School Visits, Libraries and Talks
I started writing children’s books four years ago and since then my head has been filled with wonderful adventures. I can’t think of a better job in the world!
Ten books have been published in the last year, one of which has won theHillingdon Picture Book of the Year Award. Many more exciting stories are in the pipeline and will be published over the next two years with Little Tiger Press, Stripes, Nosy Crow, Scholastic, Alison Green Books, Meadowside and Egmont.
I write picture books, pacy young fiction stories and I’ve just been contracted to write a series of exciting stories for 8-10 year olds so I can offer a range of varied presentations right the way across key Stages 1 and 2.
My sessions with both Key Stage 1 and 2 are always lively and fun, filled with memorable activities...
My aim is to bring stories to life, allowing my characters to leap off the page and into the child’s imagination. This, I’m convinced, is the key to making stories truly magical…
Just as my characters take me on their journey, we invite our audience along too. My sessions are very interactive with each child being given the opportunity to participate fully in the story experience while I seamlessly deliver key learning goals. Yes – the children don’t even know they’re learning – it’s great!
Many of my stories subtly convey important moral messages. My trolls, 'The Grunt and The Grouch', might be mad on collecting belly button fluff and bogies which they keep in jars but they also lead the child to consider wider issues – loneliness for example, or reaching out to others, or changing the way one’s always been in order to gain a friend.
'The Little White Owl', very gently, delivers a powerful message too, and it’s been used widely in assemblies as it deals with fundamental issues of acceptance and having the strength of character to be true to yourself whilst draw others to you through this captivating “colourful” beauty.
I also write funny rhyming stories and my latest book, 'Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble', (a riotous tale about a witch and her longsuffering granddaughter) is guaranteed to have the children giggling with its special kind of magic. I might even get them helping out with simple “Granny” tricks and maybe they’ll make a bouncing spider or two whilst considering relationships and how, sometimes, we need to think of things from the perspective of others and not our own. Something I’m sure, which is recurring theme in the primary school!
I also talk to Key Stage 2 children about my young fiction texts and about the “ingredients” that make a great story. This introduces them to key strategies that help get their own stories off the ground, and the skills and ideas they’ll need to keep their stories sparkling!
I was a primary school teacher before I was a writer and I’ve implemented specialist language programmes in schools and I can bring my knowledge of the curriculum to bear when tailoring my event to suit your specific requirements.
If there’s anything in particular you feel your children need, I’m very happy to discuss this with you beforehand, so that I can help you to achieve your aims and targets.
I’ve presented at all the major children’s book festivals, many schools, story centres and libraries and have recently toured 14 Waterstone’s bookshops presenting my picture book, 'Oh Dylan!' to life with four baby ducklings. In addition, I’ve spoken at writers conferences, sharing my experiences with aspiring writers.
My aim is to inspire children, to awake in them a love of stories and to give them a sense of where their imagination can take them.
Thanks for reading right to the end (!) and if you would like me to visit your school or talk to aspiring writers about the journey to publication, you can contact me on the email address supplied.
I’m based in Gloucestershire but will travel as far as can in a day. And maybe even further now and again!
Here are some testimonials which will give you a flavour of me. More about my work and details of all my books can be also found on my website: www.traceycorderoy.com
My fees are in line with The Society of Authors’ guidelines and again please email me for details.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Tracey Corderoy
Teach Primary Magazine;
Review of 'The Little White Owl':
“…The protagonist of this captivating story, may not have a name, but he is nonetheless more than worthy of his place on the literary branch of fame alongside such other well-loved owls as Sarah, Percy, Bill and Plop.
Alone, but not lonely, he is a happy little messenger, whose mission is not, as one might presume given the opening pages, to find friends - but rather, to awaken the warmth and imagination that lies dormant within those who are living a limited existence despite boasting bright colours and many companions. Beautifully phrased and gorgeously illustrated, this is an original and enchanting book that has all the makings of a children's classic; the author's evident affection for her tiny hero is irresistible."
Joanna Hobbs, Manager - Children’s Books,
Waterstone’s Cirencester.
“…We had lots of fun this weekend at Waterstone's Cirencester. Bestselling picture book author Tracey Corderoy came to visit and she brought four fluffy ducklings with her! ?We were celebrating her picture book Oh Dylan! although we were excited to hear she has just won the Hillingdon Prize for one of her other books The Grunt and The Grouch.?Our young readers had a great time meeting a real author(!), saying hello to the ducklings and doing some lovely arts and crafts. The streets of Cirencester were home to some very stylish flower & feather headbands that afternoon!
Speaking as a bookseller this was one of the best children's events I've hosted - real ducklings, great crafts and happy families, plus good book sales - something for everyone! We can't wait to invite Tracey back for a Grunt & Grouch event!”
Library Tour in Denbighshire
“…Dear Tracey Corderoy,
Thank you for inviting us to the library last week. Are you going to write any more Grunt and Grouch stories? I liked making the hairy cakes. I want to know your pet’s name? The troll sack was cool. I liked the diamond that you brought. The best story is The Grunt and The Grouch. It was amazing the best story in the world.
Yours Sincerely,
Sophia”
'Star Friends': Review by Nicholas, age 7
“I really like Star Friends because I think the Boogle is really cute! I also like Ooogle Doogle when he folds up small – I wish I could do that too! The best bit of the story is when the Boogle says “BOO!” and Ooogle Doogle has to run to his house to hide.
I also like the bit when the Boogle shoots off into the sky. What I learned from the story is that even when you think that doing something is scary you should try it anyway because you never know, it might be great!”