MASSIVE THANKS to Sheffield Libraries for including both 'A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting' by me and David Roberts and 'Odd Socks' by me and Rebecca Ashdown for their brilliant Sheffield Children's Book Awards!

I finally got to meet Rebecca at the event, as well as meeting and catching up with loads of other authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians and - always at the heart of these amazing awards - KIDS!
You can read the list of winning titles here (top picks for Christmas!).

Every so often a UPS van pulls up outside my house with something exciting from my publishers in the US. Usually it's a proof copy of my latest book or the handful of copies I receive whenever a new book has been published. Today it was something even more special.

My heartfelt thanks to the libraries and children of Wyoming State for choosing 'There's a Lion in My Cornflakes' as the winner of a Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award this year. I couldn't be more thrilled and I know the book's brilliant illustrator Jim Field will be chuffed too.
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Where to hang it? Possible around my neck everywhere I go for the next day or so. Super proud. Thanks again, Wyoming!

​YIPPEE! 'A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting' - written by yours truly and illustrated by David Roberts - has been shortlisted for the Independent Book Shop Week Book Awards 2017! View the full shortlists here.

​The teachers behind the NSTBA really do know what they're talking about. They read widely and only blog their recommendations. The shortlists across all of the categories represent the very best in children's literature. So if you're wondering what to read next or what to buy for the classroom, check out their wonderful website.

Drum roll, please... 'There's a Lion in my Cornflakes' has won Best Picture Book at the Stockport Children's Book Awards 2015!
Me and Jim Field were invited along to the very special, very glamorous award ceremony at Edgeley Park last night, along with some extremely well dressed librarians, teachers and children who took part in the awards process from start to (victorious!) finish.
The award is particularly great as it is voted for by children. They're the best judges I know, so I'm extremely flattered that me and Jim won as our book was up against some very stiff competition. Bravo to Emma Chichester Clark (Bears Don't Read), Claire Freedman and Russell Ayto (Top, Top Secret), Emma Yarlett (Orion and the Dark), Nicola O'Byrne (Use Your Imagination) and Tim Hopgood (Little Answer).
Massive congratulations to Gill Lewis who won Best Reads for Juniors with her book 'Scarlet Ibis' and to Ali Sparkes' whose novel 'Destination Earth' won the Best Teen Reads category. It was great to meet them both, and I was also thrilled to meet poet Mike Garry who was a superb and inspiring host.
Best of all, though, was meeting Jim at last. I even got a hug and a high five. BEST DAY EVER.
At the risk of 'doing a Paltrow', I'd like to say thank you to Kay and her team at Stockport Libraries for making me feel so very welcome and for organising such a fantastic night. Thanks to Jim for making the book such a stand out rip-roaring one. Thanks also to my agent and the brilliant team at Bloomsbury for making it all possible. And thanks very much to all the children who voted for 'There's a Lion in My Cornflakes'.
I'll keep everything crossed that I might be back again in the future...