I REALLY MISS MY DAD You will find Dad’s sonnet in the memory garden in Horsham park. I don’t believe in an afterlife and I’m inclined to cringe when people talk to their dead relatives in books or television dramas. None the less, I often find myself drawn to the park bench beneath Dad’s poem…

"It's like going on holiday in my head!"- 9-year-old in #LetterboxClub Our Letterbox Club sends fun parcels to children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage. The books are chosen by a panel of experts, and here's what's coming up! Find out more: www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...

The move to secondary school can be a really exciting time - but a bit nervewracking too. Books can help children to process these emotions, so we asked Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend author @simonpackham.bsky.social to recommend some to try: www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recomme...

Saw 'My Neighbour Totoro' last night. Such a brilliant show. We're going again!

We have 4 copies #ZakMonroeIsNotMyFriend by @simonpackham.bsky.social to #WIN! Sam is about to move to secondary school & discovers his best friends haven't chosen him to join their tutor group. He feels lost, how will he cope? RP & Flw by May 2 to enter @uclanpublishing.bksy.social #WRDMagComp

Very excited that 'Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend' is out today. Have a good one Sam and Zak!

Ten Random Things I’ve Learned About Publishing TEN RANDOM THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT PUBLISHING (WITHOUT THE CYNICAL STUFF!) When my new middle-grade novel 'Zak Monroe Is (Not) My Friend' (UCLan) comes out on April 3rd it will be my tenth published work of fiction. To mark that milestone (well it…

Visited the lovely Bookbugs & Dragon Tales bookshop in Norwich yesterday. Got to sign the wall too!

🎭 Exciting News! 🎶 We’re thrilled to announce that Clare Packham and Fintan Kealy are the new Cameron Mackintosh Resident Musical Theatre Writers at British Youth Music Theatre! 🎉 Starting this Spring 2025, Clare and Fintan will spend six months at BYMT in Leeds, developing a brand-new musical!

My Dad would have been 100 today. Still miss him so much. To celebrate his birthday, I always read one of his plays.

Can’t wait to see this musical version of my YA meets Victorian schoolboy story meets Lord of The Flies (with weird choirboys) ‘unpublishable’ novel.

A gentle reminder that bloggers review books because we are passionate about reading. We don't get paid and do it out of genuine love. The best way to show your appreciation is to support us back. Promote our posts. Share what we do. Give back some of the love we give you.

Our research shows nearly a third of children do not have multiple reading influencers in their lives. It's essential we support as many people as possible to share stories with young children - helping them to enjoy the lifelong benefits of reading: www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/i...

There's still time to make a change 🗣️ Add your name to this author-organised letter and encourage the government to change its course on copyright exemption for generative AI use of creatives works docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #CreativeRights #ArtificalIntelligence #PayTheCreator

This is coming soon!

I'm wearing my scarf to support childrens' well-being with @coramlifeeducation.bsky.social #WearYourScarfDay

so so so so so happy to be on this amazing list with @pinchytheatre.bsky.social !!! our tryout’s on the 25 Feb if you wanna come support 🦞🐖🦞🐖🦞🐖🦞

Loved this one. A great idea beautifully realised.

Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs? by Simon Packham is a good one - about a boy who feels he is turning invisible when his family lose their home and have to navigate homelessness and hostel living. fireflypress.co.uk/books/archie...

A heartfelt and encouraging #MiddleGrade story for anyone feeling lost in the face of life's big changes, Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend by Simon Packham looks like a fabulous read. Our 03/04, huge thanks go to @antswilkinson.bsky.social @uclanpublishing.bsky.social #KidlitUK #UKKidlit

So amazing for me (and my kids) to see my pretty niche job represented in a children’s book. Thank you @simonpackham.bsky.social - worrybot bringing joy to public health consultant parents across the country! #publichealth (And my daughter said it was great & recommended to all her friends)

i wrote & directed this! & now it's coming back to London for 7 shows!!!! hooray!

Spent the afternoon in Narnia. (At Nymans) Always liked 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe', but much preferred the bad characters - especially The White Witch.

Craven Cottage is not a lucky ground for me. And slightly regretting dropping Iwobi from my fantasy league team to avoid a conflict of interest. Great goal though.

Super excited to get my author copies of the Japanese version of 'Worrybot'. And relieved to have cured my Bluesky writer's (writers' ?) block.

Hello. Thought I'd better try this one too. Anyone interested in UK children's writing out there?