WORKSHOPS & READINGS



Storytime at Tate Britain January 2017


Alex Barrow and I have visited many, many primary schools since publishing our first books in 2014. 


We've done readings, accompanied by Alex's 'fast-draw' illustrations, run workshops, attended  Book Jams, as well as numerous children's literature festivals and bookshop events. Alex has even delighted children and teachers alike with an impromptu accordion tune or two on a couple of occasions!


Independently, I run poetry and art workshops. 


I also visit the local primary school once a week with my whippet Hero, as part of Pets As Therapy . (Or at least used to, pre-covid)


The *aim of the game is to switch on children's imaginations! To engage​ and entertain. Get kids actively involved through drawing, writing and asking questions. We want them to learn through play.


Every school is different and the needs of every group of children will vary, so we adapt and go-with-the-flow wherever we are.


  
POETRY INSPIRATION...
...from OKIDO MAGAZINE issue 84 RECYCLING - WONDER WANDA - SUPERWORMY!



Busy-busy at the South London Gallery dino workshop, part of the South London Gallery Children’s Book Fair 2017

As a team we can deliver:
  • London-based, fun and fact-filled workshops built around the sights, sounds (and smells) of London Calls! Suitable for ages 5-9 (Reception to Year 4 - or 5 at a pinch)
  • For a slightly younger crowd, a trip through London to the Zoo (and home for tea) workshop that revolves around A Possum's Tail
  • And now another stroll through the city streets in A Possum's Tail enticing 'prequel', Samuel Drew Hasn't a Clue. This story celebrates some delicious and interesting traditional high street shops, and encourages children to imagine and draw their own! (Reception to year 1)
  • What would it be like to have a REALLY BIG PET? Would YOU like a giant dinosaur pet? Let's imagine...let's draw! If I had a Dinosaur. (Reception to year 2)
  •  If I had a sleepy sloth (S l o w l y) Let's take a leaf out of sloth's book and slow down - mindfulness, relaxation and even a bit of yoga with the slow mammal that has a permanent smile. (Reception to year 2)
  • Just Imagine having a MAGIC pet! What would life be like with a UNICORN?  Dip into the poetry hat and get ready to rhyme along with If I had a unicorn
  • Help Mouse find a new house and discover the adventures of his fairytale friends in A House for Mouse Then decorate an empty gingerbread house with drawings of your favourite candy! (Reception to year 1)
  • Or make some masks and be more Bear (or Owl-ish) in A Song for Bear workshop! (Nursery to year 2)
Alex and I have also run numerous workshops as part of kids arts and science magazine, Okido over the past 10 years.

All I need are my glasses - and all Alex needs is a flip-board, some paper and pens!


*Dinosaur, *London Calls, *
Possum's Tail 
and *A House for Mouse all have accompanying activity sheets, and *A Song for Bear has accompanying masks to make - scroll to the bottom of the page to see. 


*Just let us know before the event, and we'll email the pdf to print out for your class beforehand
At Hornsby House Primary in Balham with A House for Mouse, reading and draw-a-long session.






 











If I had a sleepy sloth (published by Thames & Hudson)  If I had a dinosaur (published by Thames & Hudson) 
If I had a unicorn (published by Thames & Hudson) 
A Roller-coaster Ride Around the Body (published by Franklin Watts/Hachette)
London Calls! (published by Tate Publishing)
A Possum's Tail (published by Tate Publishing)
Samuel Drew Hasn't a Clue (published by Tate Publishing)
A House for Mouse (published by Thames & Hudson)
A Song for Bear  (published by Thames & Hudson)

Have a look at some pictures from our workshops, festivals, bookshop windows, gallery events and more here…

Alex and I on stage at the Big Dog Children's Festival, Dumfries, March 2019


And at the fabulous children's shop Ottie & the Bea Blackheath, for A Song for Bear event


Running an event at the fantastic Stoke Newington Literary Festival




Illustrator Alex Barrow, Gabby Dawnay (that's me) & Joseph Coelho (poet & playwrite) at Dundonald Primary School Library Launch September 2018



FOYLES Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, Author Event April 2018 



Corpus Christi School, Brixton quick draw Roller-coaster ride!


Shortlisted for the ASE Book Award 2017 A Roller-coaster Ride Around the Body makes for a rumbusteous and super-active workshop event.
The perfect introduction to the rhyme and rhythm of life, from head to toe!







'If I had a dinosaur he'd carry me to school...'
children's artwork




Ottie and the Bea bookshop event




Book display in Peckham primary school





Busy-busy at the South London Gallery dino workshop


BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2018

South London Gallery drawing

Random Storytime magazine competition - London Calls!

Tales on Moon Lane bookshop dino-window!

Dino-window detail

More dino-window, plus Alex, Kasper and Hero the whippet!

Quick dino review!
Storytime at Tate Britain


Storytime at Tate Britain! January 2017






Storystock festival, October 2016 Half Term, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith


Fabulous display at Peckham Park Primary

The nursery in Coram's Fields



London Calls visits the Storystock festival at the Lyric theatre, Hammersmith, October 2016


POP-UP FESTIVAL, EDUCATION & HUB
Possum's page on the Pop-Up Hub

Artwork from a Y5 class, Kew Prep

Activity sheets!
La Petite Ecole Française
The London Calls Magic bus, populated by the imaginative illustrations from a Tales on Moon Lane event.


The Star nursery
Y1 thank you cards from one of our workshops
Peckham Park Primary!

QUICK-DRAW ARTWORK BY ALEX  







Excellent news!
THE MARVELLOUS MURAL BY LE HERISSON ('HEDGEHOG') SCHOOL
As a long-term project that grew out of one of our reading/illustration sessions, Alex worked with an entire school of kids at an Anglo-French pre-prep in Hammersmith, London to create a truly wonderful permanent wall mural inspired by London Calls! (see below)

 



 

 


The Y2 class at Tidemill Primary, in Deptford, wrote poems about London based on my poem "If I were a…"



 





I was officially 'Poet of the Month'!

 
"If I was a tiger... I'd be roaring as loudly as people shouting"
*ACTIVITY SHEETS*




Owl & Bear mask templates


 




BACKGROUND information...

My first picture book - called A Possum's Tail - is a collaboration with brilliant illustrator Alex Barrow and came out 6th February 2014. A second book called London Calls! is a whistle-stop tour of London, led by a Pearly grandma and her granddaughter. London Calls! came out on 4th September 2014 and is my second book with Alex Barrow. A Possum's Tail was nominated for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal.
Both books are by Tate Publishing.

Please see my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE or CURRICULUM VITAE for more details & updates.

As well as writing children's books, for children's television and two award-winning children's magazines, I do both private and commercial art commissions, a selection of which you can see here.

The children's shoes are part of an ongoing series of "first shoes", including several cards commissioned by the Almanac Gallery.

Hand-drawn, bespoke invitations, announcements, portraits and menus, such as the examples here are also available upon request..

Any enquiries please email: gabbydawnay@gmail.com

OKIDO MAGAZINE AND TV

I've been a regular contributor to children's art and science magazine OKIDO since 2007. HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY (WOW) beautiful Okido!

An Okido animated kids tv show, based on characters from the magazine is currently in production with Doodle/Squintopera http://www.doodle-productions.com. The original adaptation of the show (co-created/adapted by myself, producer Ceri Barnes and Doodle Productions) was acquired by CBeebies. 52 x 11 minute episodes will be coming to a screen near you soon in 2015.......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............................
MESSY GOES TO OKIDO Series ONE & TWO is now available to stream on Netflix & most episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Series THREE is currently in production.

CBeebies

CBeebies
OKIDO

Cartoon Forum 2011 Okido booklet

Cartoon Forum 2011 Okido booklet
Okido Cartoon Forum 2011

Happy Birthday OKIDO!

Happy Birthday OKIDO!
Okido was 5 years old this issue...the wonderful art and science magazine for kids I've been lucky enough to have worked on for the past - 8 - years now