A NEW INITIATIVE: BOOKS THAT HELP

| clarehelenwelsh

Books That Help is a brand new online initiative launching on 1st August 2022.

I am passionate about sharing picture books that help families through hard times, using them to open conversations about the topics that challenge us. I am also an advocate of reading and writing books to support well-being. Therefore, this new site will be a place for grownups to find picture books that offer a little support through life’s ups and downs, covering subjects that include family separations, illness, grief, anxiety, well-being, moving house and more.

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Gadgeteers! – Summer reading challenge

| clarehelenwelsh

It was my spacetastic pleasure to mark the opening of the Summer Reading Challenge with storytelling and crafts at Torquay Library.

Linked to Sunshine At Bedtime (illustrated by Sally Soweol Han, Storyhouse Publishing) and Aerodynamics of Biscuits (illustrated by Sophia Touliatou, Maverick Books) the children had the opportunity to create scratch art, make their own spoon characters, make a space mobile and design and build a biscuit rocket.

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MARVELLOUSLY MESSY!

| clarehelenwelsh

Today is publication day for the third book in the Dot and Duck series! Illustrated by Olivier Tallec and published by Happy Yak (an imprint of Quarto Kids),

How Messy is the story of best friends, Dot and Duck. Dot hates mess and Duck hates tidy. Duck leaves the bed unmade, the cupboards open and breakfast everywhere. How messy! At the beach, Dot carefully lays out her towel and picnic… and Duck digs a big hole covering everything with sand! SO messy!

Olivier’s characterful watercolour illustrations bring this story to life, and big font makes the story easy for young readers. How Messy! is a simple yet hilarious story with a touching ending and an important message about accepting differences and learning to compromise.

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Scissorella storytime and crafts

| clarehelenwelsh

It’s always a pleasure visiting libraries for storytime and crafts. Recently I paid a visit to Newton Abbot and Torquay Library where we read Scissorella and took part in some themed crafts. Here are some snaps of our silhouette light jars, chalk silhouettes and Lotte Reinger-inspired puppets, which we made into animations using the app Stop Motion.

Can you spot the spider in a tutu and Titanic- themed jar?

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COVER REVEAL: SUNSHINE AT BEDTIME!

| clarehelenwelsh

It’s January and the weather here is grey and cold but… brighter skies are on the horizon!

I’m delighted that Storyhouse Publishing have revealed the cover of our new picture book. ‘Sunshine at Bedtime,’ which will publish on 14th April in the UK. It has been illustrated by new talent, Sally Soweol Han, and was inspired by the publisher’s children, Rachel Lawrence, asking about the science behind lighter bedtimes.

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