Dear Headteacher / Literacy Co-ordinator
/ Head of English / Librarian,
Book an author for World Book Day -- Thursday 4 March
If you're thinking of inviting an author to visit your school around the time of World Book Day, here's a list of children's non-fiction authors who offer talks, readings and workshops for KS1, KS2, and KS3. You may not recognise us by name, but you almost certainly have our books in school.
A non-fiction author visit is very
different from that of a fiction writer or a poet. Think of it as 'literacy plus' - non-fiction is informational literacy and the 'plus' aspect introduces children to key skill sets such as research, teamwork, negotiation, co-operative learning, and more.
Cost
The cost of an author visit is typically in the range £300--£400 per day, plus expenses. Some authors will visit for half-days, in which case the fee will be lower. Smaller schools sometimes share an author for a day, and the cost is split between them.
How to book
To find out more about an author, their
events, and to make a booking, please contact the author
directly. Most of the authors have websites giving full information
about themselves and the school visits they make.
Areas covered by visits
Each author has indicated where they live
and which regions are most convenient for them to visit in a day. We are aware
that not every area of the UK is specifically mentioned. This does
not mean that an author will not visit you - please contact an author of your choice
to see what can be arranged.
We hope you find this contact list of
interest, and look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
John Malam
(on behalf of the authors named here)
PS:
Book early to avoid disappointment!
AUTHORS (IN ALPHABETICAL
ORDER)
| HOWARD DAVIES and CATH
SENKER
Writes: Children's non-fiction
photographer (Howard) and author (Cath)
Books include: Howard
(photographer) - photography for 22 children's books including A
School Like Mine (DK); Wake Up, World! (Lincoln). Cath (author)
around 80 children's educational books, mostly on history, religions
and global issues including Famous Lives: Anne Frank (Hodder
Wayland); Talking about My Faith series (Watts); Why are People
Refugees? (Hodder Wayland). Working together we have published books
in the Moving to Britain series (Watts) and Letters from Around the
World series (Evans) including titles on the USA, Saudi Arabia,
Poland and Ireland.
School visits: Howard and Cath
offer joint workshops. For both of us on the same day, pay for one of
us full price, get the other half price! Cath can also run
non-fiction book workshops alone. You can book Howard alone to lead
workshops on refugee and asylum issues. Sessions include: Interactive
workshop for Y2-Y6. Through group activities, children will discover
all the aspects of creating a non-fiction book, including deciding
the contents, writing the text and selecting the photographs. (45 to
90 mins). Make your own non-fiction book (half day).
Tel: 01273 208741
(Brighton)
Email: pics@eye-camera.com
Website: www.eye-camera.com
Will visit: South-east England; London |
 |
| CHRIS FAIRCLOUGH
Photographer/author: Children's
non-fiction
Books include: How to Make a Book,
Living In... series (Watts); Global Cities series, People Who Help Us
series (Evans); Helping Hands series (Wayland); Reading Roundabout
series (Watts); Look Around You series (Wayland). Over 800 titles
written or contributed to.
School visits: Talk in the form of
instant question and answer format that takes children all around the
world on a journey seeking out the materials and the people that are
needed to actually make a book. Time permitting, I finish with
stories and questions about my travels to any one of the 60 countries
that I have visited over the past 30 years. Allow 60 to 90 minutes
per session. Suitable for upper KS1 and KS2.
Tel: 01428 713090 / 07768 735771
(near Petersfield, Hampshire)
Email: chris@chrisfairclough.co.uk
Website: www.chrisfairclough.co.uk
Will visit: All UK, including
Northern Ireland |
 |
| ANITA GANERI
Writes: Children's non-fiction
(Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2009 for Best Book with
Facts)
Books include: Horrible Geography
series: Violent Volcanoes, Odious Oceans, Bloomin Rainforests, Planet
in Peril, Perishing Poles and others (Scholastic Children's Books);
Alive (Dorling Kindersley); The Explorer's Handbook (Buster Books);
Prayer and Worship: Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jewish
(Franklin Watts); Sacred Texts 6-book series (Evans Brothers);
Hopscotch Stories from Religion 6-book series (Franklin Watts); Who's
Who series - in Exploration, World Religion, Ancient History (A &
C Black). More than 400 titles, mostly as author.
School visits: Horrible Geography:
an interactive talk for Y3-Y9, based on the best-selling book, with
readings, quizzes and inflatable rainforest insects; World religions:
a bespoke talk for Y3-Y9, based on the study of world religions with
readings and artefacts; Creative non-fiction: an hands-on workshop
for Y6-Y9 and teachers where participants learn how to craft a piece
of creative non-fiction writing from a set of research notes; Courses
for KS1/2 teachers: aiming to introduce non-specialists to the basics
of teaching Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism.
Tel: 01943 816790 (Ilkley, West
Yorkshire)
Email: anitaganeri@tesco.net
Website: www.anitaganeri.co.uk
Will visit: Mostly Northern
England and the Midlands but will consider other areas, particularly
if several schools can club together. |
 |
| SUSIE HODGE
Writes and illustrates: Children's
fiction and non-fiction, adult non-fiction
Books include: Art in History:
Prehistoric, Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman, Tudor and Victorian;
Biographies: Leonardo, Monet, Picasso; Medieval history, ancient
history, the Forbidden City; Israel; How to Draw and Paint; Art
Attack; Design and Make puppets, picture frames and masks; creative
crafts; animals; Extreme Science: Celebrity Snappers and Toxic! Plus
Latin and Ballroom Dance.
School visits: National
Curriculum-linked Creative Workshops for KS1, 2 and 3; Communicating
through Work Journals and sketchbooks for GCSE, AS and A2 (am happy
to adapt these to fit in with ongoing school projects).
Tel: 01702 344117
(Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex)
Email: susiehodge@hotmail.com
Website: www.susiehodge.co.uk
Will visit: Essex, London, Kent,
Hertfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Suffolk, Norfolk |
 |
JOHN MALAM
Writes: Children's non-fiction
(a National Literacy Trust Reading Champion, recognised for
engaging reluctant readers, particularly boys)
Books include: KS1 biographies:
Florence Nightingale, Queen Elizabeth II, Vincent van Gogh, and
others; KS2 popular histories: You Wouldn't Want to be a Victorian
Schoolchild, You Wouldn't Want to be a Roman Gladiator, You Wouldn't
Want to be a Worker in a Victorian Mill; KS2/KS3 narrative
non-fiction: Titanic - Shipwrecks and Sunken Treasure, Battle of
Hastings, Gunpowder Plot, First Man on the Moon; KS1/KS2 Oxford
University Press 'Project X' guided readers designed primarily to
appeal to boys.
School visits: Fiction reading for
Reception; biography reading for Y1-Y2; talks for Y3-Y9 on 'The
Journey of a Non-Fiction Book'; hands-on role-play workshop for Y5-Y9
where children work in teams to create their own non-fiction books
(focus on co-operative learning and teamwork). Experienced at working
with children of all abilities, including SEN, MLD, and G&T.
Workshops suitable for transition events (Y6 to Y7), G&T
clustering, and mentoring (eg Y9 working with Y7).
Tel: 01606 863540 (Winsford,
Cheshire)
Email: johnmalam@onetel.net
Website (with bookings diary
and evidence of children's work): www.johnmalam.co.uk
Will visit: North-West (Cheshire,
Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside; Tameside); Midlands (Derbyshire,
Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands); West Yorkshire, North
Wales, and will consider other areas |
 |
RUPERT MATTHEWS
Writes: Children's non-fiction and
adult non-fiction
Books include: Winston Churchill
(biography for KS2), 100 Things You Should Know about Gladiators
(KS2/KS3), Triceratops (KS1). Also The Battle of Thermopylae (adult)
and Haunted Places of England (adult). Plus over 100 other books.
Regular contributor to BBC History magazine.
School visits: Talks on most
historic subjects, some in character; Toys of the Past (R/KS1) with
1920s train set, 1950s doll, 1970s walking dog, etc. Romans in Your
Area (KS1/KS2/KS3) workshops and activities, including archaeological
artifacts for children to handle. Also, in-character presentations:
Victorian Careers and Life in World War 2 (KS1/KS2/KS3) with objects
to handle. Educational Funsheets available (see website for
details).
Tel: 01737 356197 (Epsom,
Surrey)
Email: rupert@bretwalda.demon.co.uk
Website: www.rupertmatthews.com
Will visit: Surrey, Kent, Sussex,
London, Berkshire, Hampshire, plus other areas on request |
 |
STEVE PARKER
Writes: Non-fiction, mainly
sciences including life sciences and technology
Books include: Planet Ape (as
co-writer with renowned author Desmond Morris, Mitchell Beazley); How
It Works - Ships, Cars, Aircraft, etc. 6-title see-inside series
(Miles Kelly), Robots 8-title series (Watts/Creative); Changes In ...
and Planet Earth, two 4-title series, one 'green' and one on
habitats, for mid-KS2 (QED); Children's Cool Technology Encyclopedia
(Parragon); The Encyclopedia of Sharks (A&C Black); Building
Wembley (OUP); Ultimate CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (DK); 100
Facts About ... T Rex, Endangered Animals, Fossils, Sharks, Whales
and other titles (Miles Kelly); The Brain Book and The Human Body
Book (DK); Eyewitness Skeleton, Electricity plus about 20 other
Eyewitness titles (DK). More than 250 titles as author, editor or
contributor.
School visits: Interactive
workshops on science and nature, from dinosaurs to the future of
conservation, human body, machines, space, etc. weaving in book or
website production skills as arranged, from first idea to finished
product.
Tel: 01379 678991 (Diss,
Norfolk)
Email: steve@steveparker.co.uk
Website: www.steveparker.co.uk
Will visit: Most of UK, especially
if several schools coordinate a visit |
 |
STEWART ROSS
Writes: Award-winning children's fiction and non-fiction, mostly history-based
Books include: Moon (OUP),
Pirates, Plants and Plunder, Greed, Seeds and Slavery (both Random
House); Coming Alive!, Start Up History and Flashbacks series (all
Evans Brothers); Survivors series (Hodder); Tales of the Dead series
(Dorling Kindersley), etc.
School visits: Lively talks and
interactive workshops to any requirement, any number, any age,
including INSET. A term's notice much appreciated.
Tel: 01227 784617 (Canterbury,
Kent)
initial contact by email preferred
Email: words@stewartross.com
Website: www.stewartross.com
Will visit: Anywhere south of,
say, Preston (Lancs) but will go further if several schools are able
to co-ordinate visits |
 |
ANGELA ROYSTON
Writes: Children's non-fiction
science
Books include: Wild Weather
Hurricanes and Tornadoes (QED); Animals Under Threat and other titles
in Headline Issues (Heinemann); Does it stay warm? in All About
Materials (Franklin Watts); Sustainable Energy (Wayland); My Body Why
do I sleep? (QED); Living in Space; My World of Science series
(Heinemann); My World of Geography (Heinemann); Eye Openers (Dorling
Kindersley) and many more.
School visits: Talks and workshop
on how books are created; creative science-writing workshops -
different topics for Y2-Y6, including materials used in printing a
book, friction, living in space with no gravity, desert habitat, and
global warming.
Tel: 0207 263 8600 (London,
N7)
Email: angela@roystonmail.co.uk
Website: www.angelaroyston.com
Will visit: London and places
easily accessible from London |
 |
ANDREW SOLWAY
Writes: Children's
non-fiction
Books include: Wild Predators
series, Why Science Matters series (KS2/3); Your Body Inside Out
(KS2); Energy for the Future series (KS2); World of Music and World
of Dance (KS2); Rome (ill. Stephen Beisty); titles in Oxford Reds and
Fireflies series (OUP early readers).
School visits: Interactive
talks/workshops for KS2/KS3 on writing and creating non-fiction
books. Examples of topics that can be covered include 'The Science of
Making Bread', 'How Scientists Make Discoveries', 'You are Home to a
Billion Bugs', 'Can we Produce no Carbon for a Day?' and 'Dance
Pioneers'.
Tel: 01981 570663 (Hereford)
initial contact by email preferred
Email: solwaya@yahoo.co.uk
Will visit: Wales, West Midlands, Oxfordshire,
West Country |
 |
RUTH THOMSON
Writes: Children's non-fiction and
fiction
Books include: Adventures in
Literacy (24 titles about writing fiction and non-fiction for Y1-Y4);
Adventures in Art (KS2); Reusing and Recycling (KS2); A Victorian
Childhood at School, Work, Home and Play (KS2).
School visits: 'Storywriting
Secrets and Surprises' - improving writing and telling stories,
particularly effective for boys (KS1 and 2); 'The Recycling Roadshow'
- an interactive exploration of materials with recycled object
handling (KS1 and 2); 'Inspiration Africa' - making workshops: choice
of masks, patterns and prints, musical instruments, toys and games;
Rich and poor Victorian children - an interactive session, using
contemporary images and modern photographs to compare the very
different lives of rich and poor Victorian children; Recreate -
inspiring workshops making jewellery, badges, masks and moving toys
from junk materials.
Tel: 0207 607 4623 (London,
N1)
Email: ruththom@hotmail.com
Website: www.knowtrash.com
Will visit: All UK, including
Northern Ireland |
 |
JOHN TOWNSEND
Writes: Children's non-fiction and
fiction
(a National Literacy Trust Reading Champion, recognised for
engaging reluctant readers, particularly boys)
Books include: Painful History of
Medicine / Childhood / Crime / Science (series); the story 'Deadline'
has been selected by the Schools Library Association for Boys Into
Books; The Big Book of Baddies: A wicked history of villainy
School visits: Talks/workshops for
KS2/KS3 on story-writing or strange but true stories. Presentations
feature 'Yucky Yarns to Make You Squirm' or the 'Weird, Wacky and
Wonderful'. Pupils can choose from 'No Snoring in The Library',
'Don't Have Nightmares" or 'You Won't Believe This But...' about
books on crime, mysteries, incredible creatures and more.
Tel: 01886 884397
(Worcestershire)
initial contact by email preferred
Email: john.towns@lineone.net
Website: John Townsend at authorhotline.com
Will visit: Midlands, south
central, East Anglia (sometimes) |
 |
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