Writers need libraries. Not just for the books. Not just for the DVDs, CDs, local history section, reference section, information about what’s on and the freedom to browse for as long as you wish when it’s pouring down with rain and you haven’t got enough money to buy a coffee…

Children’s writers especially need libraries for the librarians. Those wonderful people who know about books. Who can tell you, just like that, where to find the one about the old man and the talking donkey.  Who can put on amazing events to encourage readers to visit these fabulous buildings where they can meet writers and poets and storytellers.  All for free!

I’ve never met a rubbish librarian yet. Forget the image of the fire-breathing monster who shouts at children if they return a book a minute late. They’ve long gone (although I’ll make an exception for Spud Murphy, Eoin Colfer’s hilarious story about a scary, strict, dragon-like librarian because it has a happy ending). No, today’s librarians are all as jolly and knowledgeable and enthusiastic as the two in the photograph. Joyce and Sue from Lancashire library services. I just wished I’d taken photographs of all the ones I met during my two days in Lancashire recently, especially Alison with her curly golden locks and infectious laugh and Allyson who was the one who instantly knew which book was the one about the old man and the talking donkey*.

So my thought for the day, dear reader, wherever you are, is to cherish your librarians, for you know not how long you have them. Even as I write, they are in danger of becoming extinct, their powers to enthral and encourage readers diminishing by the day. Blinkered, short-sighted people called beauracrats who live in airless, souless buildings and didn’t read much as children are trying to get rid of them. In many secondary schools in England, the school librarian is often the first one to be made redundant during cutbacks, the management foolishly thinking that anyone can run a library, or, even more frightening, that schools don’t need libraries anyway. ‘Who needs libraries when people can get books from Tesco?’ one such man in Doncaster asked recently. That’s like saying who needs Tolkein when we’ve got Katie Price!  Come on!  (For more on this check out Alan Gibbons’ website (www.alangibbons.co.uk) and go to Campaigh for the Book section). Read my playlet called Tea-time in Tescos.

Anyway, off to Leeds now. More rants soon!

* Or it could have been a spotty elephant but you catch my drift…

More imaginative maps!

I have just returned from two days in sunny Lancashire, taking part in the Library Services’ Quest Seekers summer scheme. I visited Clitheroe’s fabulous library first, working with families in what used to be the old court room. It did have a certain medieval charm to it that enhanced our creative output no end. Here’s one of the groups’ map:

The Parrs U11s

OK. Just how cool is this? My wonderful team brought to life by illustrator Sonia Leong.  I’m having post cards made. Well you would, wouldn’t you?

So, let me introduce you. Starting with the players, back row, left to right:  Lucy Skidmore (defence)  Amy Minter (super sub) Petra Ward (defence) Megan Fawcett (goal) Jenny Jane Bayliss (midfield) Eve Akboh (striker) Gemma Hurst (central midfield)

Front row (l-r): Holly Woolcock (defence) Tabinda Shah (midfield) Nika Kozak (midfield)  Daisy and Dylan McNeil (wing)

Coaches: Hannah Preston (left) and Katie Regan (right)

Meet Lucy in  Are All Brothers Foul (out now)  Petra in Can Ponies Take Penalties (out now) Megan in Do Goalkeepers Wear Taras? (out now) Holly in Who Ate All the Pies (Nov 2009)  Nika in What’s Ukrainian for Football? (Nov 2009) Daisy and Dylan in Is an Own Goal Bad? (out now)  You’ll have to wait until 2010 to meet the rest of the team but hey, it’ll be worth it!

Girls FC published by Walker Books.

August means summer holidays and the start of the footy season and the middle of the cricket season and … the dreaded exam results. This week, A levels, next week GCSEs.  Watch for the headlines screaming ‘Dumbing Down Britain’ because GCSE/ A level results are better than average or because they’re the opposite and really good. Kids can’t win. Teachers can’t win. Parents panic. It’s a mess.

Fear not!  For every tense situation in life there’s a book to help you through those darkest moments.

For those waiting for GCSEs read Accidental Friends. Find out what happens to Leon, James, Emma and Grace when they open those little brown envelopes.

And what about those 11year olds waiting to start secondary school, still remembering when they were the biggest kids in class, the favourites of the headteacher, called upon to do all those tasks only a responsible Y6 could possibly carry out?  Poor wee mites. Gone, all gone. You are Y7s now, about to embark on the mysterious world of secondary school. The bad news is, there is no sorting hat.  There’s big kids who smell of smoke and drink bottles of WKD at break (probably - or am I thinking of the teachers?).  But panic not. Help is at hand.  My friend Jenny Alexander has written two cracking non-ficiton titles to help you and your mum and dad and therapist through those first few days. ‘Going Up’ published by A& C Black and ‘Bullies, Big-Mouths and So-called Friends’. Highly recommended.

Of course, for total reassurance and a feel-good factor to carry you right through to Y8, there’s always my lovely Simone. Read her diary account of Y7 in the middle of Love Simone xxx (Oxford). Some of it is based on true events - from my teaching experience, my kids’ and their friends’ experience - even the bit when ‘Clifford’ pukes on the teacher’s shoes really happened!

Love Simone xxx perfect for new Y7s

Nettie Honeyball organised the first official women’s football match in 1895. Yep, 1895. In her honour, I named the league in my books after her and my team after Lily Parr of Dick, Kerr’s Ladies.  At the National Football Museum in Preston they have this rather fetching replica of the kit worn in Nettie’s time, bravely modelled by Annalie from Walker Books.

No book launch is complete without your own freestyler!  This is 17-year old student Robyn Clancy demonstrating her skills in the foyer of the National Football Museum.

Robyn Clancy superstar

Wednesday August 5th was the official launch of Girls FC and I couldn’t have asked for a better kick-off for the first four books in the series. Over eighty people turned up to join in the fun at the National Football Museum on Preston.  Walker, the publishers, did me proud.  Annalie, my assistant editor, even dressed up as Nettie Honeyball. That is way beyond the call of duty! Huge thanks also to Jane Wood of the library services who found me such stellar readers!

readers rehearsing in the boot room

Those are Lily Parr's original boots!

in full swing!

signing books with my friends the Drapan family of Huddersfield below: Sue Steel of 'Simply Books' with two keen readers from her reading group