A Selection of Steve's Books
Steve Webb
Type of Artist:
Author / Illustrator. Middle grade, graphic novels and picture books
Steve Webb is an author and illustrator of middle grade, graphic novels and picture books.
His new graphic novel series Peng and Spanners published by Faber is out now with more adventures to come!
His first middle grade series was the magnificently bonkers Spangles McNasty.
For younger readers he has written the fabulously silly picture book, Cows go BOO! and the rhythm and rhyme, syllable-tastic classic, Tanka Tanka Skunk.
Steve lives on a muddy hill where he likes to bounce around on his mountainous bicycle.
KS2
45 min talk to KS2.
Presenting Steve’s latest Peng and Spanners graphic novel with live drawing and interactive elements.
The talk discusses the characters in the series, the writing process from initial idea to printed book, showing the creative writing, illustrating, editing and design processes, highlighting the differences and challenges writing comic strips present.
There's a song in the middle with volunteers and prizes AND a Pizza Bingo finale!
Writing workshop for KS2
A character based session, discussing the importance of strong characters in fiction and some of the methods Steve uses when developing his own characters. The pupils will then invent a new superhero character of their own and write and draw a short comic strip around this creation.
KS1
45 min talk to KS1.
Showing his picture books, with particular emphasis on Cows go Boo! and Tanka Tanka Skunk.
Everyone can join in singing, stamping and clapping along to Tanka Tanka Skunk which is a very rhythmic book, emphasising syllables and sound in words. Steve can then show the children the early drawings and roughs that went into making the finished book.
Volunteers can help act out the story of Cows go Boo! Taking turns to be the farmer and the cows, leaping out from behind a pop-up-banner tree.
Writing workshop for KS1.
Writing new pages for Tanka Tanka Skunk. Showing the book again, the class suggest animal names of different lengths and rhythms which Steve will list on a board. Together they will then find words that fit the Tanka Skunk rhythm and add to the book, singing and clapping along to our finished new page. Pupils can then draw some of the new animals and act out Cows go Boo! again so more children can be involved.
Details
Preferred age range:7-11yrs For young fiction focussed presentations and writing sessions.
5-7yrs For picture book presentations and poetry sessions.
Maximum number in any one session:
Talks to large groups of 200-300. Workshop sessions with smaller classroom sized groups of up to 30
No of sessions per day:
Maximum of 2 talks to large groups plus 3 classroom sized sessions in a full day.
Session Length:
Talk to large group 45 mins.
Workshop sessions 45 - 60 mins.
Areas prepared to travel to:
I live near Buxton in the Peak District and can travel anywhere within 50 miles in a day trip. Happy to travel further if travel and overnight expenses can be covered.
Transport:
Car at 40p per mile or train. I wouldn't usually charge for transport if the event is fairly close (within 20 miles).
Fees:
DBS/CRB:
DBS held
Hold PLI (public liability insurance):
I have Public Liability insurance
Website:
Titles include:
Spangles McNasty and the Fish of Gold
Spangles McNasty and the Tunnel of Doom
Spangles McNasty and the Diamond Skull
Tanka Tanka Skunk
Bigger Digger
Happy Zappa Cat
Testimonials:
"Steve Webb's talks are funny, engaging and brilliantly interactive. He makes the idea of imagination fun and immersive and really brings language to life with a unique mix of jokes, stories and songs. Underpinning this are ideas about characters, setting and the building blocks of stories and writing. It's fantastic seeing how well Steve manages to capture the minds of his young readers and the impact his visits have on reading with countless children immediately burying their heads deep in the pages of his books immediately after the visit. What a star!"
Jake Hope
Reading development and children's book consultant. Chair of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway judging panel 2018.
"Steve was brilliant!! His energy and enthusiasm infected the whole of our juniors (years 3 – 6) and they were very reluctant to leave the world of Spangles McNasty (and jam of course). His events were funny, energetic, entertaining and very informative. Steve gave a lot of time to each individual pupil when signing books for them – in fact if you put all the signed comments together there would be enough to create another Spangles McNasty book!
In his creative writing sessions, pupils were keen to create characters to ‘out-nasty’ Spangles McNasty – Steve was really good at inspiring and encouraging our Year 4s – they came away from the sessions with the biggest smiles on their faces!
Overall – he was soooopa!
Thank you Steve – we all had a lot of fun and I wish I had that much energy!"
Liz Annetts
School Librarian, Northwood College for Girls, London. Oct 2017
The children loved Steve's assembly. Children from Reception to Year 6 enjoyed learning about his inspiration for writing and had a great insight into how he creates the fantastic characters for his books which really sparked their imagination. Spangles McNasty was already a favourite in school so it was really good for the children to meet the author.
They could not wait to have their books signed and were really enthusiastic to start reading. We have had great feedback from parents on how the visit has encouraged the children in their reading and writing.
Steve then worked with Key Stage 2 children throughout the day where the focus was on creative writing , getting involved in character creation, scene setting, poetry writing and script writing.
Everyone had an amazing day that highlighted the schools commitment to reading for pleasure and creative writing.
Debbie Holt,
Librarian. Visiting Lum Head Primary School Manchester, Oct 2017.
Published work:
Other information:
Events:
www.heyyouitsmestevewebb.com/events