There were helium-filled Millie/Jabberwockie balloons floating around everywhere; colouring pictures of Millie and her friends; divine little organic cupcakes by Foodilicious: each in a tugboat colour - yellow for Millie, red for Maya, orange for Tiggy and green for Tara.

All the kids had a great time and sat very still whilst ‘Millie’s Mayday’ was being read (which can only be a good sign!) There were three (count ‘em) readings which were well-attended with lots of special signed copies sold. So a big THANK YOU to Naoko and the team who did such a brilliant job organising everything and especially to all the children and parents who came on the day.

Along with readings of ‘Millie’s Mayday’ at 12pm, 2pm & 4pm there will be a pinata, treasure fishing, colouring in your own tugboat to take home and scrumptious cupcakes from Foodilicious.

So come along to the lovely Jabberwockie store at No.8 Shillingford St., Islington, London N1 2DP, Tel. 020 7359 2584 http://www.jabberwockielondon.com/news.html

See you there!

Here’s where things get really interesting…Annabel’s husband, Jon lived at the very same address back in the late-eighties. Little did he know the home’s illustrious past. In Jim Downer’s lovely afterword, he describes how Rugby Street was a hive of creative activity, with residents such as Peter O’Toole, Albert Finney, Lucie Rie & Hans Coper all regularly meeting at No.18 to share ideas and hopes for their post-war futures. The most fascinating couple linked to the address were Sylvia Plath & Ted Hughes. Jim showed some of his illustrations to Ted, who offered to write something to accompany them and that was the last Jim saw of them. In 2008, Ted’s widow, Carol Hughes, found the manuscript and illustrations carefully bound together with string.

Now, Ted and me go way back. Ever since I heard ‘The Crow’ in my first year at secondary school, I was hooked.Then I saw a photograph of him and that was it – my first literary crush. So, for me personally, the fact that he wrote a book about a little tug boat called Timmy has particular resonance. Also, there is some semblance of Jim Downer’s wonderfully graphic, pared down illustrations in our own, dear book , which just adds to the parallels between our venture and theirs. Of course, Jon’s connection with the house where it all started is the icing on the cake! When I found out about this extraordinary coincidence, I referred back to Ted Hughes’ poem, ’18 Rugby Street’ (incidentally, all about the first night he spent there with Sylvia Plath) which says:

‘Whoever enters it enters a labyrinth -

A Knossos of coincidence! And now you’re in it’

You said it, Ted.

Millie has sailed across La Manche and ended up at Colette, Paris – the amazing department store that has all you’ve ever wished for…and now, Millie’s Mayday.

www.colette.fr

 ’This is a delightful and highly original new book…The bright, bold illustrations involve you immediately, and you can’t help but engage with Millie, the new tug boat, as she eagerly learns about the arrival of the big ship Li from China. In the centre of the book, children will love the fold-out map of the world that charts Li’s course to Haven Harbour. The explosive finish displays the original quality of the artwork and the descriptive language is perfect for reading aloud and expanding a child’s vocabulary’.

Sorry, but couldn’t help putting the whole review in as we are feeling flushed with pride!

Can you see the cut-outs of the tugs in the pic. as well? We are so happy with the way they turned out – they have really taken on a life of their own! PS. That’s our little friend Ava helping out with the reading. A budding author, perhaps?

The Book Nook is in First Avenue, Hove and has a wide range of interesting and inspiring books (including ours!).The shop also has a café where parents can relax and chat over coffee whilst their children play safely or enjoy their latest read. We hope to see you there…

Here’s some pictures of our special window – it’s good to see Millie, Maya, Tiggy and Tara in 3D!