Hello! I write fiction, non-fiction and theatre for children.
I lecture children’s literature, tutor emerging writers, and regular pop up festivals, reading stories and interviewing authors.
Gina Kaminski is back for another GIANT adventure in GINA KAMINSKI RESCUES THE GIANT.
World, meet Gina Kaminski. Gina Kaminski meet World.
Gina is on a school trip and things are not going well.
The art gallery is too big.
The lights are too bight.
She doesn’t know where she will eat her lunch.
In the bookshop, Anya reads her the story of Jack and the Beanstalk and — guess what? — there are three HUGE mistakes. Gina (assisted by Lady Wiggles) steps into the story to fix them. Expect magic beans, villainous villagers, a valuable cow and PRECIOUS THINGS.
Will Gina rescue the Giant?
Will there be cake?
Will Gina find a nice place to eat her lunch?
Published by Little Tiger and illustrated by the wonderful, inimitable Francis Martin.
The book has been listed for Oscar’s Book Prize 2025 and the Derby Book Festival Picture Award 2025.
GINA KAMINSKI SAVES THE WOLF is about a girl who listens to a fairytale, disagrees entirely with the story, and steps into the book at great peril to fix the mistakes.
It’s a rollicking adventure. Gina is also autistic, and we get a glimpse into her world. The illustrations are by the wildly talented and supremely cool artist, Francis Martin. I urge you to check out his work. I could not have dreamed for a better collaborator.
The book won both The UK Literacy Association Book Award and the Shadowers’ Choice Award. It has also been listed for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Oscar’s Book Prize, the Diverse Book Award , the Inclusive Books for Children Award and The Spark! School Book Award. In the U.S. the book was voted a ‘Favorite’ in all three categories—Children’s, Teachers, and Librarians—in the Children’s Book Council’s annual Favorites Awards program; and was selected by the Children’s Book Committee of the Bank Street College of Education for their list of the Best Books of the Year, earning a Bank Street ‘best’ seal.
It has also been selected for Empathy Lab’s Read For Empathy Collection, and Books for Topics Recommended books for Year 1.
All pictures ©Oliver Berry
Nadelik will be touring throughout December 2024.
It’s Christmas Eve in Cornwall and two little girls and their Gran are excitedly preparing for the big day. But where’s Dad? As night falls, their fisherman father is caught in a storm far out at sea. Will he make it home for Christmas? Perhaps — with some extra special help.
Based on my picturebook A Christmas in Cornwall, NADELIK is a magical family show. I am so proud of it. There is music and puppetry and some crazy surprises. The songs are heart-meltingly gorgeous. I am staggered by the talent of our three cast members. It’s all so blooming’ lovely if I say so myself.
Many many many huge thanks to the incredible team – in no particular order: o-region, Simon Harvey (!), Millie Jones, Mathew Thomason, Molly Banks, Jack Brownridge-Kelly, Benjamin Sutcliffe, Marion Harrison and Mae Voogd. Plus the legendary Ron Johns of Mabecron Books, who commissioned the book in the first place. Thanks also to FEAST, Hall for Cornwall and Falmouth University for their support in making the show happen.
This is a show about home and about love and about joy and about hope. And what is more enduring than that? Oh! And thanks to Father Christmas too. He gets it. He’s a good’un.
Suitable for ages 3 – 103
Castles, crows, and rowing boats. Mermaids, dragons and tiny islands surrounded by the sea… Arthur’s Club, a place where everyone is welcome, a place where stories come alive.
Arthur’s Club uses key word signing woven into the storytelling throughout, so sign and spoken word are intrinsically linked. I am part of an incredible team, led by Rebecca Hulbert. We have created an inclusive children’s theatre show featuring original stories written by me (hooray) plus a staggering array of award winning children’s storybook, TV and theatre writers including: James Henry (Hey Duggee, CBBC), Rebecca Cobb, (Missing Mummy, Aunt Amelia), Anna Wilson, (The Wide, Wide Sea), Naomi Jones, (The Perfect Fit) and Anna Mansell (The Tempest, Trebah Gardens). Stories From The Island is supported by Wildworks and directed by Wildwork’s Artistic Director, Mydd Pharo. Designed by Ellie Williams (Wildworks) with original music by composer Matthew Thomason.
My latest book, THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF STEVE JOBS, is available now, published by Puffin Books. The book is illustrated by the wonderful Salini Perera. A new edition of the book will be published by Penguin Readers in February 2023. This book will be part of the ELT graded series, and used globally by readers learning English as a foregin language,
Ever heard of the iPhone? STEVE JOBS, raised in California, was the co-founder of Apple, creator of the iPhone. He also played a major role in making Pixar what it is today. His technology transformed the way we live, and gave us objects we now cannot imagine living without. Get ready to discover his incredible story and the secrets of his success in this real-life account of his life and work.
In 2016 Mabecron Books published A CHRISTMAS IN CORNWALL. It tells the gorgeous story of two young girls waiting for their fisherman father to get home for Christmas. He gets caught out and sea in a terrible snow storm. What will Daisy and Bluebell do? The book is illustrated (in oils) by the horribly talented Oliver Hurst and won a 2017 Holyer an Gof book award. The book has been reprinted and a new edition will be available summer 2022! Watch this space.
In 2015 Mabecron Books published the epic (and true) pirate story: CAPTURED! THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF THOMAS PELLOW. It went on to win the children’s book award, and the Ann Trevenen Jenkin Cup at the 2016 Holyer an Gof Cornish book awards. It was also illustrated by Oliver Hurst.
In 2010 I created the multi award winning publishing house, CLICKETY BOOKS, which publishes books and resources with innovative speech and sound play to enhance language acquisition. They are used by children, grown ups, teachers and therapists all over the world.
I lecture in Children’s Literature at Falmouth University. I’m currently researching VR literacy, writing my next play and developing a short film.
I live in Cornwall with my (beautiful) wife, Emily Barr-Green, and our five (awesome) children.
My first play, The One Memory of Flora Banks, co-written with Emily Barr-Green for the Hall for Cornwall Youth Theatre, was due to stage in 2020, but is currently on hold due to global events. Watch this space for development details.
Well done! You made it all the way to the bottom of the page, like an intrepid deep sea diver.
Thank you for swinging by! Take care.
Craig Barr-Green 