Jude Lennon

My name is Jude Lennon and I am a children’s author and storyteller.  Today we are celebrating our amazing parks and how wonderful it is to go outdoors and appreciate the natural world all around us! First, I will be reading my story ‘The Dragon of Allerton Oak.’ Next, I take you on a nature trail. Then we learn about transient art. Then we make a dragon out of household resources. Finally we finish our day with a bedtime story ‘Don’t be silly Milly!' I hope you enjoy the day and I look forward to hearing how you all get on.

Natalie Reeves Billing

Welcome to Monster Day. I am Natalie Reeves Billing and I am a children’s author and storyteller.  I write about mischievous monsters, young and old. Monsters of all shapes and sizes, in all manner of disguises. Monsters get a bad rap, they are actually just misunderstood. Some of the best kids I know are monsters.  Monsters love making meals, music, melodies and stories and we are going to get to do all of them, over the next four Monstrous activities.

Toni Sian Williams

Today it is Toni Sian Williams, author and illustrator of ‘Who Can Be A Superhero?’, a special story dedicated to our wonderful key workers. Toni has also written ‘The Ironbridge Ogre’ and illustrated ‘The Wrekin Giant’ using clay models and 2D drawing techniques.

Sarah Griffiths

My name is Sarah and I will be sharing a day all about chocolate. First, I share a bit of background into why we celebrate World Chocolate Day and then I ask Eva and her cousin Gracie to join me for some chocolate taste testing to see which is their favourite. Next, we go outside on a treasure hunt to find the gold chocolate coins! Then we have the opportunity to make some chocolate button cupcakes. We then talk about the different chocolate we like and design our very own chocolate bar. We end the day with a bedtime story about a Brave Knight named Sir John and how he travelled in time to the future.

Natalie Billings Reeves

Hi, my name is Natalie Reeves Billing, and I’m a children’s author. My latest book, Ben and the Bug, is all about Covid-19 and how to stay happy and safe. Today, at the start of picnic month, we will be looking at how to have the perfect picnic while staying safe. We will be: Making some delicious jam butties Playing a throwing game to win treats Having a socially distant picnic Playing ‘Wrap up’ with the picnic blanket Reading a nice bedtime story I wrote yesterday called, ‘The Toadally Awesome Picnic’ Picnic month is a time to celebrate the simple sandwich and the great outdoors. When meeting up with other people, it’s much safer to do it outside, where germs can fly away in the wind. So, choose a sunny day, pack a picnic, take your hand gel, and get outside into the big wide world.

Sarah Isaacs

Today our theme is ‘Children’s Art’. I will be particularly focusing on ‘Art in Nature’. It will enable us to have less screen time and gain more appreciation of nature and the outside world! Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a children’s author and teacher. I love sharing stories and poetry so look out for some I have especially written for today. I have some great activities using nature and art as my theme so lots of fun ahead! I will also have Derek the Alien who will be helping out too! I can’t wait to show you what we have planned! Grownups: You will be able to look closely at plants and insects outside so share the names of the flowers with your child and show them where to find tiny insects, looking at their habitat. In addition, with safety in mind, it is well worth telling your child what not to touch too, such as stinging nettles.

Freya Bignall

Join Freya and the Birmingham University Netball Team as they explore a range of physical skills, have a sing-along, and share the story they wrote especially for the day featuring their mascot Rory!

Sarah Griffiths

My name is Sarah and I will be sharing a day all about numbers. First, I share a story about Leo the Ladybird who learnt to count. Next, we go on a number hunt around the garden, following clues to find the hidden numbers. Then I share an activity about missing numbers and then make our own simple snakes and ladders board to play with. Then we play pom pom count, which is a great fun game to help us with our counting. We end the day with the story ’The Tale of the Butterfly’ a rhyming story about a butterfly who saves the day.

Emma Mccalla John

Hi my name is Emma, I’m really happy to be with you today at EYFS Home. I’m a teacher and an artist who loves doing fun arts and craft activities. Today’s activities are all about Mother’s Day. People who look after us are so special to us, they might be our mums or dad’s or other special people in our lives who we like to give lovely gifts too. So why not join in and make someone’s day really special.

Rachel Dunn

My name is Rachel and I have my own musical company called Music Minors. Today we are joined by my daughter Tallulah. We are going to be making some very tasty Easter Food! All of the activities today develop children’s confidence, language and communication, the ability to follow instructions and work together as a team.

Sue Wickstead

Sue Wickstead is a children’s author and writes children’s picture books. Sue writes books based on a real bus.

The Playbus was a recycled bus which offered play and craft opportunities for its many young visitors. Today we are going to be learning about Mother Earth and how we can look after her.

Sarah Isaacs

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a children’s author and teacher. I am so excited about today’s theme as I love Saint Patrick’s Day. We have lots of exciting activities to join in with. I have written a lovely story for bedtime called Amelia’s Rainbow. That’s the time when you can relax under your favourite blanket.

Grown ups: Ask your child what they know about Saint Patrick’s day and look at pictures in books and on the internet to spark questions and conversations.

Talk about how this festival is celebrated every year on the same day in March. You might wish to show them film footage from YouTube of parades which have taken place in Ireland and around the world.

Sarah

Take a peak into the night time with animals that prefer the dark. I used to work as a zoo keeper and learnt lots of information about big animals, when I left the zoo I worked for the RSPCA. I helped sick and injured animals to get better and then could release them back to their owners or back to the wild. AnimalTastic has been going now for 9 years and I love my job. I visit schools, nurseries and care homes teaching people about animals. Today I am going to help you learn a lot about two animals that move in different ways. We will then try to see if we can move like them and we are going to make those animals with an art project.

http://www.animal-tastic.co.uk

Sarah

My name is Sarah and I am a teacher and children’s author.

I love Halloween. It’s a fun time when you can dress up, put decorations up and play games. Today I have put together some activities for you using the theme of Halloween.

Are you ready for some fun activities?

I know I am. Let’s go!

Gemma Everson

Gemma Everson and her little witches join us today for a spooktastic Witches Grotto Day!

Hello, my name is Gemma Everson and I am a children’s author, a teacher and also a mum.

My girls and I love having fun around this time of year, dressing up as our favourite spooky characters. Today we will be having lots of fun making spells, potions and dressing up as witches. Don’t forget your broomsticks!

Jude Lennon

Hello children, Jude, Lamby and Flossie would like to welcome you to a very exciting day. Today we are having an Enchanted Forest Day! We've got lots of fun activities planned so come and join in.

Let's take a look inside Flossie's toadstool and see what we'll be doing today. We'll be going for a walk, collecting some enchanting objects, making a mobile and lots of other exciting things. If you want to dress up you can. 

Sarah Griffiths

My name is Sarah and I am a children’s author. I am so excited to share this day with you all. We are going to start the day by making some salt-dough decorations. Next, we will be making some delicious pumpkin face fairy cakes. Then we will be carving our pumpkin and getting creative with some face painting too. We will be finishing the day with my brand new Halloween story ‘The Witches Brew’.

Sue Wickstead

Sue Wickstead is a children’s author and writes children’s picture books. Sue was once involved with a Playbus play project, which is the inspiration behind many of her picture books.

(Her books will always have a bus included somewhere)

She also likes playing with Lego.

Do you?

Libby

My name is Libby and I have worked with children for many years. I love sharing my rhyming stories and songs. Today I am going to share my story about a Pebble who is a bit unhappy. This is an original story about a Pebble who lives on a beach in Cornwall. Something extremely exciting happens to her, so look out for the story coming up in our first activity.

There will be two songs that you can learn today

and some fun activities to help your child relate to the story and to textures and sounds.

Jude Lennon

Hello children, Jude, Lamby and Flossie would like to welcome you to Take One Picture Day. All our activities today will be inspired by a lovely picture which was given to Jude. We've got lots of fun activities planned so come and join in.

This lovely picture of a girl with foxes was given to Jude by her brother Lenny. We're going to use the picture as a base for our activities today. We'll be using our imaginations, dressing up, counting hats and scarves and playing a game.