Fun morning filming with @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social in South East London

Thought provoking evening @TheO2 listening to @barackobama.bsky.social & @davidolusoga.bsky.social Around 20,000? people and yet you could have heard a pin drop. At times depressing, at times hopeful but certainly a lot to think on.

We hope the new school year has started smoothly for you all. It might be time to turn your attention to booking some exciting things for the year ahead? Take a look at our website www.speakingofbooks.co.uk or email [email protected] We’d love to hear from you

Perfect Sat morning courtesy of @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social It’s already made me laugh and think. I’m only on ‘A’! The intro mentions an event I sorted out so as always, reading your books has such a personal connection and I feel very fortunate. Thank you for my “Good Day” spent reading

A truly special day with the ridiculously talented @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social and Zohab Zee Khan performing for children in Kent today @leedscastleuk. Thank you @VirtSchl_Kent for having us!

It’s humbling to be in a room packed with people who dedicate their professional lives in service of others the way those across our NHS do. Tonight North London NHS Foundation Trust’s staff awards was hosted by @MichaelRosenyes and I got to go along too.

Lastnight we had an SOB outing to watch our client Rea Malhotra-Mukhtyar in a thought-provoking piece of storytelling, very different to her school sessions which we organise for her. With her usual talent, warmth and creativity, it was such a treat to see her versatility as a performer and artist.

Looking forward to working with @hfleducation.bsky.social again! Always a pleasure to be asked back! Get ready for some fun!

The brilliant @drzacharywalker.bsky.social is speaking at @hfleducation.bsky.social Primary Headteacher’s Conference 👇🏻 To book Zachary to speak at your INSET or conference, contact me [email protected] #education #leadership #EduConference

Fun day at “work”, filming with @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social then a diary session, which is always Michael’s fave thing to do!

Sooooo good to see you @speakingofbooks.bsky.social! So many possibilities!

What a gorgeous start to my working week. A meeting with @drzacharywalker.bsky.social in sunny Russell Square. Always a treat, full of exciting plans and ideas 💡

A group of us went to watch our dear friend Michael Rosen live narrate the incredible dance show based on his ‘Sad Book’. Superb choreography @201DanceCompany. A truly moving yet also healing experience. Congratulations to all involved but mostly to Michael, who I just went North of the river for ♥️

Grateful thanks to @essexepha for inviting us back again. This morning @NerysHughesWCT ran a session on Headteacher wellbeing focusing on the pillars of mental health. Packed with practical ideas and thought provoking questions for leaders who prioritise others before themselves

Exciting news 📣 : Delighted to welcome Rea Malhotra-Mukhtyar to the Speaking of Books team - please check her out on my website speakingofbooks.co.uk and contact me to book her for your school! [email protected] Thanks to @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social for introducing us! ⭐

Great job Ellie - that's incredible, what a team!

You are a star @drfergy.bsky.social and @excelanconsult.com is lucky to have you. The audience will be so lucky!

Proud to be representing @excelanconsult.com tomorrow when I deliver a keynote on Emotional Based School Avoidance excelanconsult.com/people/

Have you signed up to my weekly newsletter yet? Mental health and special needs resources every week- downloadables, slides, podcasts, videos, book recs and more Sign up at pookyknightsmith.substack.com If you're already signed up, please recommend to a friend...

That’s a wrap on WBD week 2025! Between us, I’m very proud to report that the SOB team have delighted nearly 25,000 children across the globe this week! An enormous amount of hard work and long hours behind the scenes pulling it all together. My grateful thanks to everyone involved🥂

Our new website - viewable Desktop or Mobile! www.excelanconsult.com What do you think? #Education #Leadership #Culture

We are tired of seeing commercial consultants misapplying the latest research, and academic consultants struggling to make study findings effective in the real world. Our expert team guarantees ground-breaking research, delivered to real world requirements. #Leadership #Education #Culture

All packed and leaving for @childcareedexpo.bsky.social @myolympia to support @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social (not physically… or emotionally for that matter!). Two seminars and a mammoth signing session, @RovingBookshop no doubt. It’ll be a fun day!

Tomorrow I'm at London Olympia Childcare & Education Expo. First I'll be opening the whole show (scissor snip?), then doing two keynote talks on stories and how they help us live and survive. Also signing books with @RovingBookshop all set up by @SpeakingofBks See you there!

@michaelrosen.bluesky.social is performing at this fantastic FREE online festival for children in early years and their families - Sat 15th Feb - stay warm inside and enjoy the fun! See👇🏻 for details👇🏻

But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in battle, shall join together at the the latter day and cry all, 'We died at such a place' Coming in April

It was brilliant!

And how’s this for a journey home? Heading south of the river on the cable car. A huge treat at the end of a brilliant day.

We’ve had a brilliant day hanging out with @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social & Christian Foley at The Bett Show. Some interviews, huge book signing and then a poetry performance from these two giants of children’s literature and discussion on poetry’s place in our classrooms.

Here we are with @MichaelRosenYes doing some interviews (well he is, we are busy taking selfies!) @Bett_show #bettuk

Excited for tomorrow: I’m off to @Bett_show #bettuk working with the brilliant @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social & @cfoleypoetry who are taking to the main stage in the afternoon. They’ll both be signing books @RovingBookshop stand (they’re already set up👇🏻) come and say hi!

I am beyond humbled by the amazing feedback from the parent workshop on behaviour and emotional regulation 😊🙏🏾#Proud

Thank you to every single reader who borrowed one of my books from the library! Every loan = a few pence royalty. And those pennies add up! This scheme is called PLR AKA free money for published writers, illustrators, editors, translators & audiobook narrator. Register for PLR here! www.bl.uk/plr/

My favourite thing about my job is getting an exciting brief in from a client and knowing the perfect person to do a fantastic job. Well done Clare Luther (children’s author) - Thank You for being brilliant! 🤩

It’s true. The cat runs Speaking of Books.

If you're a teacher, librarian, parent or carer looking for activities for your kids, here's a lesson-long virtual school visit I did with @booktrust.bsky.social about reading & writing. It covers all my books from Varjak Paw to Tyger, and is free for all to watch! www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWHw...

Support independent bookshops! They are such vital spaces - places of genuine connection and humanity, increasingly rare in this world. And there is no better gift you can give to anyone of any age than BOOKS!

Thank you for all you do Ellie!

2024: I get to work with amazingly talented, committed & fun professionals. Thank You to our speakers for all your hard work & inspiration this year. Here’s to much more in 2025! Thank You to everyone who has booked through us this year - we hope to work with you again soon.

TOMORROW NIGHT, SATURDAY, DEC 8 www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/1st-commemor...

READING ALOUD CHANGES CHILDREN'S LIVES FOREVER! Just 10 minutes a day can be enough to help them find the love of books, and become lifelong readers. So whatever else you do, always find the time to read aloud – and the more you do, the better! #literacy #reading #books

Oh - @speakingofbooks.bsky.social does more than just authors and illustrators. She does all kinds of bookings - professional coaches, leadership, SEND, psychologists, policy. Find all the best speakers through Ellie.

Please follow Ellie. You will be illuminated by all sorts of things to do with the world of children's books, especially in relation to the authors in her stable 'Speaking of Books'.

Good Morning! Shortly, I have a briefing meeting on zoom with @dacorumesc.bsky.social & @drzacharywalker.bsky.social We will listen to the objectives for their INSET day in Jan + suggest & agree content for Zachary’s session. We offer these sessions to all CPD bookings. 1/2

If you want to book our amazing EYFS Associate @ruthswailes.bsky.social in 2025 then be quick! Only available dates left are Sept 26 and 29 Oct 23 Nov 10, 14, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27 Dec 9, 10, 11. More about Ruth's work plus contact details here: www.independentthinking.co.uk/speakers/rut...

Libraries matter more than ever now! They embody a beautiful & brilliant idea that we must never stop defending. The idea that knowledge is free & belongs to EVERYONE. We all need to support our libraries & librarians - especially when people seek to ban books & free thinking. #libraries #books

I follow Ellie because I'm in Ellie's stable at Speaking of Books. It's brilliant. She organises my bookings and even comes sometimes to the gigs. She makes sure that I get my fruit tea and sometimes reminds me to go to the loo. One snag: she lives in South London but I do my best to cope with that.