[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-birmingham-young-readers-festival":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Yesterday I caught the train to Brum and drew and drew! Here's a picture I made right before an event, when a kid and I dared each other to a draw-off based on turning an object you'd find in the kitchen into a spaceship. (We chose toasters. Mine includes jam; his, a pork pie.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_4-c73c845773.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_21-a5325472a4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI wasn't sure what to expect - library events can be such a mixed bag - but I had an absolutely stonking good day, with very enthusiastic kids, parents getting involved and generally having a lovely day out. Here are some of the fab kids from the Monsters & Aliens event at Yardley Wood Library.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_8-fca279a037.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBefore the first event, I drew this picture in markers with one Mia and Lewis.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_6-09cb5d146d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIt was great seeing local author \u003Ca href=\"http://www.julietclarebell.com/\">Juliet Clare Bell\u003C/a>, who only last week launched her first picture book! It's called \u003Ca href=\"http://www.julietclarebell.com/\">\u003Ci>\u003Cb>Don't Panic, Annika!\u003C/b>\u003C/i>\u003C/a>, illustrated by \u003Ca href=\"http://jemorris.blogspot.com/\">Jennifer Morris\u003C/a>. Her younger daughter, Esther, also created her own cool picture book called \u003Ci>Esther Has a Nut Allergy\u003C/i>, which she's holding here.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_7-01c6b5e696.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Lots more photos under the cut-->\\r\nYou can see her older daughter Annika (who doesn't panic) reading it at her launch in this video:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"936\"/> \\r\n\\r\nLots of monster making! Check out these, aren't they fab?\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_15-9ed24ecb6c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_5-2a6f5c0d7a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_12-64f4f8a4c9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_13-9959b13746.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI love it when the parents muck right in and make monsters; there's something about making monsters that makes it a level playing field and everyone can do it, and it seems to make the kids value their own work much more.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_14-0f1030a44a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_1-3d7b4c8dea.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe other thing that made my day so fabulous was getting to hang out with my librarian 'minder', \u003Cb>Jen Bakewell\u003C/b>, all day. Jen's so much fun; at lunch we had a picnic in the sun and talked about life and books (her latest top read are \u003Ca href=\"http://www.michellepaver.com/\">Michelle Paver\u003C/a>'s books, including \u003Ci>Dark Matters\u003C/i> and \u003Ci>Ghost Hunter\u003C/i>). Thanks for looking after me so well, Jen! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_2-16b1ba008a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhile we were setting up my slideshow, she showed me this funny programme that puts a live alien squid on your head. Hours of fun to be had! XD (You can download it at \u003Ca href=\"http://www.lesanimauxdufutur.com/\">Les Animaux du Futur\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_3-733d7841ca.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThanks to the librarians at \u003Cb>Yardley Wood\u003C/b> and \u003Cb>Acocks Green\u003C/b> for making my \u003Ca href=\"http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=BCC_Event_C&childpagename=SystemAdmin%2FCFPageLayout&cid=1223310145552&packedargs=subtype%3DEventDetail&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FCFWrapper&rendermode=1\">Birmingham Young Readers Festival\u003C/a> visit such a success! The big exciting news in Birmingham is that they're in the middle of building what will be the \u003Cb>largest library in Europe\u003C/b> - the funding came through just before the current government came into office - so there will be loads of good reading-related things happening in that city.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_9-61cfe6dfa8.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIn fact, every time I go to Birmingham, I like the city a bit more. Or I did, until I looked up and people started falling on my head.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_16-3c7dc516a4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThanks to a tip from Birmingham local \u003Ca href=\"http://www.lizzlizz.com\">Lizz Lunney\u003C/a>, I stopped off at the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.custardfactory.co.uk/\">Custard Factory\u003C/a>, 'Birmingham's revolutionary new arts and media quarter' as its website claims, and went to a Vintage Fair, where I found loads of goodies to buy! (I don't get much time for shopping these days, so this was super exciting.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_11-871b18059f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne of the things I bought was a mad-looking fascinator made of buttons, by \u003Cb>Julia Gandy\u003C/b> at \u003Ca href=\"http://www.hole-buttonjewellery.co.uk\">hOle button jewellery\u003C/a>. I could wear it to Ascot! (If I went to Ascot.) More likely you will see it in future event photos. I've had lots of nice comments about my turquoise hat, but it's made me conscious that I really only have one hat, and hats are rather nice things. Pillbox hats are my favourites, Jackie O had a good thing going.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_10-146a587cac.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI poked my head into a nearby space and found this marvelous adventure playground thing in the middle of the atrium. Cooool.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_17-65d7340882.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/brum_monsters_19-8a3770e92d.jpg\">","2011-06-05T08:36:00.000Z","birmingham-young-readers-festival",[],"birmingham young readers festival",1776628720279]