Type of Artist:
The Talk: Dylan’s Amazing Dinosaurs
With the help of five giant dinosaurs, E.T Harper and entertainer extraordinaire Gilbert Giggles fling open Dylan’s magic dinosaur journal and let the adventures come to life.
Leap on to the back of a magic pterodactyl and soar over Roar Island to collect unusual dinosaur facts.
This lively event immerses young readers in the thrilling world of narrative non- fiction and offers an exciting opportunity for children to explore their fascination with the prehistoric wonderland.
Most suitable for Foundation and Key Stage One but happy to do whole school events
The Talk: Amazing Esme Series (These books are not just for girls!)
Roll up! Roll Up! for an hour of Esme's Amazing Adventures. Join Gilbert Giggles, circus performer extraordinaire, and author Tamara Macfarlane to take part in some slightly mad interactive activities while learning about character, setting and action… now is your chance to walk the tight-rope, dress up as a donkey, be part of a new circus act, help create a fantasy setting and even pull a character out of a suitcase…or if performing is not your thing, just stay comfortably in your seat and be thoroughly entertained while we keep the stories rolling! Suitable for ages 4-11years
Workshops:
Tamara: Esme Writing Workshop
How do you create a character? What are the ingredients that need to go in? From interactive warm up activities to get imaginations whirring we leap into dynamic character creation, helping to generate action and finally on to a special character mission. These workshops are designed to develop writing skills from which to launch stories.
Tamara: Dinosaur Writing Workshop
Using the five senses to help imagine the sights, sounds, smells and feel of Roar Island, the children impersonate dinosaurs prompting their imaginations to hunt out exciting words, creating a vibrant sound poem.
Gilbert’s Circus Skills Workshop
What is a circus? What happens there? Are the first questions Gilbert asks, before demonstrating a medley of traditional circus tricks; plate spinning, juggling (scarves/balls), diablo, stilts, devil stick, rola-bola and unicycle! Once he has briefed the class with handy tips on quickly mastering the skills the children will be allowed free play with Gilbert on hand to offer help. Every child is guaranteed to leave 2 inches taller having learnt something new!
Gilbert’s Dino Activities Workshop
Gilbert is proud to share his paleontology skills in fun packed activities, incorporating a play-chute session and silly tests of observation, stealth and fact- finding.
Circus days and dinosaur days: Have a whole day of themed fun with any combination of events and workshops – up to two talks and two workshops or one talk and four workshops is possible.
Amazing Esme event: Whole school event works best but happy to entertain any year groups and any number or combination of children.
Workshops: All the workshops can be adapted for all ages and abilities but Esme writing workshops generally work best with years 1-4 and the Dylan writing workshops for Key stage one.
Dylan’s Dinosaur Event works best for foundation and Key stage one but again happy to do whole school events or any group that might be interested.
No limit on talk 30 limit on workshops
Circus Days and Dinosaur Days: Have a whole day of themed fun with any combination of events and workshops – up to two talks and two workshops or one talk and four workshops (2 writing/2 activity) is possible.
I can also do INSET training or parent talks: ‘Finding the fun, reading beyond phonics’ if there is time available after school.
Talks: Esme: one hour, Dylan 45 minutes
Workshops: all 40 minutes
Greater London on Monday – Wednesdays, but anywhere in the world on Thursdays and Fridays if the hosting school is happy to meet expenses.
Happy to travel by car or train. 45 pence per mile.
Please indicate which author you are interested in
Gilbert has full PLI and both of us have current DBS.
Amazing Esme Learning resources available at; www.inspiremeeducation.co.uk and www.theliteracytree.co.uk
Amazing Esme
Amazing Esme and the Sweetshop Circus
Amazing Esme and the Pirate Circus
Co Author of
Dylan’s Amazing Dinosaur Series: As E.T Harper
Tyrannosaurus
Stegasaurus
Spinosaurus
And Tricerarops
The Esme Event:
Having an author at school is always an amazing event. Having Tamara Macfarlane bringing Amazing Esme into the school is just marvellous.
At Jessop Primary we were lucky to have Tamara two years in a row, introducing her first two books, Amazing Esme and Amazing Esme and Sweetshop Circus. Children love nothing more than tricks, sweets, jokes and a good story line and Tamara’s books have them all! Children become a part of a story: acrobats, animals and Esme herself, they are on stage, they are engaged and the level of laughter is unbelievable.
Being a literacy co-ordinator for several years, I have invited different authors to school, but Tamara Macfarlane’s events by far are the best. Tamara’s books are used in our school for guided reading sessions across different year groups and having an event makes reading her books relevant and purposeful.
Alex Kossykh, Literacy Co ordinator, Jessop Primary School
Amazing Esme is a fantastic event for primary school children. The journey begins at a castle in Scotland where the audience is transported into an imaginary world full of bad mannered tea parties, helter skeltering penguins and fairground circuses. The fun filled event will develop children’s understanding of character, plot and setting, and will entice all participants to join in with the amazing adventures of Esme!
Lillie McCotter, Literacy Consultant, Inspire me education.
The Esme Writing Workshop:
Emma:
I loved playing the "Shape Game" making amazing characters from wonky shapes.
My "Bubble" was shy & lonely but with big adventures in store.
I loved creating my own "Underwater Circus".
Tamara is so funny & awesome.
We all sat in a circle and we all got a chance to say something fun and we all joined in.
I really liked everything about "Growing Stories".
Jane Beaton:
Tamara is brilliant and inspirational.
Tamara encourages everyone to create something unique and amazing from her shape ideas, to build characters, emotions and settings.
Imagination just unfurls as the spark is ignited.
Thank you for a wonderful afternoon full of back flipping cows, pink tigers, an upside down duck with a headache and a (w)rapping, prince in disguise. What adventures we all enjoyed.
South Bucks Children’s Book Group