Monster Madness at Waterstones Nottingham!

A monster thank you! to everyone who got involved in my Monster Machine monster collage and colouring event today in the children's section in Waterstones Nottingham, it was brilliant to meet and chat with so many nice people and hopefully inspire some creative monster fun.

 The monster collage... 

I'd also like to thank Waterstones Nottingham and the team in the children's section for having me! The children's section in Nottingham Waterstones is a haven for young book lovers, while I was busy with the Monster Machine collage I overheard a number of outbursts from children who announced on arrival to their families that they would be staying in the childrens section 'all day'. Which I think is brilliant. Hurrah for childrens books!

You can pick up a copy of my monster picture book The Monster Machine published by Pavilion Children's Books  at your local Waterstones... the monsters are waiting for you!

The Monster Machine - Free activity sheets to print out and colour!

The Monster Machine printables

Following on from my recent Pop Up Monster Card Tutorial- I am pleased to announce that I have added a new section to www.monstermachine.co.uk where I am offering various monster activity sheets to download, print, colour in and occasionally glue and make too.

The focus of these sheets is very much on decorating and drawing monsters and hopefully inspiring and encouraging some creative play, so there wont be any monster maths puzzles or monster grammar lessons, there are plenty of other resources around for that! Here it's all about monsters.

I intend to add to these sheets when I get chance, but I have put the first three up ready to download now in .pdf format here on THE MONSTER MACHINE activity page

So what do we have?
1 - Monster Dot to Dot, join up the dots and draw the monster! then colour him in.
2 - Draw some monsters! - Little monster is lonely, can you draw him some monster friends? 
3 - Monster Colouring - Monsters from The Monster Machine, wondering where monsters come from, to colour in.

If you're feeling a bit more adventurous and haven't had a go yet, why not try your hand at my Pop Up Monster Greeting Card! also linked on the activity page. It would make a monstrously good Valentines Day Card!

If you enjoy using these monster printables do let me (and the monsters) know- we'd love to hear from you.

Monsters say give a book! (On International Book Giving Day)

February 14th is International Book Giving Day! (and Valentines Day too, appropriately) and aims to increase children's access and enthusiasm for books.
The monsters think it is a monstrously good idea and want to encourage all you book lovers to get involved in the celebrations.

There are a number of ways you can celebrate including -

1) giving a book to a friend or family member 

2) leaving a book in a waiting room for children to read

3) donating a gently used book to a local library, hospital or shelter or to an organization that distributes used books to children in need. 

I have designed a monster bookplate which people can print out and attach to books they give-

My monster bookplate design for Book Giving Day.

Check out all the bookplates here - International Book Giving Day Bookplates
 
International Book Giving Day is a 100% volunteer, grassroots initiative. You can find out everything you need to know about getting involved by visiting the official website here-

You can follow them on twitter @bookgivingday #giveabook
and Facebook - BookGivingDay

There is also a wonderful colourful poster by Indian children's illustrator Priya Kuriyan to download and print to help spread the word! 
International Book Giving Day Poster