Award-winning author and illustrator Morag Hood is announced as the next author to read from her books at The Centre, Livingston’s free Book Club on Saturday, 20th January, ahead of National Storytelling Week at the end of the month.
The aim of the monthly Book Club is to encourage families to come together and enjoy interactive storytelling sessions once a month in the shopping centre and meet award-winning authors.
It follows on from the installation of the shopping centre’s free book recycling vending machine last year to enable people to swap their favourite novels.
Previous authors who have taken over the reading chair include Linda Erskine, Justin Davies, Catherine Rayner and Lindsay Littleson.
Edinburgh-based Morag, who has an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and a BA in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art, previously worked backstage in theatres before immersing herself in the world of illustration.
She is the author and illustrator of 12 picture books, including ‘I Am Bat’, ‘The Steves’ and ‘Dig, Dig, Digger’, which is a witty and funny tale about a little digger with big dreams. The follow up, ‘Runaway Cone’, is due to be published later this month. Morag is also the author of the best-seller ‘Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert’.
Her books are published internationally and have been translated into multiple languages. She is twice winner of the UK Literacy Association Award, voted by primary teachers, and three of her books have been distributed to every primary one class across Scotland as part of Scottish Book Trust’s school reading programme.
Morag has also had five nominations for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Awards over the years and won the Teach Primary Book Awards for ‘Brenda is a Sheep’.
One of her books, ‘Teapot Trouble’, was narrated by the comedian and presenter, Josh Widdicombe, on CBeebies Bedtime Stories.
Morag’s session’s, which are aimed at kid’s aged 2 – 6 and start at 11am and 1pm, will focus on ‘Dig, Dig, Digger’ with a draw-along digger activity and a reading of ‘I Am Bat’.
The Book Club is located across from Waterstones, where her books can be purchased and signed on the day by the author.
Morag said: “I can’t wait to come to the Book Club at The Centre, Livingston this month and share some of my stories and make some muddy digger drawings together – it is such a great idea to run the sessions in the shopping centre and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are delighted to welcome another award-winning author, Morag Hood, to our Book Club this month at The Centre, Livingston and give our visitors the chance to hear readings from her award-winning books and take part in some interactive drawing sessions.
“Our free Book Club, which has been very popular since it started last year, is a great way for us to give families another reason to visit and enjoy some special time together.”
Details of the Book Club can be found on The Centre, Livingston website, www.thecentrelivingston.com and @shopthecentre on Facebook and Instagram.
National Storytelling Week, which takes place from the 27th January until the 4th February, is an annual event to celebrate the power of sharing stories, run by the Society of Storytelling.
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