David O'Connell
@davidoconnell.bsky.social
📤 506
📥 216
📝 46
Children's book writer & illustrator. Mostly on Instagram.
https://davidoconnell.carrd.co/
pinned post!
BEASTIE BROS is out today, squishing everything I've learned about books & story making into something that's absorbing, informative & engaging, & visually dynamic too! Huge thanks to Scholastic, particularly brilliant editor Julia Sanderson & fab designer Sarah Baldwin!
shorturl.at/l2XBi
#ukkidlit
7 months ago
0
8
1
reposted by
David O'Connell
ALCS
12 days ago
The Royal Literary Fund are offering grants to writers facing financial difficulties. If you're currently experiencing difficulties, such as an illness or unexpected bill, you might be eligible to receive support.
loading . . .
Grants for writers facing financial difficulty
As our research into authors’ incomes demonstrates, a career in writing is often financially precarious. If you’re currently facing financial difficulties, whether that be due to an unexpected bill or...
https://www.alcs.co.uk/news/grants-for-writers-facing-financial-difficulty/
0
46
50
reposted by
David O'Connell
Libraries 4 Schools
18 days ago
As we work our way into autumn, transport yourself to sunnier weather by checking out our book recommendations from over August! We had quite the reading haul last month, so there really is something for everyone 👀
www.libraries4schools.com/2025/09/05/b...
#BookSky
#ChildrensBooks
#BookReview
loading . . .
Monthly Book Recommendations: August 2025 | Libraries 4 Schools
Book Recommendations: August 2025 | With fiction, non-fiction and picture books galore, check out what we were reading last month!
https://www.libraries4schools.com/2025/09/05/book-recommendations-august-2025/
3
9
7
Lovely review for Beastie Bros 2!
#ukkidlit
#kidlituk
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
0
1
1
reposted by
David O'Connell
Scholastic UK
about 1 month ago
BEASTIE BROS: DUNGEONS AND DRAGONFLIES is out today! Dash and Dribble are back and they're heading to the local ant nest. But someone's stolen the queen ant's crown jewels... and they're the prime suspects! Don't miss the next hilarious instalment from
@davidoconnell.bsky.social
– out now.
0
1
1
Happy publication day to Beastie Bros: Dungeons & Dragonflies! Thank you to the team at
@scholasticuk.bsky.social
for making the creation of this so much fun! I'm spending the morning at Bag of Books in Lewes, doing a window painting, if you'd like to come along & say hello!
#ukkidlit
#kidlituk
about 1 month ago
1
7
5
Beastie Bros: Dungeons and Dragonflies is out this week! It has daring deeds, a choose-your-own-adventure chapter, maggots, a sword called Jennifer Richards, and open mic poetry! I had a heap of fun making it with lovely
@scholasticuk.bsky.social
.
#kidlituk
##ukkidlit
about 1 month ago
0
6
2
Lovely review for Beastie Bros: Dungeons & Dragonflies! Out on August 15th. 🐌🐉#kidlituk
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
0
3
2
Cool!
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
0
1
0
This has crept up quickly! New Beastie Bros out in August.
add a skeleton here at some point
2 months ago
0
1
0
reposted by
David O'Connell
Scholastic UK
3 months ago
Start the new school year by inspiring reading in your class! From 15th – 19th September, we're hosting a full week of exciting author events to help you promote reading for pleasure, including story-times, draw-alongs and Q&As with beloved authors and illustrators.
1
1
2
Hello! BEASTIE BROS: DUNGEONS & DRAGONFLIES is out in August! Dribble & Dash are on a quest to find the Gumdrop of Destiny, but perils await in the maze of tunnels beneath the ant hill... Fantasy fun featuring fake beards, custard lakes & a trusty sword called Jennifer Richards!
#ukkidlit
#kidlituk
3 months ago
1
8
3
Last call for our picture book-making course!
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
0
4
3
reposted by
David O'Connell
Curtis Brown Creative
5 months ago
Want to illustrate picture books? 🖍️ Children's author-illustrators
@sarahmcintyre.bsky.social
&
@davidoconnell.bsky.social
will help you to bring your stories for children to life on our six-week Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book course! 📆 Course starts 15 May, enrol now:
loading . . .
Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book with Curtis Brown Creative
Our 10-week writing and illustrating a picture book course helps you learn how to bring new worlds to life on the page as you create stories and characters that capture the imaginations and hearts of…
https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/illustrating-a-childrens-picture-book
0
2
3
reposted by
David O'Connell
Curtis Brown Creative
5 months ago
Create brilliant stories for young readers! 📖🖌️ Our ten-week online Writing & Illustrating a Children’s Picture Book course includes expert advice from children’s author-illustrators,
@sarahmcintyre.bsky.social
and
@davidoconnell.bsky.social
Course starts 15 May:
loading . . .
Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book with Curtis Brown Creative
Our 10-week writing and illustrating a picture book course helps you learn how to bring new worlds to life on the page as you create stories and characters that capture the imaginations and hearts of…
https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writing-and-illustrating-a-childrens-picture-book
0
3
2
Picture book writing course written by me - starts soon!
#ukkidlit
#kidlituk
add a skeleton here at some point
5 months ago
0
7
3
reposted by
David O'Connell
Jill Bennett
5 months ago
Hercules Braver presents his 3rd set of adventures diary form in
#HerculesHerotoZero
wherein he tries to get rich
@storyandplot.bsky.social
ills.
@davidoconnell.bsky.social
scholasticuk -it’s
#RedReadingHub’s
#fiction
#kidlit
book of the day reviewed on the blog
wp.me/p11DI5-d8v
loading . . .
Hercules Hero to Zero
Hercules Hero to ZeroTom Vaughan, illustrated by David O’ConnellScholastic Hercules Braver returns for a third set of adventures presented in the usual diary form and taking place during the school…
https://redreadinghub.blog/2025/04/26/hercules-hero-to-zero/
1
1
1
BEASTIE BROS is out today, squishing everything I've learned about books & story making into something that's absorbing, informative & engaging, & visually dynamic too! Huge thanks to Scholastic, particularly brilliant editor Julia Sanderson & fab designer Sarah Baldwin!
shorturl.at/l2XBi
#ukkidlit
7 months ago
0
8
1
I've created an activity pack to go with my Beastie Bros book (out on Thursday!). Including wordsearch, colouring sheet, and story-making ideas - might keep young ones busy for a bit during half-term. Download for free from here:
shop.scholastic.co.uk/resources/48...
##ukkidlit
#kidlituk
7 months ago
1
5
3
reposted by
David O'Connell
Rob Jackson
8 months ago
Lets have a comics sale. Till the end of the month I'm selling three different bundles of comics, as pictured below, £10 each, free postage. UK only sorry. Why not have a look? Cheers
robjacksoncomics.blogspot.com/2025/02/febr...
0
3
6
Last one of these - I saved the best until last (debatable)!
loading . . .
8 months ago
0
2
1
Possibly my favourite characters in Beastie Bros.
loading . . .
8 months ago
0
4
2
Grottibottigan’s Juice Bar is the coolest hangout in Bugtown.
loading . . .
8 months ago
0
3
2
Some of Dribble and Dash's friends...
loading . . .
8 months ago
0
5
3
reposted by
David O'Connell
Chloe Douglass
8 months ago
Happy Together is out today! 🎶🥁🎺🎸🎵 It's currently only available on Amazon here in the UK, but hopefully your local bookshop will be able to order a copy or two today! 😊
#kidlituk
loading . . .
2
8
5
I've realised Dribble and Dash represent different aspects of me. Mostly I'm grumpy Dribble, but I have my Dash moments (except I don't flash my bum too often these days).
loading . . .
8 months ago
1
2
2
Introducing some of the characters from my book out next week! 🐌 (I promise I will stop going on about it at some point. Just not yet.)
#ukkidlit
#kidlituk
loading . . .
8 months ago
0
5
2
This competition closes at the end of this week! Win a visit to your class by actual bugs! In a non-infestational way, because that would awkward. But, who knows? Perhaps if they like it they might stay. You could sit next to them at lunch break and compare sandwich fillings or whatever. 🐌🐞🦗🐜🐛🦋🐝
add a skeleton here at some point
8 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
David O'Connell
Chloe Douglass
8 months ago
Not long until
#HappyTogether
is out. (Feb 4th!) Head to your local bookshop to preorder a copy 😊
0
15
4
I'll be doing some Beastie Bros events next month: firstly, a comics workshop at the brilliant Chicken&Frog bookshop in Brentwood during half-term:
eventbrite.co.uk/e/comic-worksh…
8 months ago
0
2
1
Enter before the end of the month!
add a skeleton here at some point
8 months ago
0
0
0
From Scholastic UK: COMPETITION TIME!
#ukkidlit
Would your class want to meet MINIBEASTS like Dribble and Dash (UK only)? The 'Snail Code' is very important to Dribble. Write your 'Human Code' as a class to be in with a chance of winning a visit from Bugfest! Enter now:
surveymonkey.com/r/QLHJWGQ
8 months ago
1
2
4
Beastie Bros is out in a month! [Flabrella = flab umbrella, ie. a human from the viewpoint of a bug on the ground.]
9 months ago
0
1
1
Advance copies of my heavily illustrated chapter book 'Beastie Bros' have arrived! I love how it's come out!! It has a map, silly adverts & activities + an exciting story too. Out in Feb '25. Thank you Scholastic UK! 🙏 🪳🕷🦋🦗🐞🪲🐝🪰🐜🐛🐌🪱
9 months ago
1
6
2
Sneak peek from my Beastie Bros book! This is Crispin T. Earthworm who pops up occasionally as a living footnote to wormsplain bug language and culture to us humans. Beastie Bros is out in February '25.
10 months ago
0
6
1
Hello Monday! Two of my fave characters from my book Beastie Bros (out Feb 13th from Scholastic UK): the naughty slugs! Reg Scribble's spent time at sea. When he wiggles his tummy his mer-slug tattoo does the backstroke. Flattened Dominic was run over by an escaped courgette. They both love karaoke!
10 months ago
0
4
2
Sneak peek from my book Beastie Bros, out in February! I love cutaways, so I put in a double-page spread of Roboslug, Dribble the snail's cabbage juice-making machine, complete with tooter, snack box and poo launcher. More sneak peeks to come.
10 months ago
5
26
8
Hello - I seem to be picking up followers from a political starter pack that has my name in it by mistake. You're very welcome to stay, but I only post about children's books, so unless you're into bug drawings + fart jokes you might find my feed a bit of a let down.
10 months ago
0
4
0
Thank you so much to Charlotte Eyre and The Bookseller for making Beastie Bros a 'One to Watch' in their February previews! A pre-order or two would be very welcome!
10 months ago
1
7
3
you reached the end!!
feeds!
log in