay by visiting Year 7 pupils at Marple Hall School on 26th June.

After the event pupil, Emily Kynastan, said "I was really inspired by Curtis' talk, it was funny and really interesting!"

Fellow pupil, Lucas Thompson, said Curtis' visit was "Interesting, funny, witty; all the qualities you enjoy. Definitely inspiring!"

Teacher at Marple Hall, Lyn Lawton, added "I am delighted that so many of our Year 7's felt inspired to buy Haunt - 172 copies sold!"

Pupils Lucas Thompson and Emily Kynastan with Curtis Jobling

Justin Somper, author of the Vampirates series, will carry the baton for the next leg of the Reading and Writing Relay.

Poetry Power at Oswald Road Primary School

We at Oswald Road Primary School in Chorlton are very excited about this Saturday's event with Cerrie Burnell. Our 2 poetry winners were given free tickets to the event, as was the little girl for whom the poetry competition was fundraising: Leila McMurray.

They will all get to meet her afterwards too! 

Leila needs an operation to improve her mobility and the Oswald Road School community has rallied to organise various fundraising activities, it has been totally heartwarming and unifying.

Highlights of our 'Poetry Power' event have been the Poetry Stop - poetry writing in the playground at lunchtime - and seeing our youngest, nursery entrant recite his poem at assembly. He will be a talent to watch as he journeys through school.

As the entries trickled in, I took such pleasure in reading them - I smiled, laughed and cried! - each one unique with individual personalities shinning through. Our theme was aptly hopes and dreams.

When I took small groups to write poems, I was struck by what an organic and nourishing process writing poetry was for many children.

We will be having a special assembly on Friday where we officially announce the winners, runners up and final 10 from each Key Stage. ALL of the poems were a joy to read....poems coming soon...watch this space!

Sent to us from Susanne Murray at Oswald Road Primary School

Bed-time Story

Big brother Luca reads to Elspeth in Sydney, Australia.

Sent in to us by Dianne Cook.

Pupils from Manchester Communication Academy take part in Reading & Writing!

Curtis Jobling! Bob The Builder. Those are the words I think when I hear his name: Curtis Jobling. I was utterly enthusiastic when I found out that he was coming to my school because I have watched many BookTubers on YouTube talk about him - so this was the chance where I could meet him! The experience was stupendous! I found out that he was in fact an: illustrator, animator and author of many books (they’re astounding) plus he was a passionate reader like me who first started reading when he was 3. Personally, I thought that the genre, horror, was not my type but he made it my type after 100 pages and I am 100% hooked - well done Curtis.  Another thing is that he was HILARIOUS! He made many jokes like Steamboat Willy, he said that steamboat was not a bad word however we all know it’s the word ‘Willy’.  The visit from him was wonderful and I can’t wait to read his new book duology: Haunt, Dead Scared and I know I will love it (maybe because I have already read 50 pages)

-Chi Hoang

When the sensational Curtis Jobling arrived today, I was immensely thrilled!

Hearing him talk about his passions, his hobbies and what he does for a living was an extremely fascinating experience…But, what does Curtis do? Curtis Jobling: animator, illustrator, author and avid reader – amazing. Curtis created the infamous Bob The Builder, Curious Cow & various other children/animal themed animations; he also writes books for ages  11+, the main genres being horror and fantasy. Curtis explained how he had started his career, frames in animation, his books (which are marvellous!) and who he works with. We got to buy Curtis’ books from Waterstones, he signed them – as well as a bookmark – I then found out what a pleasant and humorous man he is!

I absolutely loved Curtis Jobling’s visit and would be incredibly grateful if he could pop by again (hint!).

- Hannah Rashidi

St Mary's Practice Parade

The Rambling Isles have begun their travels to the Hallowed Shallows (AKA Manchester Children's Book Festival) donning all things nautical for the Seawigs Parade.

St Mary's CE Primary School brought their creations to the Powerhouse Library today to find out more about Oliver and the Seawigs and take part in a 'rehersal' parade in preparation for the Festival Family Fun Day on Saturday 28th June.

The Year 5 pupils from St Mary's have been working with MCBF volunteers for the past couple of weeks on their Seawigs, and are all very excited for the upcoming Seawigs Parade on the Family Fun Day.

On 28th June, the pupils will be marching behind author and illustrator of Oliver and the Seawigs, Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre, donning their creations for all the festival to see.

Join us on 28th June at the Geoffrey Manton Building at Manchester Metropolitan University for the Festival Family Fun Day. You can even bring your own Seawigs creations, or make Seawigs and Sea Monkeys with the MCBF team on the day. Find out more here.

Tales from the Wild

How gloriously exciting that the Manchester Children’s Book Festival is just around the corner, offering up 10 days filled to the brim with children’s literature events. From the 26th of June to the 6th of July, the city of Manchester will be celebrating all things bookish, with events taking place throughout the cities many libraries, theatres, museums, galleries and bookshops. 

Tales from the Wild have picked out a few 'not to be missed' events throughout the festival, including Arthur's Dream Boat, The Great Story Theft and War Horse Puppets, among others. You can read more about their festival favourites on their site: www.talesfromthewild.org.uk

Seawigs Parade at Manchester Children's Hospital

On Friday 27th June the Manchester Children's Hospital School will be hosting their very own Seawigs Parade to celebrate Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre's children's book Oliver and the Seawigs. 

Children at the hospital school will be donning Seawigs they have crafted themselves as part of the lead up to Manchester Children's Book Festival.

Tracy Gallier, Assistant Head Teacher of the school, is very excited about the day, and told us: "We started the preliminary work based around the book, and the response we had was phenomenal! The impact it's had on the staff and the children is indescribable - everybody here is on such a high! We've seen it all here; creativity, discussion, experimenting, socialising and lots of laughter!"

Another teacher commented on Philip and Sarah's book, adding, "I don't know what it is, but something with this hits a nerve with everyone who reads it."

Curtis at St Bede's College

Pupils Dmargio Wright-Philips and Maria McGowan with
Curtis Jobling

Curtis Jobling continued the Reading and Writing Relay today by visiting pupils at St Bede's College in Whalley Range, Manchester.

Curtis drew examples of his work, featuring images of Bob the Builder, Raa Raa the Noisy Lion, and Curious Cow. "I enjoyed the way Curtis explained everything and how he drew the pictures." Year 7 pupil Dmargio Wright-Philips told us.

After showing the pupils of St Bede's his amazing talents in illustration, Curtis moved on to talk about his series of books Wereworld and his latest novel Haunt.

Year 7 pupil, Maria McGowan, particularly enjoyed hearing about how Curtis plans out his books, "I liked the way Curtis described the characters."

Mr Joyce-O'Keeffe, teacher at St Bede's, added, "Today was very stimulating and interesting for the pupils. He has shown them how a hobby can become a career, and that is inspirational to them."

Curtis Jobling Trailblazer at Reddish Vale Technology College

Reddish Vale Technology College in Stockport opened their doors to Curtis Jobling and the Manchester Children’s Book Festival on Wednesday. As part of the Author Trailblazer tour Curtis delivered his inspiring session to a group of 80 Year 7 schoolchildren and year 6 guests from the local feeder school, Abingdon Primary.

Abingdon Primary School pupils Normaan Akram
and Ellie Williams with Curtis Jobling

Curtis showed the trailer for his latest book release Haunt. Pupil Ellie Williams said “I can’t wait to read Haunt as Curtis made it sound so exciting”. Haunt seemed to go down a storm with another pupil, Normaan Akram, adding “I will definitely be reading Haunt, Curtis is very inspiring”.   

Never Too Young

The best Book Aunt ever in Sydney, Australia.

Sent in to us by Dianne Cook.

Curtis Jobling Trailblazer at Manchester Communications College

To continue the Reading and Writing Relay, Curtis Jobling carried the baton to Year 7's at Manchester Communications Academy, as well as Year 5's from Saviour Church of England Primary School, yesterday afternoon. 

Saviour Church of England Primary School pupils
Aleshia Waul and Ryan Hodkinson with Curtis Jobling 

Year 7 pupil, Brandon Hughes, enjoyed Curtis’ visit, saying, “It was good and funny – I’d like to see him again.”

Fellow Year 7 pupil, Kayra Macdonald, was inspired by Curtis’ talk, “Curious Cow was funny. I’m interested in writing books now.”

Manchester Communications Academy pupils Kyra
Macdonald and Brandon Hughes with Curtis Jobling

Teacher at Manchester Communications Academy, Miss Khan, added, “[It] was such an entertaining event to encourage students to read, write and illustrate. A range of activities engaged the students.”

Curtis Jobling heads to Wythenshawe

Year 7 pupils at St Paul's excited to get their books signed by Curtis Jobling

Author, Curtis Jobling, carried the Reading & Writing Relay baton (a gigantic pencil) to St Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe yesterday.

After sharing his inspirational employment history to the class of 90 pupils from Year 7, Curtis went on to talk about his new book Haunt and his bestselling series Wereworld.

Curtis went on to lead a motivating Q&A session, where the pupils of St Paul’s had prepared questions for him in anticipation of his visit. He explained that inspiration for his characters and storylines came from different places, and that Raa Raa The Noisy Lion came to him after a long car journey with his children.

Pupils Faye Donlly and Keeley Vesey with Curtis and
the MCBF Sea Monkeys

“[Curtis] was really good, and he’s encouraged me to read more. Now I want to go to university.” Keeley Vesey, a Year 7 pupil, told us while waiting for her copy of Haunt to be signed.

The event was a success, and the pupils of St Paul’s left feeling inspired to carry on with their hobbies. The pupils were also encouraged to enter the Comic Strip competition, which is judged by Curtis himself. The winner will receive a professionally designed framed print of their comic strip. To enter, please click here to download an application form.

Crafting Seawigs with St Mary's C.E. Primary School

As the festival draws even closer, class 5M of St Mary’s CE Primary School are working away on their Seawigs for the Parade at the Festival Family Fun Day.

The amount of materials the children were presented with would overwhelm anyone, but they got stuck in straight away, sharing all the crafts and helping one another fix all the parts together. They filled plastic fish with coloured sand, made trees and food from paper, stuck jewellery and even sunglasses on the wigs to channel the sea theme. 

Our MCBF volunteers were on hand to help with any glitter or glue related emergencies, and provided recycled cardboard and plastic to add to the mountain of materials. As always, the class were a delight and so creative - we were very impressed by all of their ideas. Many of the pupils went as far to make necklaces and chains to match their wigs! 

Next week the children will be visiting the Powerhouse Library to practice the parade, finish their wigs and to have a reading from Oliver and the Seawigs book itself.

Curtis Jobling Blazes a trail through Macclesfield!

Curtis Jobling continued the Manchester Children’s Book Festival Reading and Writing Relay today by visiting The King's School in Macclesfield.

Curtis spoke to an audience of 70 pupils about his new book Haunt and his bestselling series Wereworld. 

Curtis then led an inspiring Q+A session, as Curtis explained his ability to tell a story arose from playing with his friends as a child. He also went on to encourage any budding writers to enter the Comic Smart competition – judged by Curtis himself.

After Curtis performed extracts from his books, many of the children bought copies from the Werewold series and Haunt for him to sign – and the teachers even received signed Bob the Builder and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion posters for the school library.

All in all Curtis went down a storm and we can’t wait for the rest of his tour of Greater Manchester Schools.

If you would like to enter the Comic Strip competition, please click here to download an application form and a storyboard. Entries will be judged by Curtis and the winner will receive a professionally designed framed print of their Comic Strip.

2014 Manchester Children’s Book Festival 26 June – 6 July

Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and the Manchester Writing School at MMU are delighted to present the 2014 Manchester Children’s Book Festival. The main Festival programme will run from 26 June to 6 July with over 40 free and ticketed events on offer at venues across the city.

You can find out more, browse the full programme of activities, and book your tickets on the website: www.mcbf.org.uk or by calling the box office on 0843 208 0500.

The Festival starts with two days of activity celebrating Multi-cultural Manchester through a variety of exhibitions and taster sessions exploring music, poetry and languages – followed on Saturday 28 June with the FREE Festival Family Fun Day – a full day of interactive events and activities at Manchester Metropolitan University. The showcase Fun Day event is a special performance from Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre – and you can get involved making your own seawigs and sea monkeys, and join the grand 'Seawigs Parade'.

Throughout the main week of the Festival, there are after school and early evening events all over Manchester including Guy Bass at the Central Library, Kate Pankhurst at Waterstones Deansgate, Justin Somper at the Powerhouse, Andrew Cope and the People’s History Museum and Chorlton Library, Liz Kessler at the Portico Library – and Steve Cole, Ali Sparkes and David Almond all appearing at Manchester Metropolitan University, reading from and talking about their books, and meeting readers and answering questions from the audience.

The Festival concludes with a weekend of big events. On Saturday 5 July Cathy Cassidy will be welcoming guests to a vintage afternoon tea with the Chocolate Box Girls at the Midland Hotel, Michael Morpurgo will be at MMU for a special performance of Private Peaceful, and Darren Shan will also be at MMU for an evening event showcasing his Zom-B series. On Sunday 6 July, Tom Palmer will be launching his new book Over the Line with a dual-venue event at the National Football Museum and IWM North – and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy hosts the official Festival closing event: musical afternoon tea at the Townhouse Hotel – with special prizes to be won in a book quiz.

There are also lots of ways to get involved ahead of and during the Festival with Trailblazer arts and crafts activities and International Reading and Writing Relay, as well as an extended programme of workshops in schools, with many free and subsidised places offered to groups on projects such as Tweets from the Trenches, Migrating Passions, Mother Tongue Other Tongue, Comic Smart and Walking in their Shoes: Responding to Anne Frank.

You can find out more, browse the full programme of activities, and book your tickets on the website: www.mcbf.org.uk or by calling the box office on 0843 208 0500.

Content sourced from LoveReading 4 Kids. Original content can be viewed on their blog: blog.lovereading4kids.co.uk

An Email from Stuart Reid

By Stuart Reid

Can't believe I'm emailing MCBF just before 9pm in the evening and I've got to be up at 3.30am tomorrow morning (groans) to drive to Manchester, bringing the most awesome, amazing, enthusiastic, energetic and inspirational author event ever to two Manchester primary schools. 

I'll be presenting book reading shows at Rackhouse and St Andrew's Primary Schools, as well as hosting a few creative writing workshops. My presentations are inspirational, educational and enthusiastic; engaging pupils with audience participation, fun and energy. These sessions are designed to inspire and enthuse children, especially boys to want to read and write more stories, more often. 

But be warned! My books are a bit on the yucky side... about bums, bogies and big bottom burps... about poo, pee, pumps... pooping and parping and porridge. My first book was published in 2011 and entitled Gorgeous George and the Giant Geriatric Generator. This has been followed by two other books in the Gorgeous George series: Zigzag Zit-faced Zombies and Unidentified Unsinkable Underpants. Book 4 will be out later this year. 

This year I'm celebrating my third year as a full-time author, and I believe I have the best job in the world, presenting at over 500 schools, libraries and book festivals, as well as working with BBC Learning, ITV's Get Britain Reading campaign and Channel4 in the last two years! 

I've been to a few schools in and around Manchester already and they're always brilliant fun. As an author, I think I've got the best job in the world - I get to read for a living. I get to talk about poo in front of teachers, and I get to throw false teeth at small children. 

And if this blog post wasn't already one big long advert, I'll be hosting 25 shows at the Edinburgh Festival in August - the world's largest arts and culture event. Reading Rocks! 

Right, time for bed. Nighty-night everybody ;-)

Crafting Seawigs with St Mary's C.E. Primary School

MMU Volunteers at St Mary's C.E. Primary School

Preparation for the Family Fun Day on June 28th has commenced! The stars of the Seawig Parade, from St Mary’s C.E. Primary School, have started to create their Seawigs for the big day. Debra Conroy from Community and Cultural Services at Manchester City Council will lead the creative sessions along with the extremely talented Ann Lam and Manchester Metropolitan University volunteers Colette, Rachel and Rosie. 

On Friday 6th June, class 5M designed their Seawigs with colourful pictures and labels shown in the picture below. There were so many fantastic ideas, from diamonds and treasure, to goggles and seaweed hair. The children will be using decorations provided by Manchester City Council and recycled materials to bring their drawings to life. The classroom was a hive of activity, we can’t wait to see how sun hats and starfish will look on the blue and green curly wigs the children will model in the parade at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Class 5M will also be writing book reviews on Oliver and the Sea Monkeys as part of their homework assignments. You will be able to read many of the reviews here – so be sure to keep an eye out for more of St Mary’s wonderful work! 

Avid Children's Book Collector

By Paul Heaton

I am an avid book collector, and I owe it all to my infant school teacher Mrs Beswick. She read to us every day, Mrs Pepperpot, The Moomins, The Little Wooden Horse; these books remain in my memory, and I still read them today. We also read the 60D Ladybird books.

When you have a school teacher that was as good as reading as Mrs Beswick, you can change a child's life forever with books.

I have all the books that I grew up with, and these are just a few of the early reading days. Kids books are ace.