A novel for teenagers. Jason loses it at school. He’s been in and out of care because his mum has a drugs problem. And now Jon is back, with his violence and sinister errands. A storyteller and a drummer are visiting Jason’s school. Last time they came, everything fell apart for him. If he tries to write a journal, is it going to be a waste of good paper?

Pairing a witty narrative with rich illustrations, The World Champion of Staying Awake is destined to become a treasured bedtime classic. Seira Wilson, Amazon Best Books of the Month July 2011

This isn’t the first book to subvert conventions by giving a child the responsibility of ushering others to bed, but it’s easily one of the more lovingly executed and designed. Publishers Weekly

Anyway, I will be visiting the UK in May and early June this year, and appearing at the Brighton and Hay festivals.

The event in Brighton will be on Saturday 22nd May – an hour-long session of stories, poems and creative writing for 3-6 year olds. More details here Brighton Festival 2011.

At the Hay Festival, illustrator Hannah Shaw and I will be doing a couple of creative writing/creative drawing sessions to promote our new picture book THE GRIZZLY BEAR WITH THE FRIZZLY HAIR. Both the sessions will be on Saturday 28th May, one at 11.30am, the other at 4.00pm.

Come along if you happen to be nearby. And make touch if you would like to arrange a bookshop reading or school visit in the second half of May or the first half of June.

Hilarious, laugh-out-loud fun. ‘Kirkus Reviews’

The repeated exclamations are sure to have young readers joining in. ‘Publishers Weekly’

Like last year’s ‘Crocodiles are the Best Animals of All’ this is destined to become a read aloud favourite…Children will love the banter and laugh-out loud moments. ‘The Bookseller’

…children will howl with laughter and cheer at the end. ‘School Library Journal’

A love story that’s long on charm and entirely free of mush. ‘Publishers Weekly’

A ring-a-ding winner. ‘Kirkus Reviews’

Tigers are quick and tigers are hairy.

We climb, we growl, we jump, we chew…

and we’re terribly good at tickling too.

A lively picture book for 2-4 year olds, in which a tiger Dad gives three cubs some tips in the art of tickling.

A word of caution to any adult reading or sharing the book: be prepared to be very thoroughly tickled during and after… ‘Cork Evening Herald’

I would have written something here sooner if his arrival had been an easy one. But it wasn’t.

Rafa was born with a rare condition called a diaphragmatic hernia. It meant that organs which should have been down in his abdomen were actually up in his chest. This made it difficult for him to breathe. And less then two hours after his birth, he was in intensive care. The doctors reckoned his chances of surviving were about 50:50. At only 4-days-old he had to have an operation to put things back in the right place.

Happily the operation was a success. Even more happily, Rafa made an amazing recovery. One doctor used the word “sensational” to describe it (a nice word to hear from a doctor.)  

He spent nearly three weeks in hospital but is now at home with us, and seems a strong, happy baby.

So, here’s to the special boy, who got through such a hard journey so early on.

I read this poem to him when he was born:

WAITING FOR RAFAEL PATRICK

The chairs have been listening out for you.

Trees in the park look to see if you’ve arrived.

At the bottom of the toy-box, animals wonder

if your fingers will bring them to life.

The grit under the steps expects you.

Roof tiles look forward to keeping you dry.

A sandpit sits quietly, waiting for your feet.

The moon waits for you to look in the sky.

A warm weave of family and friends waits.

The hard ground waits to catch you when you fall.

And spoons lie waiting to reflect your face

in the darkness of the kitchen drawer.

Colours, stories and seashores wait for you.

And the sounds from the street before dawn.

And now the windowpanes whisper to each other,

                        “He’s born! He’s born now! He’s born now! He’s born!”

Although Rafael is doing well, and life is steadying now, I’ve decided not to travel to the UK as planned in May of this year. I’ve cancelled a number of events I was going to take part in. But I will be making the journey later in the year…in August and September.

So I’ll be available for school visits, bookshop signings other events then. Make touch if you’d like to arrange anything.