Friday 25 April 2008

Dalek Day

Tomorrow, Saturday 26 April, I shall be appearing alongside a Dalek as part of Borders Books' Dalek Day, taking place at Grays Library, close to the Thurrock Lakeside shopping centre.
I'll be there signing copies of my Doctor Who Decide Your Destiny adventure The Horror of Howling Hill and visitors will also be able to have their photograph taken with a genuine Dalek from the TV series.

The organisers of the event have designed a 'Draw your own Monster' competition sheet to tie in with my book, and there will also be opportunities to win prizes throughout the day.

So, if you're in the area, why not come along?

Maybe see you there.

Wednesday 23 April 2008

Imagine matching wits with this lot

Come on parents, be honest. How nervous do you really feel at the prospect of challenging your own children in a battle of the wits?

Are you quietly confident that you could beat them hands-down, or do you secretly dread such a confrontation knowing that they are actually cleverer than you?

Well, no matter how you might be feeling right now, pity the poor parents of these precocious prepubescent prodigies.

Monday 21 April 2008

Gone to the printers

I am pleased to say that after months of hard work (on both my part and my editor at Icon), Match Wits went off to the printers' last week. I'm hoping to see the fruits of my labours in tangible form in about a month's time.

Until then, I shall be waiting with bated breath!

Saturday 19 April 2008

Would you like to appear in a novel?

If you have always secretly harboured a desire to appear as a character in a novel, then follow this link to JonathanGreenAuthor.Blogspot.com to find out more about our Pax Britannia competition.

Wednesday 9 April 2008

As easy as A, B, C?

The TES website (that's the Times Educational Supplement, to the uninitiated) has been running an interesting series of articles about how children learn to read and spell, and the obstacle that the English language itself presents to any would-be English speaker.

One of the most provocatively titled is this one, 'If you can read this, you probably can't spell'. Well, I can spell and I could read it, but it made interesting reading nonetheless.

The learning of spellings is one of the topics covered in 'Match Wits with the Kids', which provides some handy hints and tips for both adult and child alike.

Saturday 5 April 2008

We don't need no education. Are you sure about that?

If you were at school during the sixties or seventies you probably remember the 1979 Pink Floyd hit 'We don't need no education' with fondness. However, now that you are a tax-paying, mortgage-burdened adult you completely understand why you do need an education, and why - if you're a parent - your own children need to make the most of the opportunities school offers them.

If that's the case, then you will also soon come to understand how indispensable 'Match Wits with the Kids' will be. It's not a comprehensive revision guide of every subject under the sun, but it will remind you of the basics you learnt at school whilst updating you with aspects of the modern curriculum.

But while you're waiting for 'Match Wits with the Kids' to hit the bookshelves in two months' time, sit back and reminisce about being a carefree school child yourself with this short video clip.

Thursday 3 April 2008

Are you ready to match wits with the kids?


Welcome to the blog for the book 'Match Wits with the Kids', the fun revision guide for parents and children alike.

What's that? Fun revision?

Yes, it's true. Learning can be fun!

The inspiration for writing 'Match Wits with the Kids' was to create a guide that would help parents of school-age children recall all those things they once learnt at school themselves but which they may now have forgotten, probably because of having children and the resulting pressures that life has thrown at them.

Of course, it is also the perfect way to help children who are school themselves consolidate their learning in an interesting way.

To give you a better idea of what you'll find inside the book, check out the blurb from the publishers Icon Books.

So, who was the first Tudor king?
What is a preposition, or a conjunction for that matter?
How exactly does photosynthesis work?
And what on Earth is 5-3 trying to tell us?

If you’ve ever been told to carpe diem, but were unsure whether or not that was an insult, then don’t feel alone – we all find it hard to hold on to our school knowledge these days.

Fortunately Jonathan Green, a highly experienced teacher and popular author,is on hand to remind you of all the important things you used to know.With detailed, witty lessons on English, maths, the sciences, history,geography, languages and Classics, Match Wits With The Kids will refresh your memory and answer the questions you were afraid to admit you needed to ask.

Packed full of fun, facts and tests for all the family, Match Wits With The Kids will equip you with a bulletproof general knowledge ... just what you need to stay one step ahead of smart-alec children (or catch up with know-it-all grown-ups).

'Match Wits with the Kids' is published this June by Icon Books. Check back here for more news about the release and more.