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It’s been a rollercoaster of a year and we’re still not done yet!

I’ve launched Post From Panda – magical reading practice for children in reception. A real letter is delivered every week via Royal Mail.

Where did Panda Post come from?

When my 2 boys learned to read it was such a special time. It was like, my baby’s growing up. It’s such a massive life step. And I wanted my role in it to be the best it could be.

I realised quickly that school worked them really hard on the phonics. All that learning they were working SO hard at day in day out. Monday through to Friday.

At home I realised that they needed a serious dose of magic. A moment where the hard work paid off. And that does of magic would keep them going, keep them trying, keep them working on those tricky words and split diagraphs!

Reading practice needed to be something they wanted to do.

Reading practice could be something that they asked to do, not me asking them.

So as a children’s author I started playing with writing reading books, just for them. They loved them and we really enjoyed playing this game with them.

And then I had a moment when I realised the power of a letter could be mixed with reading practice and Post From Panda was born.

I literally, ran upstairs and made up a story letter from panda, got an envelope, drew the best panda I could on it, and posted it to my youngest.

Come over and say hello

www.postfrompanda.com

I’m excited to say I’m now available for school visits.

I LOVE getting children enthusiastic about stories, writing and reading. I’m an experienced youth worker and can deliver a full range of workshops, activities and events for your school.

I’m also fully DBS checked and a primary school governor.

Amazing assemblies

Wonderful workshops

Creative crafts and exciting adventures in writing

A full day usually consists of one assembly and 3 workshops, but I can be flexible and work to your requirements.

For more more information, costs and availability email me today.

MR MUSTACHIO has been a long time coming.

He started as a joke with my kids, whenever they drank milk we’d call them Mr Mustachio because of their milk moustaches. One day, as we were mucking around on the kitchen floor, it hit me what a great picture book character he would make. I ran upstairs and the Mr Mustachio story started.

Then, in summer 2014, the manuscript was a runner-up in the Greenhouse Funny Prize. I picked up the news at the end of a 32 mile bike ride on a windy Northumberland beach. I flicked open my email on my phone and there were two bits of news that day pinging in. One was Mr Mustachio and the Greenhouse win and one was that I’d finally been awarded my PhD and could officially use the title Dr Yasmin Finch. With life-changing news on the wind rolling in from the North Sea, I could see why the ancient celts looked for God on these shores.

Later in the autumn of 2014, when the nights had drawn in and just about every bit of Northumberland-wonder had been boxed-up by life, work, school runs, doctors, overdrafts, and never-ending food-shopping I was curled up on the sofa and another email pinged in, this time from Maverick Arts Publishing. Was Mr Mustachio still available and would I like to meet them? And suddenly Mr Mustachio had found a home with the brilliant team there.

Back in Northumberland again, now summer 2015, and I’m on my beloved Island of Lindisfarne (it’s not actually mine, but it feels like home) and this time an email comes in (another bit of illegal-holiday-email-checking) with first sketches of the entire book from illustrator Abi Tompkins. They were amazing and I was so excited to be working with such a gifted illustrator.

Now it’s summer again and MR MUSTACHIO is all set to be published on 28th August 2016. I’ve already done a little author storytelling event for Linton Book Festival with a cheeky proof copy. Dressed as a builder with comedy moustaches for everyone. There are going to be a lot of comedy moustaches aren’t there? 

Now launches and parties, cakes and celebrations are on my mind. Abi Tompkins is a great partner in crime and I can’t wait to share a glass of the fizzy stuff to celebrate our book.