We three members of The Ten Penners, Marion, Kate and Jill. Had a great time at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Bracken Ridge, yesterday.
Greeted by an enthusiastic and wonderful teacher Librarian, Mrs Beatrice Smith. We had a quick cup of tea after our long drive. Set out our table and watched as the students came in and settled in for the first session.
Mrs Smith read a different story from our books 
at each session. We enjoyed hearing our stories read.
Mrs Smith encouraged the kids to imagine the characters as there were no pictures in the book. She asked, ‘what age Hannah Elizabeth might be’ in Jill Ford’s P.E.T.A.L. story. Kate’s fairy tale, ‘The Prince and the Pauper’. Left dangling part way through. Mrs Smith explained where in the school Library they could find Fan-tas-tic
-al Tales. So they could finish the story. ‘The Night Witch’, models of Barnacle Bill and Fisherman Fred were on the table. The kids realised they were where I derived my inspiration to write the story. The room erupted with elbow shooting when Marion’s ‘Wart Boy’ was read. It was hilarious and great to see the magic of imagination take hold in the children’s reactions.
My husband was not only our driver, he doubled as a photographer. He enjoyed seeing the children especially our grand daughters.
Encouraged by this successful day we have decided that this may be the first of many such excursions. The children gave us many great ideas for our next book on ‘adventures’. We are planning to publish this year.
