A MERMAID'S TALE

A little girl I know is going to school on World Book Day dressed as a mermaid.

'How are you going to get there?' I asked.
'I'll swim' she replied.

Her chosen book for the day is The Singing Mermaid by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks which she'll carry  with her.  Every child in her school will be dressed as their favourite book character  as they swim, walk, run or saunter into the classroom on Thursday morning.

And this little girl had a difficult decision to make as the bookcase in her bedroom is crammed full of her favourite stories - and  some of her mother's favourite childhood books too.

'Join our Festival of Imagination' says the World Book Day website 'turning millions of kids into millions of readers.'

 Now I'm a fan of e-books - my debut novel Baggy Pants and Bootees reached  7,000 in the Amazon kindle charts  - but the physical book is a joy that will never go out of fashion.

For many of you a love of books began in childhood, but do you remember the one that held you spellbound more than all the rest? And what are the children in your family doing on World Book Day?  I'd love to hear from you.

World Book Day is on Thursday March 3 2016

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You can find out more about World Book Day here

A best seller in three hundred words...

A legendary children's book of little more than 300 words was the legacy of children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak who died yesterday in Connecticut aged 83. He will be particularly remembered for the award winning 'Where the Wild Thing Are,' which explores the young mind's ability to disappear into  an exciting but frightening fantasy land - and return back home in time for tea.  Unsurprisingly, this book was voted 'Most distinguished Picture Book of the Year' in 1969 and, much   later, made into feature film.

Several years ago my daughter taught a small  remedial group of young readers, all of whom were upset at being teased for their inability to read 'properly.' She and recalls having  a higher degree of success with  Where the Wild Things Are than with any other book..   As well as enjoying  the scary, but exciting  illustrations, the children were able to go home and say 'Look, Mummy, I've read a whole book today.' Self-esteem, at any age, is everything. And, after enduring an unhappy childhood, this was something Maurice Sendak knew only too well. He believed that children needed to address their anger, boredom, fear, frustration and jealousy if they were to grow into well-adjusted adults. Although initially criticised for his sometimes frightening images, Maurice Sendak  of course, was absolutely
right.

NB If you've never read any of his books - you should - adults love them too...

I'm dreaming of a white beach hut...

I saw an interview on television recently that aptly conveyed the joy of reading. An old lady, confined to a wheelchair, was asked  how much books had influenced her life.  'That's easy,' she replied. 'A novel can take me anywhere I want to be, anywhere in the world, with anyone I choose.'

 Listening to those words I realised that I  write for  exactly the same reasons. How else could  I escape the snow and ice, sit on a sandy beach and soak up the sun, all without moving from my desk? Or travel back in time to see how my ancestors lived?

As a child I was bewitched by  'A Peep behind the Scenes,' the story of  12-year Rosalie who works in a travelling theatre at the end of the nineteenth century.  The author, Amy 'Mrs' Walton, cleverly  contrasts   the  make-believe scenes  on stage with the sad reality of the girl's miserable  life.

Most of us have a story to tell, whether read, written or remembered. But if you're not in the mood right now - don't despair. You can always reach for the holiday brochures...