Smriti Halls: BookTrust Writer in Residence (Sept 2020-March 2021)
Modern Classic
"Deftly humorous... a lovely book to
cuddle up with" - The Guardian
"Comical, bold and tender." - Sunday Times
"Has future classic stamped all over it." - Daily Mail
"Kids will want to stick with this one" - Kirkus
Rain Before Rainbows
read by Bridgerton star
Hope my words, David's pictures and Rege-Jean's incredible voice bring peace, comfort and joy after a very difficult year.
Rain Before Rainbows
film by Google
Absolutely thrilled that Google has made this beautiful film to support small businesses... using the words of Rain Before Rainbows
Calendar
8 Jan 2021
The Verb, BBC Radio 3. Optimism in Stories for Children - Experiments in Living
Smriti joins Ian McMillan, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Gaia Vince & Kate Fox to discuss optimism in writing for children.
28 Nov 2020
Cambridge Literary Festival - The Little Island
30 Sep 2020
Rebel Rebel: how books and libraries can challenge mainstream narratives
CILIP & YLG panel event with Smriti Halls, Michael Rosen, Jake Hope and Fen Coles.
News
I’m Sticking With You is going to the Nibbies!!
Totally THRILLED and honoured to be up for a BOOK OF THE YEAR at the 2021 British Book Awards - the Oscars of the book world!! Find out more...
Double Oscars Book Prize nomination
Delighted to have landed TWO nominations on the six-strong Oscar's Book Prize shortlist for I’m Sticking With You (S&S Children's Books) and Rain Before Rainbows (Walker Books). The award celebrates the best in storytelling for under-fives. Read more in The Bookseller.
CBeebies Bedtime Stories - Rege-Jean Page reads Rain Before Rainbows
So thrilled that the marvellous Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page - the dashing Duke of Hastings - read RAIN BEFORE RAINBOWS for CBeebies Bedtime Stories on Mothering Sunday. Watch again here...
Back to School with Rain Before Rainbows
Absolutely gorgeous to hear how the free e-book is being used by schools up and down the country to welcome children back after lockdown. Head to the Walker website for lesson ideas & activities.
Little Rebels Award
It's an actual dream-come-true to be on the shortlist for the Little Rebels Award!! So happy and so proud of The Little Island. Congratulations to Rob Starling and everyone on this incredible shortlist.
Save the Children partnership for Rain Before Rainbows
Save the Children has partnered with Walker Books to release Rain Before Rainbows as a free e-book ahead of publication. It is read by the fabulous Stanley Tucci for Save the Children's #SaveWithStories campaign to support children most effected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Teach Primary Awards
So pleased that The Little Island has been shortlisted for this important award.
Indie Book of the Month
I'm Sticking With You has been selected as the Independent Booksellers Book of the Month for August 2020
2020 Indie Book Awards
Feeling the Indie bookshop love as I'm Sticking With You is shortlisted for the 2020 Indie Book Awards alongside picture book legends, including Julia Donaldson and Shirley Hughes.
BBC Radio 4 Women's Hour
Delighted to be interviewed on BBC Woman's Hour, talking about the incredible Bedtime Stories prison project. Click the Woman's Hour icon and listen from 12mins in.
Guardian feature on The Little Island
No goose is an island... Was pleased to be interviewed by the Guardian about the themes and inspiration behind The Little Island.
The Times news feature on The Little Island.
Brexit waddles into children’s books... Can't quite believe that there's an article on The Little Island in the News section of The Times. So important that we keep talking - even if that means ruffling a few feathers. NB - this article is behind The Times paywall.
BookTrust Writer in Residence – (Sept 2020-March 2021)
Honoured and excited to have blogged, vlogged and challenged us all to read aloud, read together and bring books to life.