The Book of Hopes

I’m proud to have written a contribution to The Book of Hopes. This collection of work from children’s authors and illustrators is edited by Katherine Rundell, and freely available from the National Literacy Trust’s website from Monday 27 April.

The aim of the project is to gather a selection of hopeful words and pictures for all children (and their grown-ups) in this strange time where we find ourselves confined to our homes due to the coronavirus.

My contribution is a short piece of nature writing about the charismatic dung beetle and is accompanied by a fabulous illustration by Carim Nahaboo. I hope it provides a welcome distraction from the human realm and a delightful dip into the wonderful world of beetles.

A peculiar publication day for The Tale of a Toothbrush

Today, the paperback of my debut picture book The Tale of a Toothbrush is published. This would ordinarily be cause for celebration, except that every book shop in the land is closed.

If you feel this book would be a lovely addition to your child's bookshelf, and I promise it's a delightful story that gently introduces the topic of the problem with single-use plastic, then help an author out in these strange times and order one from Waterstones or Amazon. A review on either of these websites would be a big help too.

STORYTIME

Listen along as I read The Tale of a Toothbrush live on my Instagram IGTV at 6pm on Friday the 3rd of April. Gather the family around and marvel at the faces I pull and my silly voices as I read you a charming bedtime story.

SPOILER ALERT - this book has a happy ending.

My Instagram »

MAKING ACTIVITY

If you're at home with little ones for the foreseeable then why not try making a trash monster from plastic found in the bin?

You can find a video of me doing this on Authorfy. You have to register (for free) but there are lots of other great writing and creative activities there too. M. G. Leonard's 10 Minute Challenge »