There is nothing like getting to meet the children, parents, teachers, librarians and booksellers who are kind enough to buy my books. So I am always happy to consider author events, book signings and visits to schools, libraries, bookshops and festivals.
My author visits usually consist of me reading one or more of my books followed by a fun activity or workshop related to the book. At a Dogs in Disguise event, for example, the children might get to make a fun dog game. For slightly older groups (Y2 up) we might do more of a creative writing session, devising our own stories or making mini-picture books. A session with a workshop or activity usually lasts about 45-50 mins, but I can tailor my events to fit the time available. I always include time for questions, especially for slightly older audiences, and of course I am always delighted to sign books.
For further information about bookings and my rates, please message me via my Facebook page Peter Bently Author or email my agent Jodie Hodges (JHodges@unitedagents.co.uk). Most schools book my author visits through the excellent Authors Aloud UK, who will organise pretty much everything. However you are also welcome to contact me directly.
Top left & right: Arrrhh Jim Lad! Jim Field and I took Cats Ahoy! to the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in the author’s home village of Great Missenden near London. I recited the story and Jim showed how he created the illustrations, and after a Q&A we led a workshop making cat-pirate masks with the children (and parents!).
Above left: Reading Hamster Heroes at my local library during the summer holidays and heatwave, August 2023. Needless to say, I do all the voices….
Left: Signing copies of The Great Dog Bottom Swap and The Great Sheep Shenanigans with Mei Matsuoka after our event at the Edinburgh Literature Festival.
Some teacher feedback
“The kids learned so much about story telling and writing in the lead up to [Scottish Book Trust’s] visit, and then the wonderful morning with Peter Bently was a fantastic culmination of it all. The children were thrilled to meet him in person, and I know they will treasure the books he signed so personally for them. Since his visit we have made a display about Peter Bently’s Cats Ahoy! for the school library to share our learning with the wider school community. The children have become enthused by the idea of writing, and have enjoyed being allowed to let their imaginations loose. In particular they have enjoyed the rhythms and rhymes of the words, and they now look out and notice these aspects of writing in other books too.” Nicola Kingslake, St. Madoes Primary School.
“The children really enjoyed meeting Peter and really engaged with his story. We shared with you the books we had written for book week. Peter was a great and energetic storyteller. We have talked about this when the children have been reading aloud this week and lots of expression has resulted!!!” Jenni Milroy, Milnathort Primary School.
(Feedback from my Scottish BookTrust schools book tour.)
