Today I visited Godwin Primary School in Dagenham
I met parents who are writing a book of short stories – messages for their children – my kind of stuff!
We talked about what inspires me, the challenges and fun of writing.
There were tears, laughter and hugs and plenty of refreshments! Thanks Alison!!!
Met so many wonderful members of staff – what a great school and I look forward to visiting again soon!
Thanks to everyone!
Why a whole page for children’s reviews? Well, children are the most honest of critics I have ever encountered. If something is rubbish they’ll tell you straight and if they love something you’ll get a resounding cheer – there’s no need to read between the lines with them!
Obviously as the author I like my book, after all I wrote it! But what I really want to know is whether I’ve hit the mark or not – Arty Tardy was written with primary school children in mind and I want to know whether the story had hit home with them. How do they feel about David? Do they understand his different perspective? Did the story touch them? Was it funny? What message did they get? Do they want more?
Also it still surprises me how much children like my poetry book – Angelic Poetry: Little Pills of Comfort. So I want to find out which poems they like best – because – here’s a little secret – I want to write another one just for them!
I value all the feedback I get and every day I am more and more humbled at the effect my writing has had on people of all ages – young and not so young.
Please feel free to have a look at the page – there is more on the way from local schools who are currently reading my books. I await with bated breath!
KITTY’S WEBSITE: http://www.kittyclairmont.com/index.asp?pageid=603505
On the 24th February I will visiting Godwin Primary School! They are a lovely school in Dagenham and I shall be primarily meeting parents who are writing a collaborative book with the school of short stories. I am really looking forward to it. I will be talking about what inspires me, the challenges and fun you can get get from writing as well as reading an extract or two from my books.
I have also been invited to visit their local library in March for International Women’s Day where they will be celebrating women authors! What an honour – thank you!
I was asked to design a workshop for KS1 incorporating my poems and an aspect of their curriculum so I decided to use my poem ‘Living Rainbow’ and tie it to Healthy 
Eating!
Glad to say it has been enthusiastically approved and I can’t wait for the event. It will rolled out to Early Years first and we are in the midst of sorting out all the technicalities such as what fruit and vegetables we are going to use and how we are going to tailor the workshop specifically to suit Reception.
I am very exited about our ‘Living Rainbow’ and can’t wait to make it as tasty as possible. I will post examples of their written work and pictures as the school has said that it will be fine with them.
I’ll keep you posted!!!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1183975526?book_show_action=false&page=1
Kitty’s analogy between Tardy and David defeating Goliath is very apt and I love the unlikely and even covert friendship between Tardy (the main character) and Jermaine.
One of my favourite characters is Tardy (I have a few) and Kitty shows real insight into the emotional and mental challenges of a boy, who as a ten year old, knows he will never grow up; but is learning tough life skills every day.
Colour is used in lots of ways: to paint (of course), to calm the soul, to relieve and show frustration, gain joy…. and my favourite…to describe how Miss Robinson “feels” to Tardy – Excellent!!
The characters personalities are very real and I found myself getting lost in this up-to-date, funny, thought provoking and heart-felt story. I laughed out loud (lol), jumped and cheered and shed a tear or twenty!
This is a fantastic book, to be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and definitely one my four kids and I will thoroughly enjoy over and over again!
The ARTY TARDY workshop weaves Literacy and Art together. If you’ve read the book then you know what I mean.
Inspired by elements of Picasso and Hockney it celebrates the fact that ‘Every Child is an Artist’ [Pablo Picasso].
We explore fun new words found in the book with practical application – that is – we play with paint and paintbrushes! But it is so much more than that! We compare each other’s ideas which always differs from person to person and can produce some visually exciting stuff I can tell you!
We explore famous painters and look at different representations of an element from the book (could be a fruit or a tree…) which have been selected to illustrate the scope of different techniques and perspectives – the children delight it the ones that simply do not conform to ‘traditional’ ideas! So armed – off we go and produce our own!
Ground rules incorporating the FOUR C’s form the nexus of the workshop that values every child’s contribution, viewpoint and level of ability and ensures that they have fun whilst learning collaboratively.
All in all it celebrates diversity and self expression – with a good dose of humour and fun!
Kitty Clairmont Author 