Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. Today this photo popped up as a memory on my phone from 2 years ago. Sometimes poems start as small, everyday things. The poem The Balloon, in Poems on Toast, is one such poem. The pink balloon in the poem was a real balloon, spotted on the school run, which sparked an idea. The kind of idea that won't leave you alone as you walk home; an idea that MUST be written down as soon as you're through the door. The Balloon was first published in The Toy

Marjorie, living her best life. I have been meaning to write this post for ages but was sure I'd forget something or someone lovely. I probably still will, but here we go! Since I started my children's poetry journey, JOY has been a frequent visitor, often popping up in unexpected ways. My third book is coming this September. When editing the manuscript I found that I had used the word JOY in two separate titles! One of those poems is plainly and simply about JOY (yes I am g

Probably what I get asked most often is "Where do you get your ideas from?" and it's not a straightforward answer. It could be a phrase I...

I spent last Saturday morning in a tent, dressed as a pirate, talking to children about treasure (and dinosaurs in pyjamas). I've been...