Going on A School Book Tour

The undoubtable highlight of releasing a children’s book, (a first for me as my debut was non fiction) has been witnessing Greek Myths, Folktales & Legends, being read by engaged young readers, the children I clearly envisaged enjoying it as I wrote it.

Visiting primary schools, primarily in Yorkshire, with some London dates to follow, hosting an assembly with a power point presentation no less, followed by a book reading, moved me to tears on the way home both times! It’s a slightly surreal but moving cocktail of emotion sharing your labour of love with others, and it’s extra special when your audience are imaginative, creative and candid children like the hundreds I visited in person. Kids can’t fake their excitement and it was humbling to witness their boundless enthusiasm and many questions for me from, ‘What was Greek School on a Saturday, like?” to “Why did Medusa’s hair turn into snakes”.

The children listened intently as I animatedly read Arachne, the tale of a young, outstanding seamstress who having proved her skills were stronger than the goddess Athena in a sewing competition, led to her being transformed into a lowly spider, left only to weave and spin dusty spider’s webs not grand tapestries depicting the gods.

I also read part of a longer story, Atalanta, an expert huntress and athlete who was raised by bears, her story defined by resilience and equality, something so rare during those times .

I was overwhelmed by not only the interest in my modern retellings and the games we played matching well known TV shows and movies to myths and even creating their own myths too, but the existing knowledge the children had of some of the most complex of ancient Greek stories and the history of that period.

Hats off to the teachers and of course these engaged learners for their insight and ideas. I loved listening to their own ingenious myth ideas of reckless gods and goddesses mostly causing havoc in their schools. No more homework and chocolate fountains at lunch were just two suggestions!

 I’m excited to continue sharing the often weird and always wonderful Greek myths with more young children at schools and book festivals.

These are pioneering plots which influenced Shakespeare to screenwriters and today’s pop culture, and offer a deep understanding of character, as well as storytelling that supports learning across all subjects.

Thank you to all those who have given me permission to share the photos here, extra thanks to Emma of The Jewellery Makers whose daughter Mabel dressed up as an ancient Greek and took my book into school!