Once a teacher, always a teacher . . .
After thirty–five years in the classroom it was time to try something new.
Becoming a children’s author, illustrator and storyteller opened the door to a new career whilst allowing me to stay very much in touch with children. This is the most exciting part of being an author, illustrator and storyteller and to date I have met more than 37 000 children in schools of widely varying locations, sizes and cultures.
Since 2010, I have visited schools in U.K., Hong Kong, China, Thailand (Phuket, Bangkok & Chiang Mai), Dubai, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Italy and Kenya sharing my animal stories, talking about the incredible adaptations, migrations, habitats and behaviour of many species and how we can share and help to care for our planet and all its precious inhabitants.
My presentations
Each of my nine books comes with a selection of PowerPoint presentations linked to the story, a storytelling session, puppet time for the younger children and Q & A for the older ones. I also give writing workshops and a presentation called ‘The Book Journey’ for children aged 9 to 11+ which is about the process of becoming a writer and illustrator, from initial idea to book production.
I send schools, librarians and teachers a guide–line recommending books that are most suitable to each age group. Teachers are invited to choose a book and presentation from this list. However, I am also very willing to adapt a presentation to suit any age group or to incorporate any special requests to tie in with areas of study, enquiry or investigation.
I have recently adapted some of my stories to Nursery and Early Years. This has been an exciting and rewarding experience. I am surprised and delighted at the ability of very young children (aged 2 and 3) to follow a story and join in with words and actions. Patrick the Parrot puppet with his captivating antics and abundant enthusiasm is much loved by his very young audiences.
For further information about school visits and availability you are welcome to contact through the contact link at the top of the page.
My school visits have produced some interesting extremes, as well as some exhausting times for Patrick.
The largest group of children we have spoken to at one time was a hall of 450 children in Discovery Bay International School on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, while the smallest group was just nine children in the Mui Wo OWLS school, also in Hong Kong (and also on Lantau Island!).
The busiest day was in Dubai when Patrick and I talked to the eight groups of fifty children each in the Uptown School; eight sessions with almost no break in between them. We were both pretty squawked out by then!
But everywhere we go, children love Patrick and all the gang, and of course, the gang are always super-excited to meet the children.