Once Upom A Time

The title is a nod to Im's favourite line from her favourite Andy Griffiths book (The Thirteen Story Treehouse*), since with great excitement today, we met their favourite literary hero at the National Library.

In fact, we hear so much about Andy on a daily basis ("that's like when Andy ...") that he feels like part of the family.

So it was good to finally meet the man who had inspired the children so much, especially my son - a reluctant reader who prefers fact books and Wisden to fiction. In fact, this year the Andymania was such they both wanted to go as Andy to the book parade. And I know what Im will be talking about for news (yet again) this Tuesday.

A real hero, he gave an entertaining and engaging talk to the hundreds of children thronging the foyer and then patiently signed every book and talked to every child, a seemingly Herculean task (of course mine were too shy to say anything audible back to him)

The Library did a good job too of keeping the natives from getting restless (chocolate frogs at the ready). Ours had met friends, which made the 90 minutes we waited pass more quickly, L and his friend chanting their favourite bits out to each other, Im and her friends playing tips outside.

So thanks again Andy, for being a great ambassador for the world of reading.

* a tie with The Very Bad Book and Just Doomed