WIS Database of Writers
- Name
- David Donohue
- County
- Kilkenny
- Genre
- Children's writer
- Sessions
- Discussion with Writer, Reading and Q&A, Creative Writing Workshop
- Age Group
- 6 - 12
- Level
- Primary
- Languages
- Works in English ONLY
- Availability
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Mornings, Afternoons - Travel
- Yes
Publications/ repertoire/
productions & background experience
Walter Speazlebud (O'Brien Press, 2001), Moonman (Egmont Books, UK, 2006), & Alien Timebomb (Egmont, UK, 2007).
My books to date are based around the character, Walter Speazlebud, a mildly dyslexic boy who has the power of noitanigami (imagination backwards) & can spell any word or name backwards. Coincidentally this is a talent I have too! I have entertained children for years now with my gift to teach backwards spelling & my spirited, entertaining readings.
Moon Man was nominated for the Stockport Children's Award in 2007 and was also nominated in the British Top 160 Books for Boys List. I also review books for Inis magazine.
Session Details
I have worked with groups of up to 100 children in a theatre setting but am equally happy to work in classrooms or combined classrooms in a school or library setting. My sessions usually begin with my reading a short excerpt from one of my books followed by me spelling & pronouncing the names of the children in the audience backwards. This sets the scene for further readings followed by the finale: a backwards spelling competition.
"I thought your presentation was well planned, well paced, consistenly interactive & lots of fun for the children. Further, you pushed them into a higher level of spelling backwards than we have been able to with forwards spelling the entire year. If you don't mind I am going to use that strategy next year when we teach word study." - Jennifer Hardy, Brooklyn New School, New York.
- Address
- Grennan Water Mill, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
- Telephone
- (086) 831 7766
- walter.moonman@gmail.com
- Website
- www.speazlebud.com
