A fabulous 2 day visit to QSI Zhuhai!
September 29, 2017 at 5:48 pm | Posted in Being an Author, School visits, Zhuhai schools | Leave a commentTags: A Dirty Story, Chinese Calendar Tales, How to Create Writers in the Digital Age, QSI Zhuhai, The Tale of a Dark Horse, The Tale of Chester Choi, Writing workshops
Thank you to the lovely Heather Domenico (above left) for hosting me on Wednesday and Thursday at QSI Zhuhai! It was a very busy time, with story readings from the Chinese Calendar Tales and Dirty Stories for everyone from 2 years old to 13 years old, and writing workshops for everyone from 7 years old to graduation! Plus a talk to the parents and staff about How to Create Writers in the Digital Age – and book-signings in between! Not to mention some great chats with British poet and publisher Neil Stevens, a teacher at the school (above right). Then a fun evening with Principal Cliff Geis-Poage and his lovely wife and teacher Becca who treated me to a delicious dinner before I caught the ferry home to Hong Kong! Everyone was so warm and welcoming – the terrific staff, Theresa in administration, not to mention the mums and dads and the gorgeous kids and teens. It was my first visit to Zhuhai in mainland China, and my first visit to QSI – I hope to see you all again soon!
Just 11 days left in my Wonderful Whale Haiku Competition!
September 19, 2017 at 12:51 pm | Posted in Clever Competitions, Storm Whale | Leave a commentTags: Clever Competitions, Storm Whale, Wonderful Whale Haiku Competition
Detail from Storm Whale by Sarah Brennan and Jane Tanner, Allen and Unwin, 2017
A big HELLOOO to the wonderful writers who’ve submitted their entries into my Wonderful Whale Haiku competition! We’ve had entries so far from students in 9 different schools in Adelaide, Brisbane, Chicago, Hong Kong, Kolkata, Shanghai and Singapore! But there’s still 11 days to go! If you love whales, and haikus, and haven’t entered my competition yet, make sure you go straight to my Clever Competitions page above for all the details! I can’t wait to read your entry!
Why I wrote Storm Whale and other questions…
September 12, 2017 at 4:53 pm | Posted in Being an Author, Press interviews | Leave a commentTags: Jane Tanner, Old Barn Books, Storm Whale, The Letterpress Project
Thank you to The Letterpress Project in the UK for publishing two terrific interviews with Jane Tanner and I about our beautiful new book Storm Whale, the UK edition of which was published by Old Barn Books in August! You can read them here and here !
It’s World Literacy Day!!
September 8, 2017 at 6:30 pm | Posted in children's literacy, Room to Read | Leave a commentTags: Room to Read, World Literacy Day 2017, Writer Ambassador
Hooray for Room To Read on World Literacy Day 2017! I’m so honoured to be a Writer Ambassador for an organisation which has been responsible for giving millions of children (especially girls) the gift of literacy! Take a look here here to see just some of the extraordinary Room to Read projects currently underway around the world! And if you want to support their wonderful work, you can donate or sign up here. here!
Thank you Shatin Junior School mums and dads!
September 8, 2017 at 6:15 pm | Posted in children's literacy, Hong Kong Schools, School visits | Leave a commentTags: How to Create Writers in the Digital Age, Shatin Junior School, Top Tips to create literate children
Last night I had the great honour of speaking to over 150 parents of Shatin Junior School students about How to Create Writers in the Digital Age. I talked about the growing body of science showing the benefits of reading print books for the brain…as well as the problems of digital addiction amongst children, from infants to teenagers, and the shortcomings of screens for developing brains. I talked about the importance of imaginative play, and limiting time spent on extra-curricular activities so that children have plenty of free time. I also talked about redesigning the home with bookshelves, reading lamps and books galore, and regular outings to bookshops and libraries to browse the shelves. And a lot more! It was great to be amongst such motivated mums and dads! Many thanks to my wonderful host Karen Middleton!
A short but wonderful visit to Beijing!
September 8, 2017 at 5:59 pm | Posted in Beijing Schools, Story Readings, workshops | Leave a commentTags: Beijing World Youth Academy, Chinese Calendar Tales, The Dirty Stories
Many thanks to the lovely Kelly Miller (head of library) for hosting me to two fabulous days at Beijing World Youth Academy on Tuesday and Wednesday this week! I gave story readings for all the students, from Kindy to Year 5, and two parent sessions where BWYA’s very dedicated and caring parents heard my top tips for creating Bookworms and Readers in the digital Age! I had a lot of fun, and signed a LOT of books for the many kids and teachers who bought my Chinese Calendar Tales and Dirty Stories!
The Wonderful Whale Haiku Competition is hotting up!
August 21, 2017 at 10:45 am | Posted in children's literacy, Clever Competitions, Writing competitions for kids | Leave a commentTags: Church of England Grammar School Brisbane, Wonderful Whale Haiku Competition, writing competitions
A big hello to the Grade 4 boys at Churchie in Brisbane for their fabulous Whale Haikus which I’ve just received today! I’ve loved reading them and all of you are now entered in my Wonderful Whale Haiku Competition – well done!
And for all of you who haven’t entered yet, remember you have 40 days left to get your entries in. That might seem like a long way away but remember that time flies, and it’s often the early birds who catch the worms, to mix a few metaphors just for fun! I hope to read your entry soon!
Some wonderful Storm Whale reviews in the UK
August 15, 2017 at 11:40 am | Posted in Book reviews, Clever Competitions, media articles, Storm Whale | 2 CommentsTags: Book Bag, Clever Competition, Minerva Reads, Old Barn Books, Storm Whale, Wonderful Whale Haiku Competition
Hello my friends! I hope you’ve had a GREAT school holiday! It’s been a long, quiet summer holiday here in Hong Kong, and I’m feeling wonderful – especially when I read the lovely reviews Storm Whale has been getting in the UK, where UK publisher Old Barn Books released our beautiful story on the 1st August!
Here are two new reviews:
Best picture book of the year from Clare Zinkin at http://www.minervareads.com/storm-whale-by-sarah-brennan-illustrated-by-jane-tanner/
And five stars from Anne Thompson at http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=Storm_Whale_by_Sarah_Brennan_and_Jane_Tanner who says it its the most beautiful picture she’s read for a while!
And speaking of whales…I still haven’t received your entry in my Wonderful Whale Haiku Competition! So go to my Clever Competitions page on the link above, or here for all the information, and start writing!
Bring Me a Book thanks Ema Popovska, joint winner of our March Madness Minibus Photo Competition!
July 17, 2017 at 4:36 pm | Posted in children's literacy, Chinese Calendar Tales, Hong Kong Minibus | Leave a commentTags: Books about China for kids, Bring Me A Book, March Madness Minibus Photo Competition
Readers will remember Ema Popovska’s fabulous winning photo (below) in our March Madness Minibus Photo Competition back in May! Well Ema decided to donate her school set of Chinese Calendar Tales to wonderful Hong Kong charity Bring Me A Book, and they were very happy to receive them! Here’s a photo of Angela Leung, one of their dedicated officers, with our books! We hope that all your community partners enjoy them!
And if you want to know more about Bring Me a Book, whose vision is to create a Hong Kong in which “every child is read to, strengthening family and community bonds, and creating a love of learning”, just click on the link here.
An interview with the CBCA’s Reading Time!
July 8, 2017 at 2:06 pm | Posted in Storm Whale | Leave a commentTags: CBCA, Reading Time Magazine, Storm Whale
Hello again, to all my followers, after 2 lovely weeks away on holidays in my beloved Australia! I had a wonderful time with my family in Hobart, Brisbane and Cairns, and spent my birthday snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef! It was magical!
And just as magical is the news that Storm Whale is selling like wildfire, and is going into reprint already – less than 2 months after its release on 1 June! You can read my interview with the CBCA’s magazine, Reading Time, here: http://readingtime.com.au/meet-sarah-brennan/
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