My visits to schools started in Hong Kong back in December 2010, very soon after my first illustrated children’s book, Patrick’s Birthday Message was published by the company P3.
On that first school tour, I saw over thirteen hundred and fifty children in seven schools: Bradbury Junior, Casa Dei Bambini, Delia School of Canada, Discovery Bay International School, German Swiss International School, Hong Lok Yuen School and Parkview International Pre-School.
Here are two pictures from the Hong Lok Yuen School
A year later, in December 2011, the list of school grew longer – fourteen; some of them repeat visits and some of them new. In addition, one Saturday morning I was invited along to the Blooming Club Children’s Bookstore to introduce Patrick to around twenty-five children. The total number of children who heard Patrick’s story on this trip was around twelve hundred. The schools visited were: Bradbury, Canadian International, Christian Alliance International, Delia School of Canada, Discovery Bay, French International, German Swiss International, Glenealy, HKUGA, Kellett, Kingston Interantional, Think International and Yew Chung International.
Patrick loved them all, but his voice was a little croaky afterwards! Here’s a photo from the Saturday morning reading at the Blooming Club.
I was back in Hong Kong again in January of this year, 2013, and the list was even longer! Around two thousand children seen in sixteen schools, and another visit to the Commercial Press’ Blooming Club. On this occasion, Patrick shared the limelight with the Arctic terns, Pilot and Skye, whose book was published in early January.
This time the schools were: Bradbury, Casa Dei Bambini, French International, German Swiss International, Glenealy, HKUGA, International Christian School, ISF Academy, Kennedy, Korean, Mui Wo OWLS, Peak, Quarry Bay, Shatin Junior and Sir Ellis Kadoorie.
Phew! When I return at the end of the year, there will probably be many repeat visits as well as some more new schools. And by then, Cosmos the curious whale will have joined the show!