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Calling All Schools
Up until Christmas, I’m offering
30-minute virtual sessions for £50
There are slots still available
If your class wants to watch this fool gibber away for half an hour, then please email me at
chriscallaghanauthor@gmail.com
You won’t regret it*
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*You might regret it!
It was fabulous to be at the launch of Cressida Cowell’s latest book, ‘Which Way to Anywhere‘ a while back (I’ve been behind with my site admin duties lately!!).
In a funny and moving speech it was lovely to hear the story behind the story, where this book came from an idea that began 25 years ago. So cling onto those ideas, people!!
Cressida was so generous with her time and it was great to have a chat her and my headteacher wife about the importance of reading for pleasure and all the good work that teaching staff do in schools.
Read the book too … it’s fantastic!
It’s an honour to be an Ambassador for the new Children’s Book Award alongside SF Said, Andy Seed and Christina Gabbitas (who is also the creator and organiser of the award).
It is especially lovely as this is an awards scheme that will be judged by children from ten primary schools, teachers and libraries in less privileged areas. More details to follow soon.
Exciting times ahead ….
It’s always exciting to see where in the world my books turn up.
Here is a fantastic pile of books in a beautiful school library in Perth, Western Australia. They have been selected by librarian and huge book champion, Michelle. Please check out her Instagram account, @itsalibrarianlife, which is packed with great book recommendations and general library fun.
And look at what is at the top of this epic stack – The Great Chocoplot!!
Thank you, Michelle, for bringing such marvellous variety into your library and for choosing Chocoplot. It is an honour to be there!
Delighted to have a page on the Shepherd.com site, which is a fantastic & friendly way to discover & review all kinds of books.
Each author is invited to choose a topic and select some books to recommend.
I chose books that encourage reluctant readers to find a love of reading, which include Jennifer Killick, Swapna Haddow, Sheena Dempsey and Dan Smith, but also a couple of old favourites too.
Please check out my page here and join in with the booky fun to find new stories and new authors.
Lovely for The Great Chocoplot to be included in publisher, Eleanor Marie Rose’s May Book Round Up.
It’s an honour to be in such an eclectic mix.
I’m delighted it fed Eleanor’s chocoholic cravings!
Check out the video review here.
And visit Eleanor’s YouTube Channel here.
Mega thrilled that one of my graphic novels will be included in the HarperCollins and Literacy Trust’s Little Big Book Club.
The club is about fostering a love of reading in children from low socio-economic backgrounds by giving them access to books. Something very close to my heart.
Five students from each school choose four books from a catalogue of 25 titles selected and donated by HarperCollins.
I’m delighted that my Shinoy and the Chaos Crew adventure, Mission: Submarine Scare, will be part of the project.
Hoping this brings lots of fun and chaos to those young readers.
Artwork by the awesome #AmitTayal
Find out more details from The Bookseller website here.
Delighted to have been asked to say a few words about reading stories out loud to children for Little Wandle’s Everybody Read! Campaign.
Reading out loud is not something that comes naturally to me, but after reading to my daughter and then to whole school audiences as a visiting author, I found that I really love it. I hope my short video, which you can see here, will help encourage other parents and teaching staff to find a love of reading to their children.
Thank you, Little Wandle Letters and Sounds for the opportunity.
Over on Twitter I am giving away two signed copies of The Great Chocoplot with a bar of chocolate.
You will need to Follow me and retweet the tweet here for a chance to be one of the two winners.
But the Giveaway ends at 9pm on 7th April (UK only – sorry!) so be quick!!
The Great Chocoplot was first released on World Book Day 2016.
Exactly six years later, on World Book Day 2022 it was back in a Number 1 Best Seller slot!!!
I’m thrilled and amazed that it continues to sell (and sell better than ever!).
Eternally grateful to everyone who has ever bought a copy or borrowed it from a library. I very much appreciate all the schools who use it as part of topic work or as their class novel.
Thank you, thank you. It’s a dream I still haven’t woken up from yet!
Please buy your books from your local bookshop whenever you can ?
And yes, it is a best seller in a slightly unusual category – but I’m still counting it!! ?
The Great Chocoplot is a ‘Teachers’ Pick’ on Amazon!
What a wonderful start to a new year as the schools go back.
Huge thanks to all the teaching staff who have nominated and recommended Chocoplot for this honour. I am already in touch with a number of classes who are starting Chocoplot this term, which is hugely exciting.
Good luck to all staff and pupils for what I’m sure will be a difficult term. I hope my silly story brings some light relief and some sneaky chocolate.
PS Please consider getting your copy of The Great Chocoplot from your local bookshop or library if you can.
Thrilled to get my hands on the latest edition of Bookmark‘s The Story Corner.
Such an honour to have written the introduction (with my dog, Milo) to this fabulous magazine which is specially created to encourage those who don’t normally engage in books to find a love of reading. These copies are packed with stories and activities and are heading out into schools across the UK. I’m sure they will be snapped up by pupils keen to get started in this new year.
Bookmark do so much to inspire our young readers and you can download a FREE copy from the link here.
Front cover and page layouts by the fantastic Sarah Harrison.
