All are welcome to an afternoon of family fun this Saturday, 8 November at the Brookby Barn. The popular venue is staging a fund-raising event which will feature sibling authors Penny Roiall (The Adventures of Romy), Rosie Boom (The Barn Chronicles) and John Evan Harris (The Grumpy Mole).  They will be reading from their books and meeting fans.

The Barn, situated in beautiful countryside at 331 West Road, Brookby is owned by husband and wife team Christo and Monya. They regularly host weddings, parties and conferences.

Saturday’s event begins at 2.0pm. Guests will be able to meet Mindy the miniature donkey (pictured) as well as Muscovy ducks, highland cattle, guinea fowl, turkeys, chickens, horses and sheep.

There’ll also be a bouncy castle, sausage sizzle and games. You can learn more about the venue at www.brookbybarn.co.nz

A big shout out to artist Minky Stapleton, who designed and illustrated The Grumpy Mole gets a Digger. Reviewer Trevor Agnew (The Source, Magpies Magazine) says the fantasy forest world Minky created for the book is “beautifully realised”.

Minky is pictured with author John Evan Harris at the launch of the book.

Trevor Agnew’s review goes on: “A mouse wears a fair-isle pullover and spectacles, beetles have backpacks and the centipede can carry two cakes in his four hands. Tiny details are always fascinating, so sharp-eyed young readers will spot the portrait of Mole’s mother on his wall, not to mention the fob watch in his waistcoat pocket. When Mole first lays eyes on the big yellow digger, his pupils become heart symbols.”

The Grumpy Mole gets a Digger is now available at Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop and from the author’s website: www.johnevanharris.com/shop.

The delightful new book ‘Comfort and Cheer’ is special to me for three reasons. For a start, it is written by my sister Rosie Boom (pictured). Secondly, it’s the ideal gift for those who are hurting and in need of comfort and cheer. Thirdly, the book’s beautiful pictures of flowers, birds and bees were drawn by our late mother Leone Harris.

I’m so proud of Rosie, and thrilled that she has honoured our mother this way. Rosie will launch the book at Whangarei’s Church Unlimited on Friday evening, 15 August. Guests welcome.

Thrilling to receive a photo showing a group of early learning centre children engrossed in The Grumpy Mole.

John Evan Harris (centre) and his siblings spent several days at beautiful Russell, encouraging each other in their writing projects. “These sibling retreats are so valuable,” said John. “We always come away refreshed and with renewed energy.”All siblings have new books in their final stages, aiming to publish them later this year.

Young Evan, in his first-ever book review, recommends The Grumpy Mole because he loves the beautiful illustrations and the message: “It’s about kindness, because the mole is angry at the creatures but they still help him.” Watch Evan’s review on Suzy and Friends, on YouTube at https://youtu.be/K2hegwol2PE. Thanks Suzy, and thank you Evan!

Big yellow glasses (as worn by my favourite mole) acquired for my next public reading of The Grumpy Mole. A fashion statement from the mole’s wardrobe!

The Grumpy Mole is available at Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Time Out, a smattering of independent bookshops across the country … and my writer’s website www.john@boyfellinpond.com/shop).

What a thrill to have the legendary Suzy Cato read The Grumpy Mole on YouTube for Suzy’s Book Corner!  “What a grump the Grumpy Mole is!” said Suzy. “But what a wonderful story!”

You can go to Suzy’s reading by clicking https://youtu.be/VW-CjvPzTeM.

Illustrator Minky Stapleton was Guest of Honour at today’s launch of The Grumpy Mole picture book. Minky drew all the characters and designed the book. “Minky created a wonderful world of tiny creatures which are at the heart of the book,” said author John Evan Harris. “I’m incredibly grateful.”  Minky was on hand (centre in picture) to sign copies of the book for eager young fans.

The Grumpy Mole picture book was launched today (3 October) at the famous Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop in Ponsonby Auckland. Author John Evan Harris read his story to a small crowd of small people in front of the mole’s house. The young readers went home with stickers, pens and a colouring-in sheet.

The Grumpy Mole picture book will be officially launched at 10.30 this Thursday morning, 3 October, at the award-winning Dorothy Butler Bookshop in Ponsonby.

Author John Evan Harris will read his story, and he hopes children will come dressed as the tiny forest creatures featured in The Grumpy Mole. “I know at least one butterfly and a bumble bee who are coming.”

The book’s beautiful illustrations are by Auckland artist Minky Stapleton, who is well known for her books and book cover designs.

And now for something completely different… I am very happy to announce the arrival of The Grumpy Mole, a picture book aimed at children aged 3 to 8.

The story is by John Evan Harris, and the beautiful pictures are the work of acclaimed illustrator Minky Stapleton. Parents and grandparents will have fun reading the rhyming story to their young ones.  The book’s themes are kindness and forgiveness.

Henry Appleton is the star of his own book, Henry Appleton Boy Hero and the Burgess Gang. The town of Nelson dubbed him a ‘boy hero’ when he helped stop a robber getting away with the money he’d stolen from the bank. More about that later.

The book is now available on Amazon.

We’ve had a lot of positive feedback to the Instagram posts featuring ‘Henry Appleton’. Each short ‘episode’ has referred to one of the many adventures in the book Henry Appleton Boy Hero and the Burgess Gang. Take a look!

The book is available from Amazon.