Hey, blogosphere! I can’t even put into words how excited I am to be posting in the Blue Peter Book Awards blog tour (And hosting the first post…. SQUEAL!). The list of books for this year’s awards are absolutely fantastic, and you can read more info, over here.

Onto the blog tour post! So, enjoy this written coverage of Malorie Blackman’s event with Booktrust at the Imagine Festival…

Booktrust and Malorie Blackman’s day with Blue Peter

On Saturday 15^th February, team Laureate battled through the wind and rain to head down to the Southbank Centre, which was teeming with families all taking advantage of the Imagine Festival. With so many author events, storytelling and interactive workshops to go to, there was no danger of children getting bored this half term! We parked up in the café with some strong coffees to get ready for… A DAY WITH BLUE PETER! As part of the Blue Peter Book Awards, the show has been running all sorts of special book content. One of these features is “A Day in the Life of an Author” – and what better author to choose than the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman? And as Booktrust manage the Laureate and help out with the PR for the prize, we had double reason to go along. Nothing to do with a secret hope of getting a Blue Peter Badge out of it……

Malorie pulled up with the Blue Peter crew and presenter Lindsey Russell, who had been interviewing her en route – we all headed into the green room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, where Malorie had a huge stack of books to be signed ahead of the event. We amused ourselves by making use of the glitzy dressing room all for Malorie – with lights around the mirror and everything! Malorie also had a go at playing the green room’s piano – despite protesting she sounded rubbish, Random House publicist Lauren and I were VERY impressed!

Next we headed into the main auditorium where Malorie recorded her answers to some of Blue Peter’s viewers’ questions. They had some great ones, including “what’s your favourite cheese?” and “Would you rather have a bath of baked beans or a bath of custard?” !! But now it was time to get serious, and have a chat with her event chair Damian Kelleher (who also had his very own dressing room!) The Imagine event was brilliant, with over 600 children who all seemed to have questions for Malorie. Blue Peter dashed about filming the event and a few lucky audience members’ questions.

After the talk, it was time to tackle THE EPIC SIGNING QUEUE! There were so many children and teens, bursting to meet Malorie, and lots were interviewed in the queue by Blue Peter too, which only added to their excitement! After an hour and a half, the crowds finally dispersed and Malorie got to rest her hand and voice, but not before the Blue Peter crew and presenters lined up to get their books signed too…

Lindsey and the producers were so lovely, we had such a great day with them – we can’t wait to watch the show which is on TODAY on CBBC at 5:30pm!

The Blue Peter Book Award winners will be announced on World Book Day, 6^th March on Newsround at 7:40am. www.booktrust.org.uk/bluepeter

I am SO jealous- I couldn’t go to this… but the event sounded awesome! I’m looking forward to seeing the show. Make sure to keep up with the Blue Peter Book Awards blog tour! Here are the dates and bloggy details:

Thursday 20^th Feb = The Bibliomaniac – Booktrust and Malorie Blackman’s day with Blue Peter

Saturday 22^nd Feb = Much Loved Books – Rooftoppers

Monday 24^th Feb = Being a Mummy – Whale Boy

Wednesday 26^th Feb = Bare Naked Mummy – Tony Robinson’s Weird World of Wonders

Friday 28^th Feb = Live Otherwise – Marvellous Maths

Sunday 2^nd March = Book Sniffer – Animal Infographics

Tuesday 4^th March = My Book Corner – Oliver and the Seawigs

Thursday 6^th March = Winged Reviews – Marcus Sedgwick on being a Blue Peter judge