Author

ROBIN STEVENS

Exciting half-term encounter at

Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End. 

Ruby - Tanzanite and Alice - Indigo meet Robin Stevens

We now have a signed copy of her new book 

'A Spoonful of Murder' in the series  'A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery'.

Borrow it today!

Author Visit

Josh Lacey & Garry Parsons

On Tuesday 20^th June the author, Josh Lacey and the illustrator, Garry Parsons came to meet our children in Years 1, 2  & 3.  The children and teachers had a fabulous morning listening to Josh talk about being a writer while Garry showed them his brilliant drawing skills.

Josh read to the children from his hilarious ‘Dragonsitter’ series which is based around the pickle a family get into when they agree to babysit a dragon. Garry did lots of live drawing sharing with the children how he got the inspiration for his dragon and the other characters in the book.

There was lots of fun and laughter especially when Josh challenged the children to come up with an idea for something Garry could not draw. The children asked him to draw, William (Yellow class) with all the children in the background which Garry, after several comic attempts, managed to draw in a matter of minutes and almost with his eyes closed. The children were captivated.

Josh and Garry finished their presentation with a round of questions from the children. They were both asked what it was like to do their jobs and Josh said it was “fun but not easy” and Garry said it was “a joy”. I think they might just have inspired lots of budding writers and illustrators!  

Thank you to the Josh, Garry, Andersen Press and Children’s Bookshop, Muswell Hill for organising the event.

DAVID WALLIAMS

DAVID WALLIAMS

We have been offered a brilliant opportunity for the Year 5 children to see David Walliams, the author of popular books such as ‘Grangsta Granny’, ‘Grandpa’s Great Escape’, and ‘Billionaire Boy’ at Highgate School. David Walliams will give a talk and there will be an opportunity for the children to ask him questions. He will be unable to sign any books due to his tight schedule.

This event will take place at Highgate School on Wednesday 17^th May. The children will walk to Highgate School after morning registration accompanied by members of the school staff. Please ensure your child arrives at school on time. They are expected to wear their school uniform and they will return to school in time for lunch.

Lucky, lucky Year 5!

Author Visit

Author Visit

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

We are delighted to inform you that the fantastic author and illustrator duo, Angela Keoghan and Chris Lam Sam, will be visiting our school on Thursday 9^th March as organised in conjunction with Tate Publishing and Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End.

 

They will be reading from their newly published book, ‘Inspector Brunswick: The Case of the Missing Eyebrow’ and holding a workshop with Years 1 and 2. Afterwards there will be a chance to purchase the book which will be personally signed by the authors.

 

Angela Keoghan is an award-winning illustrator and Chris Lam Sam is a well-known author and entertainer. They are both based in New Zealand.

                                                                                     

It is suitable for age 5+ readers. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to purchase a signed copy.

 

If you wish to purchase the books in advance please pay using ParentPay and complete and return the payment slip to the office (email replies accepted) by Wednesday 8th March.  If you wish to purchase the book with cash please send in with your child the exact money and completed payment slip, in a sealed envelope clearly marked with name and class, on Thursday 9^th March. CASH SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT IN BEFORE THIS DATE.

 

We are, indeed, very privileged to have Angela Keoghan and Chris Sam Lam visit our school and we hope that you will support this event.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Grainne Rooney

School Librarian

Matt Haig

 

Thank You Letters

Last November, Matt came to visit the school and to talk about his writing and to launch his new book 'The Girl Who Saved Christmas'.

Children in Years 4, 5 and 6 have been busy writing 'thank you' letters to the author, Matt Haig.

Here are some of the letters.

Beatrice  - Blue

.

Frankie - Green

Ondine - Indigo

 

Valentina - Violet



Calvin - Amethyst

We all had a fabulous time and will be reaping the benefits for some time to come.

Maybe Matt will come back and visit us again soon!

Karen McCombie - Author Visit

Karen McCombie

We are delighted to inform you that bestselling author, Karen McCombie, will be visiting our school on Tuesday 17^th January as organised in conjunction with Stripes Publishing and Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End.

 

Karen will be talking to Years 2, 3 and 4 about her writing followed by a book signing.  All children, whether or not they are attending the talk, are able to purchase the books which will be personally signed by the author.

Karen has written over 80 books full of endearing characters and quirky humour; her series Ally’s World has sold over 200,000 copies. Born in Scotland, Karen now lives in north London.

She has just released ‘St Grizzle’s School for Girls, Goats and Random Boys’, the first book in a brand-new illustrated series set in a girls’ boarding school. It is fresh, fun and fabulous with friendship at its heart!

                                                       

 

It is suitable for age 7+ readers and illustrated by Becka Moor. So don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to purchase a signed copy.

 

If you wish to purchase the book in advance please pay using ParentPay and complete and return the payment slip to the office (email replies accepted) by Monday 16^th January.  If you wish to purchase the book with cash please send in with your child the exact money and completed payment slip, in a sealed envelope clearly marked with name and class, on Tuesday 17^th January. CASH SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT IN BEFORE THIS DATE.

 

We are, indeed, very privileged to have Karen McCombie visit our school and we hope that you will support this event.

 

Author Visit

Matt Haig

On Wednesday 16th November the bestselling author, Matt Haig came to visit St Joseph's.

Matt Haig has not only won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Smarties Book Prize but, he has been shortlisted three times for the prestigious Carnegie Medal for his stories for children. Released last year, A Boy Called Christmas was called “an instant classic” by The Guardian, with Stephen Fry, the voice of the audio book, proclaiming it “The most evergreen, immortal Christmas story for decades”.Its sequel, The Girl who Saved Christmas, has just been published.

 

His presentation to children in Years 3 – 6 was fantastic. Matt talked to the children about his writing and explained how his inspiration for writing A Boy Called Christmas was his son who wanted to know how Christmas began. He read from his new book, The Girl who Saved Christmas and showed a fun video of the illustrator, Chris Mould, creating the images for the story. Matt also taught the children words that Charles Dickens had invented such as “chuckaboo” meaning friends and “gigglemug” meaning someone who laughs a lot.

The children were so delighted and participated in all the fun activities that Matt had prepared for them especially Ilaria (Year 4) who dressed as an elf and Bianca (Year 5) who dressed up as a troll for a game called ‘Trolls versus Elves’.

 

Afterwards many of the children got to meet him personally as he signed their copies of his books. He was truly impressed with the children and the school.

 

It was a truly inspiring visit!

 

Thank you so much Matt.

 

Thank you too to Canongate Books and Children’s Bookshop, Muswell Hill who made this event possible and to all the Parents/Carers who supported us by purchasing books.

 

 

 

 

 

Morris Gleitzman

An Invitaton to Highgate School for Year 6 to meet

Morris Gleitzman

Thursday 19th May

We have many of his fantastic books in our library.

Why not read a few in preparation for the visit.

A Trilogy told from a child's viewpoint about growing up in Poland during the Second World War. A difficult subject dealt with in a sensitive way.

 

  

The funny tale of one toad's bold quest to make humans like them. It certainly will give the reader plenty of laughs.

Also, you can find out more about the author at http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/about/fst_about.html

Jeremy Strong Visit

JEREMY STRONG

Year 4 were extremely lucky to be welcomed to Highgate School to meet Jeremy Strong. The author of hilarious books such as 'Doctor Bonkers'. 'My Brother's Famous Bottom' and 'The Hundred-Mile- An-Hour Dog'.

The author told us about himself, what inspires his writing and how he has come to have written over 100 books! The children laughed from start to finish as the witty author gave away all of his tricks of the trade. He needs peace and quiet and refreshments when he works so he locks himself away in a shed in his garden with the company of his cat and his fridge!

He also let us in on the secret that he can only ever write in black ink and on pages with no lines!!

His work was truly put to the test when Jeremy chose Agatha from Sapphire Class to read some of his handwriting. It was impossible as it was so messy. Even Jeremy could not read it. He now does all his work on a computer so that it is legible.


Check out more about this hilarious author and his books on his website http://www.jeremystrong.co.uk/

Jeremy Strong

Fabulous News!

On Monday 8th February Year 4 children will be going to Highgate School to meet one of the most popular children's authors in the world, JEREMY STRONG.

The children will have a chance to meet him and purchase signed copies of his books such as 'The Cartoon Kid' series, 'The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog! series and 'My Brother's Famous Bottom' series.

Will report back!

Alan Durant

 On Wednesday St Joseph’s was visited by Alan Durant, author of over ninety books including Football Fever, Dear Tooth-Fairy and Billy Monster's Daymare.

Alan led a whole-school assembly and ran workshops with Years 1 and 2. During the day the children heard poetry about custard, why monsters are scared of children and how being small is a superpower. They wrote stories and songs about pirates, pterodactyls, sweets and unicorns. Every class that worked together on a story had some absolutely amazing ideas that took everyone by surprise.

Alan also taught us all what it means to be an author. When he was younger he thought you’d need a long, grey beard and a giant brain. You don’t! You just need to love reading, and to write about something that you care about.

It was a fantastic day and all the children and staff who saw Alan in action had a brilliant time! Thank you Alan!

These are just a few of Alan Durant's fantastic books!

The End of the Book Fair!

Thank you everyone for another hugely successful book fair!

So many children and adults visited the fair to explore and to choose their books.


Even with golden tickets, prize vouchers and World Book Day vouchers we still raised more than £1,100 in books for the school!

Book week is over but its events are still running! Just last week Years 3 and 4 got to meet author Cressida Cowell and this week an author is visiting us!

Alan Durant will be in school on Wednesday, working particularly with Years 1 and 2 and will be signing books after school.

Thank you to everyone who has helped turn a great Book Week into a fantastic Book Month!

Cressida Cowell

On Wednesday Years 3 and 4 went to Highgate School to meet one of the most popular children’s authors in the world: Cressida Cowell, writer of the How to Train Your Dragon series. 

She showed us some of the amazing creatures and places that inspired her in writing her books and taught the children some fantastically gross and secret phrases of Dragonese that even the teachers weren’t allowed to hear! 


She also shared the title and an excerpt from her new book out in September. It’s the last in the series, and no one else outside that room has ever heard what she read to us!

It was a brilliant day, and the children (and teachers) had a great time. A big thank you to Mrs Cowell and to Highgate School for inviting to share in such an exciting visit!

Next half-term is going to be really exciting as we really focus on reading at St. Joseph’s!

The 5^th of March is World Book Day. All the children and even some of the staff will be welcome to dress up as one of their favourite book characters! Every child will also get a free £1 book voucher.

You can use that voucher right away as the book fair starts on the 6^th of March! Just like last term it will run before and after school each day until it ends on the 11^th. Please do come along. Remember – buying books from the book fair earns free books for the school. The last fair was truly record breaking with over £1300 raised!

Lastly, we are privileged to have author Alan Durant visiting the school on the 18^th of March. Mr Durant is not just a great writer but really loves to help children get to grips with their own writing. Have a look at some of his books; it’s sure to be a great day!

Who's Who: Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson is one of the most popular children's writers there is. Most of you will have read or seen the Gruffalo but how about these other brilliant books:

Who's Who: Eoin Colfer

We've got a lot of books by Eoin Colfer in the library! Have you read any of them? Here are a few you might like: