author visits by steve weatherill
for schools and libraries

Group size: 30 - 100 children
The action: First, I draw Goz and his friends. The children join in by trying to guess what animal it is going to be. They suggest names and new characters. Some children are invited to come up and add details to the drawings, such as whiskers and claws, but the line intended to be a dog, may end up as a baby standing on its head!

The Goz play: We read the 1st Goz story, then the children act it out using the costumes and the karaoke machine. They become a living book. The stories can change and extra characters can be added depending on the size and length of the session. The idea is to give a spark to the children's imagination and creativity, so that afterwards they can make up their own stories and drawings in class. Click here for children's pictures.

The 3 Little Puzzle Pigs: 5 children act out this version of the well known story with a lot of audience participation and the new Story Play Fold Away houses. Can get quite lively!

For children aged 7 to 11

Talking about making books and writing stories using the flip-chart and storyboards to show how to get ideas, invent and develop characters etc.

Working with the History craft series: Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Vikings, Middle Ages, Prehistoric.

Question and answer session.

The core activity lasts a minimum of 40 minutes and is adapted to suit the ages and abilities of the children.
For example: more reading and drawing by myself and the children, questions and answers about making books, etc.

'...hope you will visit again in Oct 2008...' McArthur Nursery School, Belfast

'Many thanks for your inspired storytelling on Tuesday...'
Hartlepool library,

'Thank you for your exciting visit...'
Mount Nod School, Coventry, March

'I brought my Year 2 class to see you at Fairfield Library. What a good morning it was. The children had a great time (so did the members of staff). When we got back to school, the children  were buzzing talking about the visit. They really enjoyed the drama and found it great fun,  especially  the dressing up.'
Pauline Taylor, Fairfield School, Stockton-on-Tees

'...We'd love you to do Gala Day again on Nov 22 and a week of school visits...' The Northern Children's Book Festival 2008

'..delighted that you're going to be back in Northern Ireland again...' Belfast Libraries

'...The sessions as usual, went really well...'
Manchester Libraries

'The 3 Little Pigs was great ...a lovely way to finish the day...'
Humber Mouth Literary Festival July

You helped to make the Storytelling Festival a HUGE success.
Sue Willis, Lancashire Libraries, Preston

'...I would like to book another event in April'
Debbie  Straw, SureStart, Notts

All schools booking a visit will receive a free pack of books and have the option to buy more at a special visit price.
For resale to fund the visit or to pass the saving on to the children, so they have an affordable signed copy to keep.
A choice of 20 titles.
£1, £2, £3 and £4
(25-50% off the published price).

£300 (Society of Authors recommended minimum rate)

plus the cost of travel by car at 40p per mile -(Costumes and props etc. to transport)

or

£245 Local only (no travel charge) Spalding / Boston / KLynn / Wisbech

£145
Local only (no travel charge) Spalding / Boston / KLynn / Wisbech