Details
Award-winning children’s author offering fun, interactive assemblies and workshops for KS1 and KS2 that boost creativity, confidence, and a love of reading and writing.
I am an outgoing author, based in Southend but happy to travel. My KS2 stories are funny, quirky capers, about ordinary children who form extraordinary plans to achieve their goal. My debut picture book, ideal for Reception & KS1 is a funny look at thinking differently.
The workshops and school visits that I run are fun, engaging, interactive sessions that will appeal to both boys and girls. For the Record, my first book, is all about Guinness World Records, which goes down well with boys in particular. The Matilda Effect is particularly good for inspiring girls and STEM, and teachers have used this story as a springboard to talk about inventions, creativity and the Nobel prizes.
In a 60 minute assembly for KS2, I talk about the challenges of being a writer, the books that inspired me, and where ideas come from, as well as getting pupils to come up with their own stories, using my story starters. In KS2 creative writing workshops, we look at how to create interesting characters, using my character checklist, how to introduce conflict into stories, and how to start your story with an impactful opening sentence.
For younger pupils, in a 30 minute assembly, I share my picture book, ‘Oh, Armadillo! This Party’s All Wrong!’ about a mixed-up armadillo and his muddled attempts to throw a party, talk about my favourite books, share fun facts about armadillos I discovered while writing the story, and get the pupils to join in with an exercise in thinking differently.
I have experience of running workshops with groups small and large, and am happy to give talks and assemblies in schools, libraries, festivals and theatres.
I offer a sliding scale of fees depending on what your school or group would like to achieve from my visit, so please do get in touch to discuss.
Praise for 'THE MATILDA EFFECT'
'Seven-plus readers with greater stamina will devour Ellie Irving’s The Matilda Effect (Corgi), in which the eponymous frustrated inventor heroine finds out that her Grandma Joss once discovered a planet – for which her male boss got the credit. Hearing that he is about to receive the Nobel prize, Matilda and Joss set out to crash the ceremony and set the record straight. Warm-hearted and funny, this is a marvellous mix of righteous indignation and madcap race against time' THE GUARDIAN
WINNER of the 2018 HULL CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD
Shortlisted for the 2018 SHREWSBURY BOOK AWARD, 2018 HARROW JUNIOR BOOK AWARD, 2019 ST HELEN'S BOOK AWARD, 2018 OXFORDSHIRE BOOK AWARD
Nominated for the 2019 FANTASTIC BOOK AWARD
Longlisted for the 2018 REDBRIDGE CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD
Foreign Rights sold to Turkey, Russia, China, France, South Korea and the Ukraine.
Praise for 'FOR THE RECORD':
'A feel good family drama with plenty of humour and a great cast of crazy characters. Warm and touching, with lots of heart.' The Bookseller
'A fun-filled read' National Geographic Kids
And for 'BILLIE TEMPLAR'S WAR':
'Absolutely huge recommendation, a real must read; a complete gem of a book.' The Bookbag
'I thoroughly recommend this to anyone between eight and twelve. This is a very easy to read and enjoyable book, which is bang up to date in its themes. The Guardian
What critics say about 'THE MUTE BUTTON':
'Often downright hilarious and with moments of genuine pathos, this is a real class read.' The Book Zone.
'It is both hilarious and moving and has emotional issues that children can relate to.' The Guardian.
And 'FLEECED':
'If you want a comic book that will have you giggling from start to finish, this is it - and the feel-good factor lasts.' Parents in Touch.
Also in the media:
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/nov/13/ellie-irvings-top-10-quiet-heroes-and-heroines
