[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-reeve-mcintyre-at-the-british-school-of-brussels":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"This week Reeve & McIntyre took the Eurostar to take part in this year's Book Festival hosted by the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.britishschool.be\">British School of Brussels\u003C/a>. It was mega! There were visiting authors and artists all week, but I got to spend time with this group: \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sarahcrossanwriter\">Sarah Crossan\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://karlnovaworld.wordpress.com/\">Karl Nova\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://momokoabe.com/\">Momoko Abe\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://philipreeve.com/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.juliansedgwick.co.uk/\">Julian Sedgwick\u003C/a>. Julian referred to it as 'Author Camp', and while we weren't roughing it in any way (no sleeping bags or having to light fires with wet sticks), it really was a lot of fun getting to hang out with our colleagues all together! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1312686_original-0694407002.jpg\" width=\"550\">\\r\n\\r\nI was invited to the Book Festival before Covid lockdown, and \u003Cb>Ceri Seymour\u003C/b> took over organising my visit, but it only happened \u003Ca href=\"https://jabberworks.livejournal.com/891801.html\">in 2021 as a Zoom event\u003C/a>, so I was excited to meet everyone at last and do real events in person! Thanks for all your hard work making this happen, Ceri and team! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1312825_original-0777c26528.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more photos under the cut!-->\\r\nWe were welcomed in the school library with lots of lovely drawings and posters the children had made. (Hey, look, it's us!) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1313183_original-453adf5bde.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThe school setup was brilliant, really good venues where Philip and I were able to speak to the whole range of primary (and some secondary) students. Here's Philip giving a talk about his books, including some of his Mortal Engines drawings and news about his latest \u003Ca href=\"https://philipreeveblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/utterly-dark-tides-of-time-publication.html\">Utterly Dark\u003C/a> books.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1313418_original-8ced7b5bc0.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nUsually at book festivals I don't get enough time to see other authors' events, so I was very pleased to be able to see Philip's talk and also  one to the oldest students by \u003Cb>Sarah Crossan\u003C/b>, talking in a very interactive way about poetry and why it's so relevant to us now. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1313780_original-531396f76e.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nSarah was very brave! I find it much easier talking to the little ones, because they're absolutely brimming with ideas and laugh like drains if I draw something silly. They loved \u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"https://jabberworks.co.uk/dinosaur-firefighters/\">Dinosaur Firefighters\u003C/a>\u003C/i> and \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.co.uk/dinosaur-police/\">Dinosaur Police\u003C/a> and we had a good time talking about a made-up world where there are pizzas and schools and fire stations, all populated by dinosaurs (and the occasional mouse or worm or giraffe, etc).  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1313937_original-09c0f78068.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nWe loved seeing all the posters in the library, some of them were very detailed! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1314960_original-b3d1bcba29.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI think I ought to take some style tips from this one: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1315156_original-cbf7c4cb01.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nIt was great seeing them so familiar with all of our books! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1315420_original-fda6125f6f.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nLove the patterns on this \u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"https://jabberworks.co.uk/grumpycorn/\">Grumpycorn\u003C/a>\u003C/i> poster: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1315614_original-9598ca7dbc.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\n\"I want to have a breakfast with you, because I would like to know more about how you became an author and illustrator.\" And we did indeed get to have breakfast together! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1316021_original-77f6f2a1f9.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThrilled to see Max and Kevin the Roly-Poly Flying Pony putting in an appearance!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1316381_original-27c3600e9c.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI love this picture book by \u003Cb>Momoko Abe\u003C/b>, When the Sun Goes Home. Especially the bit where the sun gets tired of being cheerful all the time: 'Smiling was just \u003Cb>too hard\u003C/b>.' The sun is very relieved to be tucked up in clouds sometimes, so it can have a little rest! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1316660_original-f771b0b98b.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's Momoko in our break room, showing some of her sketchbook for another book she's been working on: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1317000_original-efb09ac50e.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nSelfie with \u003Cb>Sarah Crossan\u003C/b>! Sarah brought a little safe with her, that she uses to lock up her mobile phone so she can get work done. That made a lot of sense! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1317202_original-12dac7ba96.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI watch \u003Cb>Karl Nova\u003C/b> host a Poetry Slam with the older students in a great outdoor venue, sort of like a fire pit (but the fire of poetry! Not an actual fire). Anyway, Karl was definitely on fire, it was great to meet him. You can see a video, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/KarlNova/status/1716464630426452192\">'Belgian Waffles', that he made about the event here on Twitter\u003C/a> or over \u003Ca href=\"https://youtube.com/shorts/2BHcew5TR3Y?feature=shared\">here on YouTube\u003C/a>! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1317629_original-e3b3dbc835.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I hadn't seen \u003Cb>Julian Sedgwick\u003C/b> since a comics event absolutely ages ago, so it was also great to catch up! Apparently he used to \u003Ci>juggle knives\u003C/i> in his school event (but I'm kind of glad for his sake that he's stopped!).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1317633_original-3d01a0686e.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's Learning Assistant \u003Cb>Sarah Eykholt\u003C/b>, who spent so much time looking after us and making sure we got to the right place. Thanks for being so organised and helpful, Sarah!! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1317967_original-0103d4d871.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nIt took a whole team to run this amazing Book Festival, and it was a wonder to behold! Big thanks to everyone who took part! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1314351_original-82638af4f3.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd thanks for your support, Primary Head \u003Cb>Neil Ringrose\u003C/b>! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1314200_original-7a52bf0b8f.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's a group photo from \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bsb_libraries\">@bsb_libraries\u003C/a> on Instagram. Spot my husband \u003Cb>Stuart\u003C/b>, and \u003Cb>Sarah Reeve\u003C/b>, too! Philip and I did a big Adventuremice assembly and I didn't manage to get a photo of that, but if anyone from the school is looking for further free resources, they can find them at \u003Ca href=\"http://adventuremice.com\">Adventuremice.com\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1312433_original-87de68f007.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 0.7em\">Stuart Pyle, Sarah Reeve, Julian Sedgwick, Sarah McIntyre, Philip Reeve, Sarah Crossan, Momoko Abe\u003C/span>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nI'd been to Brussels quite a few times, but the school's based in \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tervuren\">Tervuren\u003C/a>, a town just east of Brussels, and it was fun exploring new turf. Philip and I loved this Art Monkey niche by \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Frantzen\">sculptor Tom Frantzen\u003C/a>. There was also an amazing \u003Ca href=\"https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bandundu-water-jazz-band\">Jazz Animal fountain\u003C/a> on the roundabout by the school (but I didn't manage to get a photo of that.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1318145_original-b480eb0879.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nWe stayed on an extra couple nights with Stuart and Sarah R, so we had a full day with our local friend Mags to visit the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.waterloo1815.be/en/\">Waterloo Battlefield Museum\u003C/a> (which Stuart and I had also never visited). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1318585_original-483f38de06.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nWe skipped paying extra for the ABBA exhibition, but we did climb the 226 steps up to the \u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion%27s_Mound\">Butte du Lion\u003C/a>\u003C/i>, a steep hill built to commemorate the famous 1815 battle. Down below it, you can see the rotunda constructed to house a famous \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panorama_of_the_Battle_of_Waterloo\">Panorama\u003C/a> painted by French artist \u003Cb>Louis Dumoulin\u003C/b> in 1912, with 14 canvas panels sewn together to create a cylinder approximately 360 feet in circumference and 39 feet high. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1318886_original-49d20fb4c3.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThe Panorama is Very Impressive!! I recall briefly studying it in a European Landscape class at university, it was a novel way to make people feel like they were really inside a landscape. Early IMAX, you could say. But it's still amazing, thinking how much work Dumoulin's team did to create all these different scenes all together on such a large scale. Philip's surveying the battlefield: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1319149_original-499b325ebc.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThe field was famously muddy for the battle (and 'Waterloo' means 'wet field'), so I took the precaution of wearing my wellies... which was possibly rubbing in Wellington's victory just a bit. (Bit of trivia: did you know British children's book author \u003Ca href=\"http://philipwomack.blogspot.com/\">Philip Womack\u003C/a>'s uncle is the current Duke of Wellington?)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1319363_original-0ec16f7228.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nGroup battlefield photo! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1319669_original-5e478e1c98.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nJust before you leave the rotunda, you can pop through a little door to see the undercarriage of the whole Panorama construction, which is pretty cool: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1319824_original-867291ae1e.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd then an exhibition, where the hats are VERY cool. And look at the embroidery on those collars. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1319966_original-7943f79b57.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nWe walked about 15 minutes across the field to see Hougoumont Farm, an important site in the battle, where the allied troops turned it into a successful bastion against Napoleon's army. It was kept from falling into total ruin in 2013, but it's still a pretty small place, and hard to imagine it being such a strategic site of defence! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1320653_original-cf2408a2e6.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI loved the shape of the chapel in the middle, and drew a picture of it on the Eurostar going back home. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/1320311_original-5b3fadfbe1.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThanks to \u003Cb>Mags\u003C/b> and \u003Cb>Manoëlle\u003C/b> for putting us up the last two nights, with fresh Sunday croissants! And thanks again to the whole British School of Brussels team for hosting us, we had a great time, felt so encouraged by the students, and hopefully left them buzzing with creativity!","2023-10-23T16:17:00.000Z","reeve-mcintyre-at-the-british-school-of-brussels",[],"Reeve & McIntyre at the British School of  Brussels",1776628731875]