Hi Kids,

Wow! Last week I found myself in the same book as one of the best-known children’s writers in the world!

The book is the programme for this year’s Auckland Writers Festival, and the famous writer is Jeff Kinney who has sold more than 190 million books about a wimpy kid!

Jeff is coming to Auckland to talk about his writing and kids are welcome as long as they can talk your parents into bringing them along. Tap the secret full-stop at the end of this sentence to find out more. I can’t wait.

There are lots of other wonderful sessions by the authors of children’s books as well. Most of them are on Sunday May 20 and almost all of them are free! Check them out here!

I won’t be doing any sessions for kids at the festival but I will be performing in a poetry show for adults. I think it will be my job is to make people laugh because sometimes poetry is a very serious business.

Hi Kids! Welcome to my first Web Log post. Don’t worry it is not as scary as the title suggests.

 The Invasion of the Giant Owls!

If you live in Auckland you may have noticed that giant hand-painted owls have been invading parks, shopping centres and malls all around the city.

Tell your parents not to panic. The owls have been painted by well known artists and school children. They are quite harmless, and so are the owls. They are there to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation to help children with cancer and their families. The art show is called “Big Hoot” and you can find out more about it by clicking or tapping the top secret, multi-purpose full-stop at the end of this sentence.

Last year I was asked if I could write a children’s book that would be part of the “Big Hoot” project. I was pleased to be asked but also a bit unsure if I could do it. Most of my books are funny and child cancer is a very serious subject. I decided to have a go at it and I surprised myself. I am very pleased with the book, and it was launched last week at the same time as the giant owls invaded the city.

The book is called “Manu’s Journey” and it is about a young owl’s journey to recover from cancer.

Before the book was printed I got the chance to share it with some real children who are on the same journey as Manu. I was thrilled to see that they enjoyed the book and were able to laugh at some of the funny stuff I was able to sneak into the book.

All of the money from “Manu’s Journey” will go to the Child Cancer Foundation. If anyone wants to buy it online all they have to do is click or tap on the top secret, multi-purpose, second word in this sentence.