It’s the official launch day for How to Make a Heron Happy! And it’s raining … Which isn’t usually a problem, but I’d been hoping to launch the book, which was inspired by my local park, IN THE PARK. With 50 Primary Ones from my local school, Hermitage Park Primary in Leith.
But to read a book to lots of infants in a park, you need a bit of luck with the weather. And I kept waking up last night, hearing the wind howling round the house, thinking “Oh no! The books will blow away! The children will blow away!”
But I’m a natural optimist (you have to be, to write books when you’ve no idea whether anyone will ever publish them, or read them!) So I got up this morning and put on thick jeans, fluffy wellies, lots of layers, and the raincoat I usually use for researching mountains and caves, and I went out.
In the pouring rain and driving wind.
Luckily the school staff have more sense than me, and cancelled the event. So I ended up in the lovely school library, reading the book (and telling a monkey story) to all the P1s, some bonus nursery kids, as well as photographers, journalists and park rangers.
In my wellies, and my old jeans, and my lots of layers to keep me warm.
So if you do see any pictures of this launch in the Evening News, or on STV local, or anywhere else, that’s why I look such a mess!
But the kids were great, they seemed to enjoy the book, and guess what … I’ve just got home, just typed up this post, and the SUN HAS COME OUT. I bet the park is lovely now….
Sorry about the weather, but we just about squeezed everyone and their camera into the library for you – looked a really exciting morning. The photo in STV local, erm, doesn’t do you justice!
Even my big P5 kids were talking about How To Make A Heron Happy yesterday!
I don’t like looking at photos of me anyway, so if the pictures on the STV website don’t “do me justice” then I think I’ll avoid them! But everyone else is welcome to go and have a laugh. And big P5s are allowed to enjoy picture books too! Hope to come and tell you about my new chapter book (definitely written for P5s) soon though.
The Primary 1’s enjoyed your storytelling very much Lari so a big thank you. The sun did come out in the afternoon so we took the opportunity to go to the park to look at all the amazing birds there.
It was lovely meeting all the P1s, and hearing about their favourite animals and birds. I hope they (and you!) are enjoying their Easter holidays, and finding lots of new birds and animals in the park (or on beaches or up hills, or even at the zoo) to draw and write about when they come back to school!