Michaela Morgan has written more than 100 books including poetry, fiction and some award winning non fiction. She writes for children from nursery age to lower secondary.

Her collection of performance poetry, Words to Whisper, Words to Shout, was short-listed for the Blue Peter Book Award 2005.

Recent publications include

Dear Bunny - Chicken House

Brave Mouse - Frances Lincoln

Pickles Sniffs it Out - A & C Black

Buffalo Bert the Cowboy Grandad - A & C Black

How to Teach Poetry Writing at Key Stage 1 (for teachers) - David Fulton

How to Teach Poetry Writing at Key Stage 2 (for teachers) - David Fulton

A visit from Michaela would vary according to the needs of the school but could include:

• A talk to whole of KS1 and a talk to whole of KS2. This would take 45 minutes to an hour and would include performance of poems, readings, discussion of publishing process from finding the idea to drafting, redrafting, working with illustrator – showing examples.

• There will generally also be a question and answer session and hints and tips to encourage children in their own writing.

• There is also a possibility of writing workshop sessions (poetry or story). These generally take about 45 minutes and are with a class sized group.

• A dedicated room is preferred but if this is not possible the minimum requirements are a table to display books, a flip chart or large writing surface and a quiet space in which to operate.

• Four sessions (eg two talks and two workshops) plus a signing session is the maximum for the day.

• Generally there is a signing and book selling session at the end of the day. This is important as it gives the children the chance to continue reading something they may have heard referred to in the talk. It is also advisable for the school to follow up by reading or rereading some of the stories or poems to the children and use them as springboards to writing.