Every child to receive free signed copy of top author Sophy Henn’s brand-new book at Wirral Borough of Culture 2024 schools’ event

Award-winning children's author illustrator Sophy Henn is bringing her “hilarious” new graphic novel to life at an extra special event for schools celebrating Wirral Borough of Culture 2024 today (Thursday 10 October).  

She will be taking part in a free Meet the Author event at Birkenhead Central Library on the same day Knick-Knack Attacks, the second in the Happy Hills series for nine to 12-year-olds, is published. 

Sophy will be reading from her new book and there will be a super fun draw along, as well as time for questions from 130 pupils in Year Two classes from three primary schools in Birkenhead – Christchurch CE Primary School, St Werburgh’s Catholic Primary and Woodlands Primary. 

National arts charity The Reader, which has organised the event in partnership with Wirral Libraries, has arranged for all the children to be given a free signed and personalised copy of the book to take home. This has been made possible thanks to Wirral Borough of Culture funding, a “generous discount” from award-winning publishers Simon & Schuster Children’s Books and the author forfeiting her fee. 

 Kara Orford, Associate Director of Programme Delivery at The Reader, based in Calderstones Park, Liverpool, said: “We are giddy with excitement to welcome Sophy Henn, who is one of my absolute favourite author illustrators, to Wirral for this very special visit on the same day Knick-Knack Attacks, her second Happy Hills graphic novel is published.  

 “Having worked with hundreds of children across Wirral and the Liverpool region over the years, we know that the area has one of the highest ranges of socio-economic indicators.  

 “Many families in our region and across the north west may not visit libraries or have books at home. And this inevitably means some children are facing more of a struggle to improve their reading skills and to come to reading for pleasure. 

 “We felt it would be so lovely to be able to send all the children home with a signed and personalised copy of Sophy Henn’s book. We’d like to thank Sophy and all our partners for helping to make this happen.” 

Sophy is an award-winning picture book author and illustrator with a master’s in illustration from the University of Brighton. She is also the creator of the much-loved Bad Nana and Pizazz series, among others.  

Her debut picture book, Where Bear?, was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Sophy was the World Book Day Illustrator in 2015 and 2016. 

Knick-Knacks Attacks follows the first book in the Happy Hills series, Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens, and is described as “the perfect read for fans of Bunny vs Monkey, Dogman, and Tom Gates”.  

Sophy said:

"I love creating new, outrageous adventures for the residents of Happy Hills and I have revelled in the invention of new super villain Knick Knacks, complete with tragic backstory and flair for drama."