Blog

Today, I got to meet 120 Reception pupils to talk all things My Dad is a Grizzly Bear as part of the Word Play schools programme with How Brave is the Wren Bookshop. We had an interactive story time and then created out very own bears.

I had so much fun talking about making books, finding writing inspiration and whether crocodiles roar or snap. Thank you to the staff and pupils of Hall Green Infants School for having me.

Today Dapo and I were bringing My Dad is a Grizzly Bear fun to Hay Festival. We read, we drew and we answered lots of questions from the viewers.

This was my first time at Hay and though it was not how I imagined, having dreamt of walking the bookshop-filled town on a lazy summer day for many years now, it really was still every bit as exciting as I thought it would be.

Thank you so much to Hay and to all those who joined us for fantastic event.

Waaahooo! My Dad is a Grizzly Bear is in The Guardian’s children’s books roundup for May.

You can read the full roundup here.

I’m super chuffed that My Dad is a Grizzly Bear is featured in the Books Are My Bag Summer Catalogue this year. Thank you, booksellers!

You can pick up a copy of the catalogue, packed full of brilliant reads, at your local independent bookshop or read it online here.

Dapo and I were back with Stories by the Sea Bookshop for the last day of our My Dad is a Grizzly Bear virtual book tour. Today we visited Abingdon Primary where we saw some excellent drawings of bears and were asked questions about what it’s like to be an author and illustrator.

And then we joined Swinton Fitzwilliam School we talked about grizzly bears and lions and possible lionesses in the sequel to My Dad is a Grizzly Bear.

Thank you to all the schools and bookshops that joined us for our book tour this week. I had a blast and I’ve loved seeing all the drawings the pupils have created. Keep sending them in and I’ll make sure they are up in my gallery.

On our virtual book tour we stopped off at Rosedale Primary School where we met Heather from Stories by the Sea Bookshop and answered lots of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear questions. Some of my favourite questions were ‘is a grizzly bear bigger than Godzilla?’ and ‘is the next book My Mum is Also a Grizzly Bear?’

We then stopped off at Marine Academy Primary who showed us the brilliant grizzly bears they had been drawing during our event.

Thank you so to both primary schools for your excellent questions – it was fantastic to see you all.

Dapo and I ran a My Dad is a Grizzly Bear workshop for over 1000 children across the UK with the bear-illiant Seven Stories today. We read from the book, learnt to draw our very own grizzly bears and talked about our favourite crumpet toppings which was lashings of butter and jam obviously.

Thank you to everyone who came along. Do show us your artwork by getting in contact or sharing on social media because we love seeing your drawings and creations.

Today, At Home with 4 Indies hosted a brilliant My Dad is a Grizzly Bear event for lots of schools and Dapo and I got to come along!

They heard all about how I write and how Dapo illustrates, how much I love pyjamas and how Dapo would ideally have his own illustration cave where he could work in a robe.

Carrie from Booka Bookshop hosted a brilliant Q&A at the end and we got to see some of the children’s brilliant work on social media.

Thank you to everyone who came along. I hope you had a beartastic day.