The National Year of Reading launched today and it feels like a chance to shout from the hilltops that books matter, libraries matter and giving children time and space to read for pleasure really matters. Every story shared is a small, powerful act. goallin.org.uk.

National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All In

Bring reading closer to culture in 2026. Discover ideas, events and ways to take part at home, school, work and in your community.

goallin.org.uk

Looking forward to tomorrow’s event at @ipswichbookfestival. Link in profile. 😄

🚗🐼 Join me & Mr Panda at Ipswich Book Festival We’re celebrating 60yrs of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang + 10yrs of Please Mr Panda 🎉 📚 Sun 5 Oct, 1PM 📍 St. Clement’s Arts Centre ✨ Free event www.ipswichbookfestival.com/events-sunda...

Hi! Exciting public library events October 11th. 10:30am, Hugerford Library, Church Street, Hungerford, RG17 0JG (booking directly at the library) 2pm, Thatcham Library: Bath Road, Thatcham, RG18 3AG Booking link for Thatcham: ticketpass.org/event/EIWXRV...

10!

It’s been a couple of months. Just a few photos from a recent shoot with Charlotte Knee Photography. The last couple of months have been, well, completely unforeseen… so it was nice to have a day out and smile for the camera. Thanks, Charlotte!

Starting my 49th year by crossing the Capilano suspension bridge in Canada!

We are SO thrilled that WE CAN has been long listed for the 2025 Little Rebels Award. This is such an honour! And huge congrats to everyone else on the long list!

Best thing about the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is catching up with friends and making new ones.

Jane Elson and I, pictured with the amazing Annie Everall, joined a whole host of authors and illustrators at the UK Pupil Library Assistant of the Year 2025 awards ceremony yesterday at the Pearson building on The Strand in London yesterday.

Patrice Lawrence and I joined Wales Children’s Laureate Alex Wharton and BookTrust Cymru Director Sioned Jones for a panel on representation in early years, part of an important conference led by Cabinet Secretary for Education Prif Siaradwr.

TSL COVER REVEAL: The featured School Librarian is Karen King! “Karen goes above and beyond helping students both inside and outside of school. She is also very busy on the Secondary School Librarians Facebook page, offering advice, info and often emotional support.”

7am Monday morning I will reveal on Instagram which school librarian is the TSL magazine’s next cover star!

Rainbowsauruses at Loddon Primary School 😊

Event news! Rainbowsaurus (and I) will be at the Ealing Festival Sunday 27 April, 10:30am – 11:30 am at the Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ Tickets now available - link here: www.pitzhanger.org.uk/whatson/eali...

Today I met with Outreach Librarian Debbie to discuss the 10th annual competition, and her new guide dog Valerie stole the show (and my heart).

Finishing the final spread of a book is such a great feeling! The ninth Mr Panda picture book is done!* *At least until I receive publisher feedback and proofs, but even so, I feel a huge sense of relief.

Thank you for your thank you! It’s why we started. We genuinely believe we can make a huge difference. Not just to kids lives but also, to the publishing trade. The biggest misconception there is, if kids borrow books they won’t buy them when the opposite is true. Kids are collectors.

Pictures of our #worldbookday donation of 450 books to this amazing school! 🥹

Meet The LiBEARian from William Cobbet’s School Library and the Actual librarian, Caroline.

Huge congrats, everyone!!!

The ‘We Can!’ Book Tour launched today and we met the lovely School Librarian Caroline today.

Was great to spend time with Anish (pictured) and Sonia from the NLT’s Swindon Hub today in the main shopping centre. They had books to give away!

Teachers at Bournville Primary School dressed up as the cast from The Queen’s Handbag for World Book Day!

What a day! Thank you Loddon Primary School for having me! Huge thanks to School Librarian Florence for organising an epic World Book Day.

In an ever changing world let books lead the way. Happy World Book Day!

Setting things up for my first World Book Day visit this week. Hope everyone has a great week!

It’s almost upon us! Wishing everyone a fun, memorable week! Today I am at the bookshop in Swindon Central Library. @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social