THE NEXT BIG THING IN KIDS’ BOOKS IS A FISH!
You know the Trout in the Classroom Project that Timmy is working with? You’ll never guess what - as well as the UK Environment Agency they have now partnered up with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. There’s going to be a scheme called “Finpals” where we will be able to share our fishy experiences with 25 schools in New Jersey. There’s going to be a blog, a website and at some point hopefully we can do video conferences. How cool is that!
All about the awesome cover pic by the awesome artist herself! Video interview of Megan the Artist chatting to Ian the Author at Kilnsey Show. And by the way, the reason that her T-shirt is so muddy because she had just done the fell race… and come third! How multi-talented is that? Go Megan!
Wow, Timmy is beginning to collect friends in high places!
Check out this personally signed letter of support from none other than the Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury.
a.k.a. Big Boss at the Environment Agency!
That was very nice of him to take the time, wasn’t it? I’m sure being a Lord must be a very busy job…
Except for Leaping Lord Learoyd of course… he doesn’t do much at all. Mind you, he is bonkers!
Megan’s picture has caused a splash (ha ha) in the world of mobiles. That’s a cell phone if you’re in America. Or “One of them ringin’ things” if you’re in the Yorkshire Dales. Not that they ring much up there. All those hills = no signal!
Anyway, if you’d like to download a leaping Timmy image for your phone just click here! Right click and save to your computer. Upload to your phone.
Note: over 40’s please ask a child to do all that for you.
And all good Timmy fans know what that means. The anniversary of an ancient Brown’s legendary leap over Hubberholme Bridge! The one where, according to the Colonel, the old daredevil got his re-entry all wrong and came crashing down upon Headbanger’s Rock, “Knocking himself unconscious in the head.”
Our ghostly friend often gets overlooked but without him there would have been no story. So “Happy Anniversary Leaping Learoyd!” And here’s a picture of him in his isolation tank over the fireplace in the George Inn. If you’re in Hubberholme ever, get an adult to ask Barry the Landlord to let you pop in and visit!
Well Kilnsey Show was a blast. If you’re a hippo! Was it 5 minutes we had without rain in two days? Yorkshire summers eh!
Anyway, despite the downpours, all went swimmingly in the Children’s area! Made lots of new friends and got enquiries from 4 or 5 schools for next term which is fab. I even had a chat with a record producer about doing Timmy as an Audio Book - how cool would that be?!!
Of course, our little tank of Rainbow fingerlings was a star attraction and we managed to survive without loss or incident. Not bad to say they were left overnight in a car park, dumped into in a plastic dustbin, driven to Kilnsey, stuck in a tank, topped up with River Wharfe, fished back out into the dustbin, driven through the mud to Kilnsey Park and tipped into a pond!
I also had a lovely catch up with Megan, Emily and Courtney from Kettlewell Primary and we did some pictures and interviews which you can see on the ‘Gallery’ page. Finally got towed off the field by a tractor at 8pm - knackered, covered in mud but very, very happy.
Huge thank you’s to Adam Westcott of Bolton Abbey Hatchery for the fingerlings, Tracy at Kettlewell Primary for the loan of the tank, all at Food & Farming 4 Real, especially Christine “The Fixer” Ryder, Ian “The Video” Smith and all Timmy T-Shirt models - you were fabulous darlings!
Also to Pip’n'Jilly - Trout Transporters extraordinaire, Kilnsey Park for providing a good home for the fingerlings in a crisis and especially to Rachel who helped me design TimmyWorld - ok, I admit it, you had all the high five ideas!
See more pics on the ‘Gallery’ page.
Let’s do it all again next year???!!!
Wow, talk about a Rainbow Trout!This gorgeous picture is now on the front cover of the book. It was done by Megan Schofield (age 10) of Timmy’s local school, Kettlewell Primary.
How many of the other characters can you spot in her drawing? You can leave a comment about Megan’s picture below and I’ll forward it on to her.
The back cover of the book features a fabby synopsis by Alex Marquez (age 9), also from Kettlewell Primary. I couldn’t have put it better myself…
so I didn’t!
How exciting! I’ve just done a little interview for the people at Kilnsey Show. More to follow so watch (and listen to) this space…
To hear the complete podcast visit the REAL Food and Farming blog or subscribe free on iTunes.
Eek, I’m so excited! I’m going to be at Kilnsey Show with a tank full of Rainbow fingerlings doing readings :-) I mean, I’ll be doing readings. I guess the fish will just be chillin’ and enjoying the show.
If you want to come say hello, I’ll be in the Children’s marquee in the Food & Farming for REAL section. And watch out for people wearing Timmy T-shirts. Especially Megan who did the beautiful drawing. If you see her don’t forget to tell her how fantastic it is!
Crikey, if this works it means I’ve gone and got myself a blog-site! Big thanks to Ian @ Recorded Devilery for explaining things v..e..r..y…..s..l..o..w..l..y….
And all this for £149? Bargainous!
