VIRTUAL & VIDEO SCHOOL VISITS

 

It's great to be able to visit in person, but I also offer 'VIRTUAL VISITS' via Microsoft Teams, Zoom etc. or you can rent access to a full 50 minute virtual author talk video (see trailer above). This might be a good option while Covid restrictions are still in place, or for schools based outside the UK. An online visit will also save on travel costs so can be a good compromise if budgets are tight. The live 'zoom' events are still very interactive and lots of fun, and both these and the pre-recorded video option offer the opportunity for students to ask questions and have bookplates personalised and signed if required.

 

Please see my SCHOOLS & EVENTS page for more details of all the different types of events I can offer, both virtual and in person.

 

If you're interested in booking a virtual visit, or renting access to the video, for your school, library, festival or book club, please get in touch via my message page, or email me and we can discuss options. Thanks.

 

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If you have purchased rental access to the Virtual Visit via Video, please click here, or on the image below, then enter your password when prompted.

 

 

NEW BOOK! OUT NOW!

Jacket wrap for My Robot's Gone Wild by Dave Cousins

 

"My Robot’s Gone Wild is an epic finale to this series of books … a real ‘coming-of-age,’ ‘moving on’ story, that will appeal to children in Year 6 thinking about their transition to high school and all the changes that lie ahead. Jake, his twin sister, best friend Ali and school-friend Ivana are spending one last summer together before ‘big school’ camping in the Scottish Wilderness. They’re pitching up at Granny Anderson’s place and Jake can’t wait to see Robin his robot babysitter again. He’s also really looking forward to hanging out with his best mate, but it would seem Ali only has eyes for Ivana now and Jake’s worried he might have lost his best bud for good. His summer is looking lonely, but when Granny’s Highland cattle are stolen, Jake & his friends end up having one last adventure they’ll never forget … There’s some really appealing themes between the pages alongside the adventure … that most upper primary pupils will identify with."– Emma Kuyateh, Primary Teacher Bookshelf

 

"I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how the Grandma was an inventor, because it shows that anyone can be an inventor! … This is a funny adventure where everyone is disguised as something else!" – Arthur (aged 8), Books Up North

THE GREAT ESCAPE!

DAILY WRITING PROMPT.

 

Hi folks, I hope you and yours are well, and coping with these unusual and difficult times. It might feel like our options are limited at the moment, but stories provide a great way to escape. In stories we can go anywhere, at any time, with anyone!

With this in mind I thought I'd post a series of writing prompts over on my blog and Facebook page in case they might be of interest.


I'm hoping these prompts will provide a spark. Let your imagination run with them any way you like. Write a story, a poem, draw a comic strip, compose a song or a piece of music, make a video, an animated flick book, draw something, make a sculpture from pasta shells, blu-tack and unicorn tears – whatever idea drops into your head. (Just don't go outside hunting for unicorns, as I suspect that's on the forbidden list).

Most importantly – have some fun with it and I hope you'll feel a sense of freedom! Let me know how you get on. You can tag me on social media or contact via the usual place here.

Look after yourselves and each other.
Best wishes, Dave

MYSTERY & MAYHEM IN BOOK 3 AS "ROBOT HOLMES" AND "DOGGY WATSON" (sorry!) GET ON THE CASE OF THE MISSING GRANDMA …

Front and back cover for A ROBOT ATE MY GRANDMA by Dave Cousins

"There’s plenty to keep newly independent readers turning the pages of this zany story … lots of laughs, a fair few tense moments and terrific illustrations by Catalina Echeverri breaking up the text and adding additional humour and drama to the telling." – Jill Bennett, Red Reading Hub

 

"A Robot Ate My Grandma is the third book in a fun, laugh-out-loud series about a family with a very clever grandmother who invents robots to make their lives easier … With mishaps and giggles around every corner, this modern-day Little Red Riding Hood is a fantastic story for children starting to branch out into longer novels on their own." – Kate Heap,  Scope For Imagination

Front cover for audiobook of A Robot at my Grandma by Dave Cousins. Read by Peter Kenny.

 

AUDIOBOOK

ALSO AVAILABLE!

 

Why not listen to the brilliant Peter Kenny read A ROBOT ATE MY GRANDMA? Available from your local library, Audible, Oakhill Children's Audiobooks etc. Enjoy!

 

<- click the picture to hear a sample

Robot Babysitter signed bookplates

SIGNED

BOOKS!

 

Looking for a personalised gift for the book lover in your life? Don't know what to buy for that robot-obsessed whipper snapper in the family? Well, I might just be able to help you there …

 

click here to find out more!

 

 

 

CONFUSED ROBOTS AND FLYING HAMSTERS! THINGS GET EXPLOSIVE IN BOOK 2 …

Is My Teacher a Robot? by Dave Cousins. Front cover and blurb.
Front cover for audiobook of Is My Teacher a Robot? by Dave Cousins. Read by Peter Kenny.

 

AUDIOBOOK

ALSO AVAILABLE!

 

You can now listen to the brilliant Peter Kenny read IS MY TEACHER A ROBOT? Available from your local library, Audible, Oakhill Children's Audiobooks etc. Hope you enjoy it!

inspiREAD 2021 book award shortlist poster

Honoured and delighted that Is My Teacher a Robot? was shortlisted for the inspiREAD 2021 book award. An excellent selection of books in three different categories, so really chuffed to be included. Visit the website to watch video readings of all the shortlisted books.

 

My Babysitter is a Robot by Dave Cousins. Ilustrated by Catalina Echeverri. Front cover.

Find out how it
all started!

 

The first book in the series is available now in paperback, eBook and AUDIOBOOK.

 

"… a cute story with Dahlian shades as the children plot to get rid of the robot babysitter their grandmother has built for them … very funny … with a lot of heart and the illustrations add comedy too."

5 stars

Lilyfae (Amazon Top 500 Reviewer)

 

"My Year 4 class are loving this book. Dave has an incredible knack of writing for this age group that really connects with their sense of humour and imagination." Mrs K Harper

Dave Cousins Waiting for Gonzo worldwide editions

 

WAITING

FOR

GONZO

 

*

GRAMPIAN CHILDREN'S
BOOK AWARD WINNER

 

*

 "Dealing with some serious issues, Waiting for Gonzo manages to be simultaneously funny and thought-provoking."
—BOOKTRUST—

 

Out now in the UK, USA, Canada,

Germany, Korea, Italy and Poland.

 

Available in paperback, eBook and AUDIOBOOK (read by the author!)

 

 

Charlie Merrick's Misfits in I'm a Nobody, Get Me Out of Here! Front Cover

MORE MISFITS

MAYHEM!

 

"Fun, gung-ho stuff with great cartoons and endearing characters."

The Times

(Best Summer Reads)

 

"I loved this book so much I have read it twice already."

Tomasz, 9

 

"Funny, accessible

and deliciously irreverent …
perfect for thrill-seeking boys and girls of all reading abilities."

Lancashire Evening Post

 

 

"This is a great book, it's funny and even gives you great advice
on tying knots and finding your way without a compass."

Melissa, 8 (LoveReading4Kids)

 

Hive.co.uk

Children's Book of the Month

 

Coventry Telegraph,

Children's Book of the Week

 

"You should definitely grab yourself a copy and enjoy getting
to know Charlie Merrick and his misfit friends."

Ross, 11 (LoveReading4Kids)

 

 

Charlie Merrick's Misfits in I'm a Nobody, Get Me Out of Here! Back cover blurb

 

Here are a few more football related
reading, writing and drawing  goodies …

 

My Top 11 Favourite Football Books

 

FREE Charlie Merrick Activity Pack including:

design your own squad cards, comic & match sheets

 

National Literacy Trust World Cup Kit Bag

 

TES Teaching Resources PackAn 8 day scheme of work based on Charlie Merrick

(please note - I had no involvement in the production of these resources, but

have been told by teachers they are very good. There is also a small cost to download the scheme)

 

Reading Agency Chatterbooks Football Pack

 

Step-by-step Guide to Drawing a Football Action Scene!

 

Dave Cousins How to draw a footballer from the Guardian Childrens Books

 Be the first to hear when anything interesting happens … new books, events, freebies, competitions etc.

 

To register, just click the image and enter your details. Thanks!

Stories from The Edge Young Adult anthology of short stories

STORIES FROM THE EDGE

 

New YA anthology OUT NOW!

 

Includes MAGPIE SOUP, a prequel (of sorts) to 15 Days without a Head, about Mina before she met Laurence and Jay.

 

Visit The Edge website for more info.

Paperback and eBook editions available here.

"I guarantee that these stories will leave readers gasping for more." JOY COURT, Chair CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals

 

Discussion Guides for exploring the stories with students are available as a free PDF download here.

Top Ten Survival Tips #1 Harvesting Dew



MY TOP TEN SURVIVAL TIPS


To celebrate the publication of the new Charlie Merrick's Misfits adventure,

The Guardian Children's Books kindly invited

me to choose my

Top Ten Survival Tips.


You can read them here.


The book was also included in The Guardian round-up of Summer Reads, here.

Sunglasses by Cyclops Dog single sleeve all proceeds to Bliss charity

 

Download 'Sunglasses' from the Waiting for Gonzo soundtrack – only 79p! All proceeds donated to the Bliss charity.

 

Watch the video below.

 

NATIONAL LITERACY TRUST

#FITFORLIT CHALLENGE

 

With COVID-19 set to have a disastrous impact on the literacy of the 4.6 million children living in poverty in the UK, the National Literacy Trust is raising money to fund projects to support these children.

 

The #FITFORLIT Alternative Sports Day challenge invites you to film or photograph yourself doing something active with a book – maybe set up a book obstacle course, or see how many books you can weight-lift!

 

I decided to attempt to read out loud the first chapter of A Robot Ate My Grandma while out running! Watch the video below to find out how I got on. Then please visit https://www.literacytrust.org.uk/events/fitforlit to find out how to get involved.

 

If you are able to donate a few pounds it would be much appreciated and a huge help to this important project. Please visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/fitforlit or text FITFORLIT to 70085 to donate £3 (texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message). Thank you!

 

Have fun with your own #FitforLit challenge.

Take care and all the best, Dave.

 

Book Week Scotland poster

A VIEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Friday 20 November

 

As part of the 2020 Book Week Scotland celebrations I was invited to make a short film where I share "a view of my favourite things".

I'm a bit of a hoarder, so it was tough deciding which of my favourite things to talk about! If you'd like to find out what I chose, the video is available to watch for FREE this Friday by following the LINK HERE or via the Book Week Scotland website where you'll find details of lots of other great events. If you do decide to have a look, I hope you enjoy it – apologies in advance for the terrible noises! Thanks to Moira and Elaine in Dundee for inviting me to take part.

 

Thanks to Gabriel Cheung for sending in this brilliant kit of many colours.

 

Download the FREE Charlie Merrick Activity Pack and have a go at designing your own Dream Football Kit, or make some football cards for your team. Email your designs to the address on the pack, and I'll post my favourites here.

 

 

I really like the design of these two kits sent in by Mario Shehu. They remind me a bit of my favourite Birmingham City 'penguin' kit—especially the blue, white and green one in the background. Great stuff, thanks Mario.

 

These fantastic kits were designed by Year 6 pupils at St. Saviour's School in E14. (click the shirt to see the full set)