The past few weeks have been quite hectic for me, filled with conferences, writing assignments, and preparations for an upcoming literature festival! Today, I seized the chance to snap a photo with my poetry and activity book, which is now available at the wonderful Rudding Park shop in #Harrogate. This book is designed for primary school children and focuses on themes of kindness, empathy, and health, featuring enjoyable activities. It’s an excellent resource for families on the go!
We may speak thousands of languages, but we all call this planet home.
No matter where we come from, protecting our Earth is a shared responsibility.
We need more ambitious #ClimateAction — for our planet and the generations to come.
— via @UNDP
Thanks to the 40 fab volunteers who cleared 36.45 kgs of waste from #Stonehaven today on our #beachclean with @PFStonehaven
It was great to see so many 1st time volunteers. It’s such an enjoyable way to start the weekend & just perfect in the sunshine. #springcleanscotland
The best time to venture out for an early morning run. Enjoy your Easter Monday. 🐣
I’m running 40 x 10k’s for @nspcc Childline’s 40th Birthday💚. If you would like to help give children a lifeline with childline, join our team to help raise awareness, or donate here: https://t.co/zCJWnJC16g
Today marks the start of #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek and the launch of my newest title, ‘Wellbean Friends,’ a children’s poetry and activity book - the poems are brought to life with lively illustrations by Ursula Hurst.
RT/Like to receive a signed copy.
The book offers a fantastic opportunity to bond with children, engaging in reading and fun activities together. You'll meet characters like Runner Bean, who advocates for fitness and highlights the benefits of exercise; Baked Bean, who teaches children the value of being a friend; Kidney Bean, who emphasises the importance of kindness and being your true self; and Soybean, who encourages children to share their feelings and talk about their worries.
Checkout free resources from @Place2Be@Place2BeScot
Excited to announce that my poetry & activity book, #WellbeanFriends, drops on February 4th! Just in time for Children’s Mental Health Week! 🧠💚
Let’s help children explore their feelings through creativity and connection! 🌈📚
Illustrated by the fabulous Ursula Hurst. #MentalHealthMatters #Poetry
#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek
Nine years ago today, I met the very inspirational Dame #EstherRantzen and chatted about my Share Some Secrets story that encourages children to speak up.
I also completed 30 x 10k runs for the #Childline 30th Anniversary.
The book is one of the best-selling titles in the @NSPCC online shop, with some proceeds donated for the benefit of Childline. Here’s the link to buy:
https://t.co/BR9n4NMkmy
The #autumnequinox arrives on 22nd September when day & night are almost equal in length. From then on the dark half of the year sets in as the light starts to diminish & the darkness increases at the beginning & end of each day. #OwlishMonday#FolkloreSunday#NewMoon
A healthy 🌍 would be one where a #WorldCleanupDay is no longer needed and images like this become a thing of the past.
Solutions to #BeatPollution are here: https://t.co/2KbLJyTBYg
More coming soon about my upcoming story, "Missing," the third installment in a series designed to raise awareness among children, teenagers, and our communities about county lines exploitation and related criminal activities. This project is commissioned by North Yorkshire Police funded by @YNYCombined@YNYMayor.
Over the moon that @ChristiGabbitas will be with us in Nov!
Please take time to speak with Christina over the Festival weekend to find out more about her amazing work and latest project.
She’ll be on the mezzanine floor near our Festival desk 14-16 Nov @innsideuk#Manchester. 😊
Thank you to the Aspergillosis Trust team for making me so welcome.🤗
The process of bringing this story to life has been incredibly rewarding, albeit filled with its own set of challenges. Writing for children requires a delicate balance of simplicity and depth, especially when tackling a subject as complex as a chronic illness. I wanted to ensure that the story was both relatable and educational, providing young readers with insights into the feelings and experiences of children who have a parent living with Aspergillosis.
Huge thanks to my illustrator Ursula Hurst whose illustrations perfectly complement the narrative, adding warmth and emotion that words alone sometimes cannot convey. Special thanks to my editor Rebecca Thomas whose guidance has also been invaluable.
‘Dad and the Sneaky Spores’ not only informs but also inspires empathy and understanding among young readers.
My hope is that this book can serve as a gentle introduction to the topic, encouraging open conversations about Aspergillosis.
Thank you once again to the Aspergillosis Trust for believing in me and commissioning this project. Here's to the power of storytelling!
To learn more about the charity and to buy the book, here’s their website:
https://t.co/LqeY7hBbaU
I had the pleasure of presenting Sara Burton of #Blackburn@Blackburn_CU with a special award for her dedication, and presenting certificates to the amazing children from the five most engaged primary schools in our third @ChildrensLFests#clfbookawards! 🌟 Their love for reading is so inspiring! 📚❤️
A big thank you to Cllr Julie Gunn, Deputy Leader of @blackburndarwen, and our wonderful charity patron, Cynthia Johnston of @LondonU, for joining us and adding to the excitement! 🙌
FLUENCY FRIDAY!
Continuing with this week’s theme of International Day of Peace (9.21), here's the lyrics to a great peace song – “Blowin in the Wind.” Also, here's a link to a captioned youtube video of Peter Paul & Mary performing “Blowin in the Wind” https://t.co/sAOKTZNuhd
I was honoured to be invited to the launch of The Nature of Gothic exhibition at @BlackburnMuseum by the inspirational Dr Cynthia Johnston who is one of my patrons for Children's Literature Festivals charity.
This remarkable showcase features extraordinary artifacts that are displayed alongside significant works borrowed from prestigious institutions such as the British Library, Manchester Art Gallery, and Cambridge University Library.
The exhibition is co-curated by Dr. Cynthia Johnston from the University of London and Anthea Purkis from Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. It aims to situate Blackburn's collections within a broader narrative of creativity, collecting, and cross-cultural dialogue.
One standout piece comes from fabulously talented Jamie Holman, who collaborated with artists in Islamabad to create a work inspired by the Tregaskis bindings borrowed from the John Rylands Library at the University of Manchester.
More news coming soon about my sequel story to 'Believe in the Magic' written in 2020. The story sees Peggy and Imtiaz on another mission that centres around the museum.
#writing #art #books #history #christinagabbitas #blackburn #museum