What a great pleasure to be one of the judges for The London Society's Love Letters to London writing competition. This week's prize ceremony was fun and inspiring, and not just because of the endless supply of chocolate biscuits. The standard of the kids' competitions (under 11s and 12-18s) was phenomenal, so a special shoutout to the winners -- Henry Armstrong, Kezia Atkinson and Ash Torbica. If you'd like to enter next year, click this link for more information. 

Thanks to Lightsout With Louise book reviews for
a lovely writeup of "How to Avoid Brussels Sprouts"

Huge thanks to the readers who left reviews for
​"How to Avoid Brussels Sprouts"

Do not let sprouts ruin your Christmas!

Author Grant S. Clark serves up an amusing array of tactics
with one aim in mind: To keep your tummy sprout-less.

The must-have book for kids this Christmas! Released in October!

Another lovely review here!  

Here's an illustration from The Mystery of Windy Bay, my upcoming release about Inspector Bart Rose, the private detective with New York's biggest nose, and his investigation into an unexplained cloud of stench that has mysteriously shrouded the town of Windy Bay.

A wonderful new review for Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada from Arthur and Sarah at the excellent Books Up North children's literature blog.

"It is a gripping, super and enchanting book for anyone
and everyone to read."

Here's an interview with Literary Titan, a book reviewer that has awarded a gold star award for Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth.  

LITERARY TITAN Uncle Bill’s Missing Tooth takes readers on a fun rhyming journey to find out how uncle Bill lost his tooth. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

GRANT S. CLARK It literally came to me in the middle of the night! I suddenly woke up and the idea flashed into my mind, escaped through an ear but then luckily jumped back in. I thought it might be a sign I was about to lose a tooth, but fortunately I’ve managed to hold on to my entire set since then, despite a fondness for cake.

LITERARY TITAN I loved the art in the book. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Lizzie Nelson?

GRANT It was wonderful, even though we were on opposite sides of the world. Lizzie is in the U.S. and I lived in Singapore then London during the book’s creation. I say wonderful mostly because Lizzie is lovely, funny and smart (we’ve known each other since school days) and came up with all the good visual ideas! I’m proud to be part of a publication that includes probably the first ever illustration of a tooth that breaks wind.

LITERARY TITAN There were lots of humorous scenes in the book. What was your favorite scene from the book?

GRANT I enjoyed the idea of dastardly animal poachers getting their comeuppance. Instead of making off with an elephant’s giant tusk, they ended up with Bill’s piddly tooth. Lizzie’s beautiful safari illustrations were the icing on the cake. Did I mention that I like cake?

LITERARY TITAN What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

GRANT Lizzie and I are almost done on another fun rhyming story called The Extra-Gifted Mr Fripp about a teacher who shocks his class by revealing a sixth finger on one hand. It’s an amusing look at how we daftly judge people based on appearances, so has something of an important message. I read it at a kids’ book festival in India and lots of people asked for a copy, which was a good sign. It certainly has more of a message than Uncle Bill’s Missing Tooth, although I feel it’s important to remind people who have a gap in their gums that they can save the effort of picking up drinks by using a very long straw.

Interview was published here

Excited that Lizzie and I have been given a gold award by Literary Titan for Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth!

Thanks to #literarytitan https://wp.me/p3cyvH-8a4

Exciting to read these reviews of Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth!

"Lovely book with a simple rhyming pattern that young children will enjoy. Great illustrations that perfectly match the text. Great book for young ones!" Jen, U.K.



"My son loved reading this book! Beautiful illustrations on every page. Delights young readers and parents, too. Highly recommend." Stella, U.S.A.

"Loved this book! Original story, amusing illustrations. Not just for kids, it certainly made this toothless granny laugh." Mrs. H, UK

"Easy to read rhyming verse with amusing illustrations especially the farty tooth." Sar, U.K.

"What a joy to read! Written in rhyme this fantastic whimsical poem was a giggle a verse. With brilliant illustrations that simply add to the comical effect. Making the book a very entertaining read. We would highly recommend this book especially if you have a little one or even a big one who has lost a tooth." Lisa, U.K.

"What a fun book! My son loved it! Especially how the kids tried to guess about the tooth! Lovely illustration too." Hanaa, U.K.

See original reviews here.

Many thanks to George and Honey at Pipworth Community Primary School in Sheffield for the first kids' review of Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth.

"You should buy this book because it's really funny and you’ll have a fun time reading it to yourself and to your family."

Many thanks to Tana Ramsay for finding the time to read Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth with super-cute son Oscar.

"Lovely book. Oscar is quite fascinated and
we have really enjoyed reading it together!" Tana Ramsay

Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth is out now!

Grant S. Clark and Lizzie Nelson's fun new picture book - Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth - is now available to pre-order on Kindle.

The paperback and ebook will be out on 1st August.

"A really good book that will keep the children entertained."
Rugby legend Sir Bill Beaumont

Click here to pre-order on Kindle.

Only a few days left now. Win signed copies of the entire Monkey Magic series plus an advanced copy of Uncle Bill's Missing Teeth in a competition in the latest Nat Geo Kids magazine (also on the website)!

While you are there you could try winning a lookout tower (useful for monkeys to rest on) as well as tickets to the acclaimed Billionaire Boy show based on David Walliams' book.

Click on the photos above to get to the competition.

There's a new character in The Ghostly Thieves of New York called Inspector Bart Rose, the private detective with New York's biggest nose.

I liked the idea so much of someone using his super-sized schnozzle to solve crimes that I wrote a story/humorous verse about Inspector Rose called The Mystery of Windy Bay. Watch out for news about its release!

As Inspector Bart Rose put it:

"There’s few walks of life
Where a large hooter’s useful.
In my line of work
It’s completely essential.
 
I investigate smells,
I’m the man they send for
When a difficult case
Hangs on an odour.

See, singers need deep lungs,
Surgeons a cool hand;
To do what I do
Takes a beak like a toucan."