Bath Children's Literature Festival

Living in Bath is fabulous. Being a mum is wonderful too. Being a mum in the city of Bath is brilliant, especially during the Bath Children's Literature Festival.

I basically use my children as an excuse to listen to, learn from and meet amazing children's authors and illustrators. Fortunately my girls see this as a win-win! This year we have been inspired by Dominika Lipniewska's delicious use of colour and shapes to create personalities and (in my daughter's case strange and wonderful) architecture. And Dominika was simply lovely.

My 8yr old had been counting down the days till she met Liz Pichon and the rocking Dude3! They did not disappoint. The wonderful Tom Gates has been the magic set of books which finally got her excited about reading - Yeah! We got some great doodling tips, my girl got some pointers for her drumming lessons, and we basically just hung out with the band afterwards. My youngest is way cooler than me; I am an embarrassment.

Today, however, I have been fangirling over Alex T Smith, author and illustrator of the Claude books (and now the superb Mr. Penguin). I think he is awesome! (Note the use of my favourite word, saved for this very moment). Once again ('cause yes, I went to see him last year as well), ahem, once again he inspired us with encouraging stories about how he got started. He regaled us with two chapters of the divine 'Mr. Penguin and the Lost Teasure' - which replaced the great Tom Gates as our bedtime reading book of choice - a high honour indeed - we eagerly await the sequel. He taught us how to draw our winged hero, as you can see... Finally, the truly awesome Mr Smith signed our books, and my sketch book!!! I was happiness personified.