Type of Artist:
Author, IllustratorMy events offer opportunities for children to draw, explore ideas, dress up, meet a giant Ghostly Guinea Pig, come face to face with a Spaghetti Yeti and to leave feeling excited by reading, writing, drawing and stories.
Sessions are highly interactive and include:
• Live drawing demonstrations
• Props
• Insights into the life of an author/illustrator
• Illustration activities to inspire ideas for funny characters, mysterious plots and adventurous stories.
• Lots of transferrable approaches and techniques for teachers to adapt for their own literacy lessons.
I’m happy to offer both author/illustrator talks for larger audiences and classroom based workshop sessions exploring specific aspects of story writing and illustration.
For KS2 audiences I offer sessions themed around mystery stories.
For KS1 and Foundation Stage audiences I theme my sessions around monster stories.
Talk: up to 150 Workshop: 30
Up to three sessions during a day.
45 -60 minutes depending on age group
I’m based in Leeds, so Yorkshire, South Cumbria, North East, North West and Merseyside are all possible.
Able to travel further if overnight costs are covered (if required).
For local events I’ll drive, depending on distance I do sometimes use the train.
Yes
Titles include:
Writer and illustrator:
Mariella Mystery Investigates …
The Ghostly Guinea Pig
A Cupcake Conundrum
The Huge Hair Scare
The Curse of the Pampered Poodle
The Spaghetti Yeti
The Kitty Calamity (Published 2015)
Illustrated titles:
Judy Blume, Pain and the Great One
Julia Jarman, Make Friends
Steve Hartley, Danny Baker Record Breaker
Kate’s events are very interactive and work equally well in school and library settings, with both school and family audiences. She involves children in a variety of writing and drawing activities, which not only provide a great introduction to her books but also allow children to be creative and really let their imaginations soar. Kate is always very enthusiastic, providing informative and fun events which can really help to promote reading for pleasure.
Very highly recommended.
Debbie Moody, Young People’s Librarian, Leeds Libraries
Kate Pankhurst's workshop events are a total joy - and this isn't just my opinion, but those shared by parents observing along with me at past festival events. Kate is a natural with children; entertaining, informative and her Mariella Mystery events are genuinely fun to get involved with - and I mean for any age. A lot of effort is placed into making the most of the time of each event, varying the content, utilising the space and creating bespoke activities that suit not just the books, but the curious and creative nature of the readers. Kate has some of the best props and activities around.
Nina Douglas, Senior Publicity Manager - Orion Children's Books
Kate visited our school as part of our Book Week. She delivered workshops to all our pupils from Nursery through to Year Six. She made my task of organising the day completely straightforward by sending a detailed breakdown of the day and what she would be covering in each workshop.
At morning break children from the first workshop were keen to tell me about what they had done or were busy developing their own detective characters in the playground. Months later they are still avidly reading Mariella Mystery books. Reception and nursery staff were particularly impressed with how well Kate worked with our youngest children. I have no hesitation in recommending a visit from Kate Pankhurst!
Jenny Hill, Primary School Teacher, Holywell Green Primary, Halifax