The National Year of Reading launched today and it feels like a chance to shout from the hilltops that books matter, libraries matter and giving children time and space to read for pleasure really matters. Every story shared is a small, powerful act. goallin.org.uk.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s event at @ipswichbookfestival. Link in profile. 😄

🚗🐼 Join me & Mr Panda at Ipswich Book Festival We’re celebrating 60yrs of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang + 10yrs of Please Mr Panda 🎉 📚 Sun 5 Oct, 1PM 📍 St. Clement’s Arts Centre ✨ Free event www.ipswichbookfestival.com/events-sunda...

Hi! Exciting public library events October 11th. 10:30am, Hugerford Library, Church Street, Hungerford, RG17 0JG (booking directly at the library) 2pm, Thatcham Library: Bath Road, Thatcham, RG18 3AG Booking link for Thatcham: ticketpass.org/event/EIWXRV...

10!

It’s been a couple of months. Just a few photos from a recent shoot with Charlotte Knee Photography. The last couple of months have been, well, completely unforeseen… so it was nice to have a day out and smile for the camera. Thanks, Charlotte!

Starting my 49th year by crossing the Capilano suspension bridge in Canada!

We are SO thrilled that WE CAN has been long listed for the 2025 Little Rebels Award. This is such an honour! And huge congrats to everyone else on the long list!

Best thing about the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is catching up with friends and making new ones.

Jane Elson and I, pictured with the amazing Annie Everall, joined a whole host of authors and illustrators at the UK Pupil Library Assistant of the Year 2025 awards ceremony yesterday at the Pearson building on The Strand in London yesterday.

Patrice Lawrence and I joined Wales Children’s Laureate Alex Wharton and BookTrust Cymru Director Sioned Jones for a panel on representation in early years, part of an important conference led by Cabinet Secretary for Education Prif Siaradwr.

TSL COVER REVEAL: The featured School Librarian is Karen King! “Karen goes above and beyond helping students both inside and outside of school. She is also very busy on the Secondary School Librarians Facebook page, offering advice, info and often emotional support.”

7am Monday morning I will reveal on Instagram which school librarian is the TSL magazine’s next cover star!

Rainbowsauruses at Loddon Primary School 😊

Event news! Rainbowsaurus (and I) will be at the Ealing Festival Sunday 27 April, 10:30am – 11:30 am at the Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ Tickets now available - link here: www.pitzhanger.org.uk/whatson/eali...

Today I met with Outreach Librarian Debbie to discuss the 10th annual competition, and her new guide dog Valerie stole the show (and my heart).

Finishing the final spread of a book is such a great feeling! The ninth Mr Panda picture book is done!* *At least until I receive publisher feedback and proofs, but even so, I feel a huge sense of relief.

Thank you for your thank you! It’s why we started. We genuinely believe we can make a huge difference. Not just to kids lives but also, to the publishing trade. The biggest misconception there is, if kids borrow books they won’t buy them when the opposite is true. Kids are collectors.

Pictures of our #worldbookday donation of 450 books to this amazing school! 🥹

Meet The LiBEARian from William Cobbet’s School Library and the Actual librarian, Caroline.

Huge congrats, everyone!!!

The ‘We Can!’ Book Tour launched today and we met the lovely School Librarian Caroline today.

Was great to spend time with Anish (pictured) and Sonia from the NLT’s Swindon Hub today in the main shopping centre. They had books to give away!

Teachers at Bournville Primary School dressed up as the cast from The Queen’s Handbag for World Book Day!

What a day! Thank you Loddon Primary School for having me! Huge thanks to School Librarian Florence for organising an epic World Book Day.

In an ever changing world let books lead the way. Happy World Book Day!

Setting things up for my first World Book Day visit this week. Hope everyone has a great week!

It’s almost upon us! Wishing everyone a fun, memorable week! Today I am at the bookshop in Swindon Central Library. @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social

Wow. Every paper.

The world’s FIRST reading of CHICK took place this morning at Croft Playgroup, Swindon - a lovely charity group in Swindon. And they liked it!!

From touring Las Vegas with Mr Panda to visiting Vegas County Clark Library, I had the most amazing time in the city that never sleeps. Lovely to meet Librarians Laura, Diana and Jordon. Fab to see ‘Please Mr Panda’ in the District’s top 100 Books Your Child Should Hear Before Kindergarten.

Happy #RandomActsofKindnessDay @mrsteveantony.bsky.social and I want to give away 4 copies of WE CAN so that you can nominate someone to win one. Just like this & comment with their name & #wecan. We'll pick 4 winners at random (UK only pls) on 18 Feb. Pls repost? www.instagram.com/reel/DGLMH01...

Libraries for all! I love this bus, spotted in San Francisco.

Steal, verb 1. take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it. "thieves stole her artwork" Links to resist the UK government’s proposal here: linktr.ee/MrSteveAntony

One moment I’m addressing 200 teachers, the next moment I realise I haven’t spoken to anyone for a whole day. I’ve just finished an illustration for the next Mr Panda book. Been so busy with travelling/events, I’m pooped. Need to ensure I have space before March (WBD). Been home all day with a 🤧.

My fav thing about this is Penguin’s expression. Happy Valentine’s Day. Give yourself a hug, just like Sloth does in this book, ‘We Love You, Mr Panda’, which published during the pandemic.

The latest Read for Empathy collection has been launched. As always, it's full of absolutely superb books, including graphic novels, poetry, picturebooks and non-fiction. The work @empathylabuk.bsky.social are doing is incredibly important. More information here: www.empathylab.uk/rfe

Posting this letter to my MP publicly as I know that many, especially those who don’t work within the creative industry, may not clearly grasp the gov’s proposal re copyright & may not feel informed enough to contact their local MP yet still feel strongly re protecting copyright.

This is, as you’d expect from Sarah, lovely, direct and straightforward.

A handwritten letter on my illustration work desk to my local MP, Mel Stride, asking him to help UK children's book illustrators keep our copyright during the current AI policy consultation ✍️ @mrsteveantony.bsky.social @alcs-uk.bsky.social @societyofauthors.bsky.social (Typed out in the alt text)

My thoughts on the government’s proposal to allow AI into all of our houses of copyright to freely rob, recycle and resell our creative work unless we, the copyright owners, stipulate that everything within our respective houses are respectively ours. Links in profile to let your voice be heard.

I went all the way to Portugal and FORGOT TO TAKE THIS 🤦‍♂️. The Portuguese translation of ‘You Can!’ which I illustrated and was written by Alexandra Strick. It’s such a great example of how children can express themselves creatively.

Back home after a three day picture book trip to Portugal to celebrate APPInep’s 25th annual seminar for teachers. Walked home in the rain from the coach station and have just ordered a big pizza. Bliss.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PICTURE BOOKS! A summary of a plenary I delivered in Portugal.

A power that can change lives and maybe even make the world a kinder place. It is a power we can all harness. The power of picture books. This school in Leiria, Centro Social Paroquial, is a great example of how teachers use picture books to bring out the best in their kids.

I have updated my monthly blog for educators and librarians. Find out how you can nominate a school librarian or literacy champion to become a cover star. www.steveantony.com/blog/2025/1/...

Proofs arrived for Hippo Potty! Looking forward to sharing a sneak peek next week (signing off socials now until Monday). x

Shout out to all the snakes - this is your year! Happy Year of the Snake! Yes, I know snakes aren’t orange but this is from Rainbowsaurus.