Author and illustrator Chris Mould visited St Edmunds Catholic Primary School in Godalming and did Something Wickedly Weird – He stepped into their world, took them back to a time when he was seven years old and turned them all into aspiring writers and artists!
‘Do you know, most children stop drawing around the age of twelve? Don’t stop drawing’ advised Chris, whose illustrations appear in over a hundred books, is published in fifteen countries and has DreamWorks keenly looking over his shoulder. Great advice from the author who started out as an illustrator and is the creator of the successful, Something Wickedly Weird series and the new, Spindlewood Tales books.
I was one of the fortunate few “big kids”, on that day, to be teleported off into Chris Mould’s imagination, witness him drawing on the spot and see children, ranging from 4 to 11 years old, mesmerised and excitedly inspired by equal measure.
Chris’s latest illustrated novel, Pip and the Wood Witch Curse, has been selected for ‘The National Summer Reading Challenge’. So who better than Mr Mould himself to hand out signed copies of his books to the winners of the St Edmund’s Pip Homework Challenge. Here are the winning entries.
Illustration by Jacob
The Flower
The Flower. A thing of beauty, but at the same time a thing of pure evil. You see it from a mile away; bright colours leaping out at you like a neon sign screaming out “Come here! Come here!” Closer, you can see the colours in high definition drawing you in towards them. The flower itself consists of bright shades of red, yellow and orange circling around the inside giving an illusion that they are moving around. Next there are the glinting petals, an abundance of extravagant colours: green, amber, coffee and copper swirling inwards in an infinite spiral of pulsating colours. On the delicate lower fronds there is a dappling of blues and turquoise, finishing off with a apple green stem. The smell wafting from this incredible thing of nature is intoxicating, awe-inspiring. It is a fabulous scent like the smell of a warm bed after a frozen evening, more effective than any lullaby. Still, do not be fooled by this flower’s entrancing pastel shades, behind it’s cute disguise it still has a evil purpose. It will make you doze at the first smell and you might never wake up!
Written by Hugo
Pip and the Wood Witch Curse: the Gardener
In a dark and gloomy forest, filled with unimaginable things of both beauty and fear, lives a shy gardener. The gardener’s warty face is smothered in wrinkles and creases however you can perceive there is someone handsome behind the skin. Although he may seem old, his age does not match his looks. His long and crooked nose reaches out just like the stem of the flower he grows which is similar to his greasy hair. When he smiles, you can sense an element of fright, shiver down the back of your spine making you jump! He rarely ever talks to other members of the forest which is a good thing because he would probably be chanting an evil spell.
Written by Thomas
What great entries! Well done and congratulations Thomas, Hugo, Emily and Jacob!
Chris has also won ‘The Nottingham Children’s Book Award’, been shortlisted for ‘The Calderdale Book of the Year 2011’ and was nominated for ‘The Kate Greenaway Medal’. Watch this space, I predict there will be above the national average of writers and illustrators originating from St Edmunds in 20 years time.
An unforgettable, magically Mouldly day!
Chris says "Thank you St Edmunds for being organised, ready for me and enthusiastic - The children were lovely and the school was really geared up for the visit which always makes it more exciting. Oh and thanks to Elena for looking after me, and definitely Tania for her enthusiasm and interest!"
Many thanks to the people that made the day possible: The enthusiastic headmaster Mr Flew, fairy godmother agent Frances McKay, Tania Slade (Dedicated Mother of the Year Award needed here!), Press Officer at Hachette Children's Books Victoria Roberts and Theresa Mortimer from Book Point.
A very special thanks to the talented, maker of small people's dreams, Chris Mould, and to the children of St Edmunds - You are a credit to the school!
Big and small children can enter Chris’s Scribblemanic World at www.chrismould.blogspot.com/ and visit where they nurture future talent at http://www.stedmundsschool.co.uk/.
Chris Mould is published by Hodder Children's Books.
