A Selection of Kate's Books
Kate Pankhurst
Type of Artist:
My aim when I visit schools is to help grow children’s joy around reading and storytelling. I do this with an interactive and fun session involving lots of intriguing props, dressing up, drawing and plenty of inspiration on how to change the world. All my books begin with drawing – I’ll discuss my working process and demonstrate that from small doodles, BIG ideas can grow.
Sessions can be adapted to suit learners in KS1 and KS2. I’m very happy to work with large groups in an assembly style session for an entire key stage/multiple year groups, or individual classes. My books focus on stories of female empowerment and are very much aimed at both girls and boys.
From September 2023 sessions can be themed around my new series We Are All Astronauts (We Are All Inventors coming summer 2024) or can focus on the best-selling Fantastically Great Women series. (Or a bit of both!)
Details
Preferred age range:KS1 & 2
Maximum number in any one session:
Talk - up to 200. Workshop - 30
No of sessions per day:
Up to three sessions during a day’s visit
Session Length:
45-60 minutes depending on age group
Areas prepared to travel to:
I’m based in Leeds and will travel to schools within 2 hours from there. I can’t make overnight trips but can offer an online version of my event which multiple classes can join.
Transport:
Car or train
Fees:
Hold PLI (public liability insurance):
Yes
Website:
Titles include:
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World
Fantastically Great Women who Made history
Fantastically Great Women Who Worked Wonders
Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet
Fantastically Great Women Scientists and their Stories
Fantastically Great Women Artists
We Are All Astronauts (August 2023)
The Mariella Mystery Investigates series.
Testimonials:
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
Published work:
Other information: