New Library Workshops

28/02/17
 

Our Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library workshops went ahead on Feb 14th and 17th. Book titles are nearing completion and will be posted in due course. Please check out the new 2017 Newsletter for workshop news about the storybooks and authors. Thanks! 

The Vernon Castle Room at The Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library

First School Workshops

30/10/17

After leading my first workshop at MESH, Gorleston's Neighbourhood Programme on Mon 23rd and Mon 30th Oct, I am in the process of now gathering the written and illustrated work and transforming it all into storybook format. 

A huge thank you to MESH who build upon a sense of community by supporting groups and activities. They cover all subjects that affect everyday life in Gorleston from parking to befriending. We work with a variety of organisations and partners to bring services into Gorleston, recognising that the bus fare into Great Yarmouth is often prohibitive.Our School Workshop... A Very Exciting Project!

Hi, everyone! Apologies for not posting about this sooner - BUT...

Between 25th April and 4th May, I was very excited to have led the first Family Titles workshop based at a school. 

   

26/05/16

Our First School Workshop... A Very Exciting Project!

Hi, everyone! Apologies for not posting about this sooner - BUT...

Between 25th April and 4th May, I was very excited to have led the first Family Titles workshop based at a school. 

I want to thank the amazing teachers, staff AND OF COURSE THE CHILDREN at Westwood Primary in Lowestoft who showed an inexhaustible load of interest and enthusiasm, for this ambitious project, to get an entire school creating their own group storybooks.

There were many different levels to work with and it was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. 

As always, I've continued to learn throughout the process, but on this occasion, I really have gained a valuable insight into the world of teaching in schools, an area I am increasingly keen on getting into. 

This project started when I led my first UK workshop in November last year, at Great Yarmouth library. The Head of Westwood Primary brought her three imaginative boys along to attend a workshop, split across two Saturdays, to create their own printed storybooks... Rae Aldous was really into this unique way of getting children into reading in a big way, and as is the case with other forward thinking professionals in education, she actually went one step further by giving it a try... for her own school.

I really hope the children of Westwood, from Nursery all the way up to Year 6, got a lot out of this - I'm confident that the printed storybook presentation on 27th May will only strengthen their passion for reading, given the many positive comments I received from many children inside that workshop week. I envisage their sheer excitement at being able to pick up and read not only their own books in the school library... What about sharing the joyous experience with their peers by reading their books too..!

 

The printed storybooks for Westwood Primary School...

 

... All ready to make their way to their authors!

Check out our Workshop newsletter which will be updated shortly after Friday 27th May to convey a lot more closely, the excellent efforts of the Westwood kids... or to be more precise, young authors!

Thank you! :-)

Paul Cook

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FAMILY TITLES RETURNS 

Hi, everyone.

I am thrilled to announce that Family Titles will be leading its first workshop in the UK on 21st November!

If you live in the Norfolk area and you either have children or teach in a local school, this is a fantastic opportunity for kids who would just love to try their hand at creating their own paperback storybooks! Actually, even for those who don't love the idea that much. We have had children attending our workshops initially daunted by the idea or showing little enthusiasm about writing their own stories, and sometimes reading in general... But as always, we do promise an unbeatable way to get kids into creative writing and ultimately, reading... We have received some really positive feedback from parents and teachers alike advising us of children having seen their abilities come to life in their own storybooks, now list reading and writing as a brand new hobby!

 

Previous workshop held at 'Spark Lab' India, May 2015... A Learning Center in
joint collaboration with Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

 

In addition, an exciting and unique feature in local libraries we expect to introduce called The Family Titles Shelf would ensure workshop kids can share copies of the storybooks already treasured by them and their families, with friends and even everyday library goers. Reading and enjoying titles written by arguably the youngest writers of today would be a truly inspiring experience.

Michael Cook, Family Titles' very own author currently has his book
(shown on the right) available for loan at Gorleston Library

Check out the info on the following link for Gorleston Library Events ('Family Titles' is indicated on one of the green event buttons):

http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/Your_local_library/Opening_times_and_location/NCC154546

There are two workshops planned for November, each operating over 2 Saturdays (A workshop lasts 4 hours in total):

1. Gorleston Library
Nov Sat 21st. 10:00-12:00
Nov Sat 28th. 10:00-12:00

2. Great Yarmouth Library
Nov Sat 21st. 14:00-16:00
Nov Sat 28th. 14:00-16:00

Call Gorleston Library on 01493 662156, Great Yarmouth Library on 01493 844551 or e-mail libraries@norfolk.gov.uk now to book your place... Limited places available!

We are really looking forward to meeting the next group of young writers to share some more 
cherishable stories with us. We want to feed their imagination - No matter how wild and out of control!

Also, please feel free to come along and find out what these workshops are all about. We hope to see you soon.

All the best

Paul Cook

07/09/2016

To CREATE is the new RE-CREATION

What is it like when you see your own story presented in storybook form..?

Well, I have never quite experienced this myself, but years ago I did show many signs of wanting to be a storybook writer. I would create my own series of books by not only featuring the same characters, but the actual books would all have to bear the same title logo... Not only that, I would ask for exercise books from WHSmith, only to remove the staples and re-staple all the pages back together in the way I wanted, completing my own individual and independently put together storybook.

This, coupled with my own son's desire to create his own book many years later, brought the greater vision to my mind of allowing many more kids to create their own storybooks but this time with proper, slick formatting and colour graphics (see About Family Titles tab)...

Children can expect to receive their storybooks wrapped in paper bearing the Family Titles logo

After leading my first Family Titles workshop back in 2012, I wanted to capitalise on what makes Family Titles a unique platform to get into reading... Essentially, the real excitement is getting the storybook in your hands after putting the hard work into the story and illustrations. The idea of a read your own book session was a no brainer for me and the prefect way to end the workshop as a whole.

The final hand over of the books was held at a very supportive and interested bookshop based in Gurgaon, India. The children whose ages ranged from five to twelve years at that time, were given the opportunity to look for their own books among the other titles on the shelves. This was met with great excitement and it was a real joy for the parents also. That was one of the most satisfying moments from the experience that led me to believe what I was doing was worthwhile. It is the book hand over that I still look forward to the most.

There is something really special in not only witnessing the sheer delight unfold as each page is turned and read out enthusiastically... It is when they all happily share their stories, and how they thought up ideas... openly acknowledging the fact that they have also shared what is in most cases, the first time experiencing the task of creating their own storybooks. Oh, and their utter surprise at seeing their biographies and accompanying photos printed on the book inlay, thanks to the contribution by their parents... Again, a real treat for all concerned.

So... By facilitating these workshops, I have seen exactly what it must be like to see your own story printed in book form. I may not have printed my own stories yet, but I feel the same level of excitement when I see books written by the worlds youngest writers' books come back from the printers - Then I look forward to passing on that excitement!

Selection of photos from first workshop reading session (2012)

Family Titles now operates in Norwich, UK and I hope to lead workshops with schools and libraries at the earliest opportunity. Not only conducting the workshops, but also building up an exciting, accessible catalogue of titles written by children between the ages of five to fifteen years, that can be shared and enjoyed by kids of all ages and even adults. 

Last workshop reading session (April 2015)

I really hope we get our workshops back in action very soon. We look forward to help kids to create some more truly remarkable storybooks. Check out our Title Of The Month featured on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/familytitles.

All the best

Paul Cook

OK, everyone... Please allow your children to write a review (yes, more creativity!) of their favourite book or at least the book they are currently reading - We are looking for some really interesting thoughts on contemporary as well as classic titles being enjoyed by kids of all ages. We would love adults and children alike to share their thoughts :-) Many thanks as always. 

Our Next Workshop

You may pre register your kids for a creative writing workshop that Family Titles is holding for children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, at All That Jingalala mela, DoubleTree by Hilton, Gurgaon, on Sat Feb 22nd, between 10am-6pm. 

Please confirm your attendance and preferred time for your child to attend... Please allow for a maximum of 90 minutes for the session you choose. We are quite flexible on timings... Please prepare your child for what will be a fun but creative minded workshop. We would love to see the wildest imaginations run wild in the form of words and pictures, so we can help them create some truly cherishable storybooks!

Here are some more details:
See your children create their very own storybooks...
Guided by an experienced English artist/cartoonist/creative writer, children can create their own illustrated stories which will eventually take the glossy and colourful page turning form of a storybook the whole family will treasure.

As well as providing an unbeatable way for kids to enjoy books. Copies of the final product will surely make ideal gifts for family and friends. This is open to adults also, wishing to unleash their inner creativity... You can also join in! 

The Family Titles stall will charge Rs500 initially for flexibly timed sessions where illustrations and words will be applied (usually no more than 5 A4 pages), between 10am and 6pm.
A further Rs500 will be charged upon delivery of the book, 2-3 weeks after the date of the mela. This can be collected from Family Titles HQ at Westend Heights.
Best Regards

Paul Cook
Family Titles
0091 9650010377

Excerpt from Mikey's Really Amazing Transport Guide. Get your very own signed copy for your bookshelf :-)

Mikey’s Really Amazing Transport Guide

So, transport was always going to be the next in line for the ‘Amazing Guides’ series. We leapt forward 65 or so million years since its predecessor, ‘Mikey’s Really Amazing Dinosaur Guide’ to convey another topic of fascination… virtually all modes of transport. As before, notes were taken as Michael reeled off another guide’s worth of information over the period of one month. The continuous juggernaught of thought simply started from a game of ‘I Spy’ from inside a moving car. As vehicles always feature heavily as subjects for ‘I Spy’, it wasn’t as difficult we thought it would be to encourage free flowing thoughts. And there were a lot of those… This is the edited version… The author’s cut, if ever released, would make ‘War & Peace’ look like ‘Spot The Dog’!

Please follow our blog… www.fenncook.blogspot.in which provides the latest up to date info on Fenn Cook Family releases past, present and future as well as other amazingly useful info on kids’ books.

Fenn Cook Family's favourite book this month... The Pirates Next Door.

Every Dull-On-Sea type coastal town in the UK needs a family like the Jolly Rogers to stir things up a bit and bring on some excitement! That change at the end of the book, on the sign board, "Population 2,222" down from "2,227" (shown in the inner artwork) was a little sad. Shame they couldn't stick around for a bit longer! Beautiful illustrations - Effortless rhyming. The Fenn Cookies give this 5 stars! *****

The Making Of 'Mikey's Really Amazing Transport Guide' revealed!

Researching various book layouts at a book store in Connaught Place (Oct 2012)

Mikey in daydream mode as the first print run fires up behind him (Oct 2012)