Thank you to everyone who joined Darshika, Rosie and I for a Diwali storytime today. I had such a blast reading The Night Before Diwali with you all and I can’t wait to see your Diwali-inspired pictures from Darshika’s drawalong. Do send them to Swapna Haddow HQ so I can add them to my awesome online gallery. Happy reading and …
Double publication day!
We’re having all the celebrations today at Swapna Haddow HQ because it is double publication day with Scholastic UK! First up, The Night Before Diwali is out today and just in time for Diwali next month: Join a little boy and his grandmother as they plan for the BEST DIWALI EVER! There are diyas to light, laddoos to roll and …
Little Myths: Rama and Sita
I was invited to write the Rama and Sita story for Hachette’s ‘Little Myths’ series and today it is officially out in the world! Gorgeously illustrated by Darshika Varma, this is a must-have if you are collecting the ‘Little Myths’ series. Most people know Rama and Sita as the good guys and VIP guests at Diwali. But once upon a time, Rama …
How to Save Your Granny from a Runaway Train is out today!
Happy day! How to Save Your Granny from a Runaway Train is out today! Illustrated by Jess Bradley, this book is packed with bonkers comic strips, super science and easy-to-do experiments. This is perfect for kids who love science and also for those who don’t because the science is paired back and made relevant to the real world with not-so-real …
Happy Book Birthday to Why Not?
My second picturebook with Team Scholastic NZ and Daron Parton, celebrating my love of libraries and librarians is out today! Why Not? is the follow up to But Then…, which was published last year. Where But Then… followed the story of an excuse for a very overdue book, Why Not? is based firmly in a library and is a cautionary …
It’s an AWESOME news post!
So many wonderful things to report from Writing HQ today. Dr Diplo and his pals have been making a DINOSAUR-sized splash in the world of children’s books with Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings. Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings is the Queen’s Knickers Award runner-up for 2025! Such happy news for Team Little Dinosaurs! Not only was it a silver medal for Little …
Book Week at East Taieri Primary School
I was back at East Taieri Primary School today to celebrate Book Week. I met with all the pupils from Year 0 to Year 6 and we spent the morning having heaps of booky fun. Years 0-2 helped me create the East Taieri library card and told me all about the penguins, seals, albatross, owls and whales they have seen …
‘Ten Titles Not to miss in July’ – The Bookseller
My brand new book, illustrated by Jess Bradley, is in The Bookseller as one of the ‘Ten Titles Not to Miss in July’! How to Save your Granny from a Runaway Train has been a dream project and a return to one of my first loves: science. I was a kid who loved making sense of the world through science …
Happy World Book Day!
Happy World Book Day, readers! I started my World Book Day celebrations at the Otago Literacy Association’s local authors showcase. Alongside Samantha Montgomerie and Rachel McCoubrey, we were invited to share our books with teachers from all across Dunedin. It was so inspiring to hear Sam and Rachel talk about their work and I got to speak about my 2025 …
The Night Before Holi with Scholastic Schools Live
Thank you to everyone who tuned in to join me, Aditi and Rosie for our read and drawalong for The Night Before Holi. I had a blast reading the story and showing off pictures of my family enjoying Holi and then taking part in Aditi’s drawalong. I’m now an official Holi rocket illustrator! If you took part in the drawalong, …