Events and Workshops for children

Events and workshops for children

• Since I work as an editor and a publisher as well as an author, my favourite workshop to offer children is 'How a Book is Made'.
I start with the basic ideas and work through writing and editing, choosing an artist, looking at formats, commissioning design, the work that goes into producing the art - through roughs to finished art; design, typography and covers. I also talk about production, printing and shipping - following the process up to the book arriving in a bookshop or school library.

This can lead on to hands-on projects for children. My favourite is using thumbnails to plan a story.
These workshops are suitable (obviously I modify them depending on the age group and time allowed) for ages 5-9.

• I also love to work with very young children, my favourite session being a 30 minute rhyme time for ages 1-3.
We sing all the familiar songs and rhymes and I bring along my guitar, some puppets and usually a magic wand!

• For older children or teens, I'm happy to discuss the writing process, or, if you're looking for something different, the publishing process. This can be in the form of a talk or a question and answer session (you may wish to send the questions in advance).
(You might like to take a look at the 'Workshops for Adults' page for more topics and suggestions).

To find out more about author events, click here.

EDinburgh International Book Festival

August 2017

Tales on Moon lane - Can't put it down festival

Herne Hill, London, August 2017

Storytime and craft session based on the newest Lulu book, Lulu Gets a Cat.

Slough Library

Slough, Berkshire, August 2017

How a Book is Made - workshop
Story and Craft - making bookmarks

Wild words literature festival

Carric-on-Shannon, Ireland
July 2015

Author of Colm’s Lambs and A Rosette for Maeve, Anna McQuinn talks about creating the world of Glenmore Valley where her farm stories are based. How did she decide who lives there? Should they be sheep farmers or raise beef cattle or breed horses? Who would the main characters be, what ages and what would be their names? What a lot of decisions and that’s before she even started writing the stories! Join Anna to find out more and to have a go and inventing a story world yourself.

Working hard making story boards.

Special Rhyme time to celebrate Bookstart week

Coventry Central Library
June 2014

Special Rhyme time to celebrate the launch of Zeki Loves Baby Club

Waterstones, Chiswick
March 2014

Special Rhymetime for under Fives - National Libraries Day

Luton Central Library, Leagrave Library & Lewsey Library
February 2014

Managed to take time out from the nursery rhymes to share a sneak preview of my new book, Zeki Loves Baby Club, with Ethan!

How a Book is Made Workshop

Kennedy School, Boston, USA
September 2013

Storytime - Central Library
Ithaca, USA

September 2013

Family Reading Partnership event - Wegmans store

Ithaca, USA
September 2013

How a Book is made workshops - Northview Primary School

Brent Libraries Initiative, London
August 2013

The work with thumbnail storyboarding inspired some very exciting projects

Reach out and read event

Looking at how books are made
Children's Memorial-Uptown Hospital, Chicago, USA
July 2013

Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

The Reach Out and Read evidence-based program builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning in infancy. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read incorporates early literacy into pediatric practice, equipping parents with tools and knowledge to ensure that their children are prepared to learn when they start school.

Songtimes & rhymetimes

Sulzer Regional Library, Woodson Regional Library, and Harold Washington Chicago Central Library
at the invitation of Chicago Public Library (as part of ALA)
June 2013

How a book is made workshops - Preston Park Primary School

Brent Libraries Initiative, London
March 2013

First we looked at how a books is made, then we got down to work. The children all planned out stories using the thumbnail storyboard, then we talked about what was going on and wrote it down. This approach is particularly liberating for children with less confident writing skills.