World Book Day - Nottingham
- Alan MacDonald and Helena Pielichaty in Dayncourt School Library
I celebrated World Book Day with Alan MacDonald in Nottingham this year. We visited two schools; Candleby Lane Junior in Cotgrave and Dayncourt Specialist Sports College in Radcliffe on Trent. Both events were fabulous. In the morning, pupils from Candleby Lane and Y5/6 pupils from Cotgrave C of E Primary School made us feel very welcome. Well, I say ‘us’. They were friendly enough to Alan but for some reason started booing and hissing half way through my act. All I’d done was bring out my Huddersfield Town shirt for my ‘There’s Only One Danny Ogle’ presentation. That’s Notts County and Nottingham Forest fans for you - can’t stand a whiff of competition!
After our session ended, Bridget Rogers, the wonderful librarian from Dayncourt who, along with Jane Streeter of The Bookcase, Lowdham, had made the visit possible, took us to Granny’s Pantry for lunch. I didn’t see ‘granny’ but her scones were well nice.
In the afternoon we moved on to Dayncourt a school I have passed so many times on my way to Nottingham but never been to. We arrived a little early so had time to mingle with the Year 7s in the library who were all doing a World Book Day quiz. Then Graham, a photographer from the Nottingham Evening Post arrived. It was soon obvious that Graham was no ordinary photographer - he had ambition. Not for him the static ‘hold your books up and say cheese’ pose. Oh no. Chairs were shoved aside. Tables were cleared. Books were removed from shelves to make interesting photo opportunities. Unfortunately the light wasn’t right and we ran out of time but all power to him for trying! And…er… sorry for wrecking your library, Mrs Rogers!
Our second session with pupils from Radcliffe on Trent Primary School was thoroughly enjoyable - actually, it was better than that, it was wicked! These kids were up for it and no messing. They’d arrived clutching books for signing. They’d prepared questions. They were willing to embarrass their teachers if called to do so. It would have been rude not to take advantage of that…
It was great sharing the sessions with Alan. He talked about how his character Dirty Birtie emerged from a picture book. He drew Dirty Bertie then invited the kids to make Bertie’s trousers messy. They duly obliged!
I focused on Simone this time (didn’t want more booing). As there were a lot of Y6s I talked about not being worried about going to secondary school and read Simone’s poem to Y6’s about to go into Y7. I’d forgotten how talented a poet she was…
Afterwards we were flooded with questions, many of which had to go unanswered. I can’t speak for Alan but if I come to a school where you are and you don’t get chance to ask me anything you can always leave a comment on my blog. I’ll answer all the sensible ones and all the not-so-sensible ones and I’ll pass the nutty ones on to Philip Ardagh. Apologies too, to Radcliffe as I didn’t get a photo of you. If any teachers took one and would like to send it to me, I’ll add it.
- Candleby Lane. Thank you Ben, Nottingham Forest supporter, for being brave enough to wear a Town shirt!
- Mrs Rogers still smiling, despite allowing us to wreck her library!
Alan and I will be signing books at Waterstone’s in Nottingham this Saturday 10.00 am - 12.00 and I’ll be there 1.30 pm - 3.00 pm too.
March 4th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
i really loved it when you came in to the school my brother was learning about vikings at the time! i would really like to read more of your books katie
March 4th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed our visit, Katie. I hope your brother enjoyed learning about the Vikings but it’s a shame he couldn’t join us. You’ll have to visit the library and see if they’ve got any of my books in - keep reading!
Helena
March 5th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Hi Helena,
thanks for coming to see us at Dayncourt on world book day. It was great, I especially liked the book with the boy in who is really stupid(!)where he does a thing on the computer and tells you how to catch your brother nicking all your stuff!!!!!!!! I’m coming to see you in Waterstones on Saturday so i’ll see you there.
From TED SMITH
March 5th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Dear Helena,
Thank you for coming to Dayncourt school on Thursday. I really enjoyed it.
MY 3 FAVORITE PARTS WERE:
1) Ben asking Alan to put skid marks on Bertie’s pants!
2) Peter Bacon’s Ali G revenge list (Found it HILARIOUS by the way!)
3) Seeing Chloe stood at the front REALLY embarresed but trying not to show it!
I HOPE my mum will let me come and buy one of your books! *Fingers crossed*
Hope to see you soon,
Andie
March 5th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Thank you for adding to the blog Andie and I’m glad you enjoyed the visit. I thought Ben’s comment was quite appropriate, given Dirty Bertie’s track record! Poor Chloe - I hadn’t realized she was so embarrassed! I’m sure she’ll get over it. I hope your mum does let you come - it will be great to see you again. You can help me choose a title for my next book.
Cheers,
Helena
March 5th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Awesome, Ted. Peter Bacon (from Love Simonexxx) is one of my favourite characters too. See you at Waterstone’s, I hope!
Helena
March 6th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Dear Helena,
I think a title of a book SHOULD be based on what’s inside the cover so if you could tell me what the story would be about on here or email me at:
Anyway, I am SO sorry that I couldn’t make it to your book signing today. I was at a club with Rhiannon and I completely MISSED it!
It would be a PLEASURE to help you come up with a name.
WHAT I THINK A GOOD BOOK IS/ABOUT:
1) Based on a true story. (I LOVE Jacqueline Wilson Books!!!)
2) Easy to understand.
3) Certain categories of age. (You NEVER get books aimed at/about YR 5’s/9/10/ year olds going through bad times!)
4) Meeting with children and discussing things that you could put in a story.
If you wanted to, we could maybe meet up sometime and decide on a title??? I mean if you wanted to?
Best wishes,
Andie x
March 7th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Hi Andie,
Don’t worry about missing the book signing - you can always keep up with what’s happening on my blog. I hope you don’t mind but I edited out your email address - a lot of SPAM picks up on things like that and I didn’t want the spammers to bother you.
I like your ideas for a good book. Funnily enough Simone’s Letters is all about being in Y5 so you might want to check that out - although it’s in Love Simonexxx now so she gets older in book 2 and 3!
I’m putting a post up later today about choosing the title for the books so I hope you’ll vote!
And you never know, we might meet again one day - perhaps I’ll come to your school to do another visit or you’ll see me at a signing. Give me a big wave if we do!
Helena
March 7th, 2010 at 10:28 am
PS Andie to your other posting. I’m sorry you’re feeling unsettled at the moment but as you know from Jacqueline Wilson’s books (and mine) things have a habit of working out in the end.
March 9th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Dear Helena,
Please could you make a seriously scary, realistic ghost story?
Andie x
March 9th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Heck! I don’t think I could, Andie. I prefer real life stuff but I know a man who can… try Neil Gaiman’s Coraline or Chris Wooding’s Poison. They’re not about ghosts but they are pretty scary.
March 10th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Dear Helena,
I have read Coraline and I will try the other book. I am SERIOUSLY interested in the paranormal at the moment. I MAY have one in my house! We think it might be my dad cus’ he died before I was born!
Andie
March 10th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Don’t get too interested, Andie - you can get spooked doing that.
March 11th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Dear Helena,
At my b-day sleepover we went into the most ‘haunted’ place in my house and my mum told us all ghost stories. My mate was practically screaming!
March 13th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Hi Helana,
I’m the girl with the glasses from R-o-T y,know the one who had read some of yor after school club books. I have two fave authors Jacqueline Wilson and you. When you signed my clubing together book on the way back to school I couldn’t get my nose out of it or love simonexxx. I wish I could meet you again. Do you know jacqueline wilson? your so cooooooool! I loooovvvve your books!
March 14th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Thanks Caitlin! Lovely to hear from you. I’m afraid I don’t know Jacqueline Wilson though I have met her a couple of times and heard her give talks. I’m always flattered to be compared to her. I’m delighted you enjoy my books - keep reading!
March 24th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Hi Helena
I have got to get your other after school club book because I’ve finished reading clubing together and love Simonexxx. I read them about 10 times because they are so briliant. I love the part in Simone when she makes a website.Bye!**************!!!!!!!!!!xxx
March 25th, 2010 at 8:16 am
That’s great feedback, Caitlin. I love Simone’s website, too. I can remember having such fun writing the stories - especially making up the problem page. There’s more Simone stuff on my website if you check out the index. Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoyed the books. It makes my day!