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Learning history through stories
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Mar 10



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Most people assume authors make a lot of money - but some do, the majority don’t! Every time our original work is copied it eats into any income and stifles our ability to create original work and a living. Giving AI companies the right to scrape any work without permission or compensation will only make this worse. 
If you like word searches see if you can find me and @samcunninghamart on the pages of signatories.

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Feb 24



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It’s finally out and available next week (Thursday 5th March). The final book of the Tudors in the Penguin Monarch series. 
Sean doesn’t have Instagram so I get to celebrate on his behalf. 📚🥳
With a fabulous cover by @jhewgill 
#tudor #penguin #henryvii #tudorhistory

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Nov 12



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A perfect Christmas gift all ready to go on sale from the 15th November. Each Vlad bag has a story book, activity book and finger puppet - plus they’ve been signed and have a picture by Sam inside. There are also individual books and limited edition prints. So many beautiful things in the store - we’ll be making our own lists and sending Santa’s elves there!
@solocraftfair @samcunninghamart 
#christmasgiftideas #primaryteacher #bookgifts #childrensbook

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Oct 21



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It’s easy to believe trees could uproot and start interacting with us. I feel like Tolkien must have seen some tees like these when he wrote about the Ents. 

The history that has flashed past the older trees in Richmond Park would fill a few books! 

Today’s research for the next Vlad Flea book went well although the trees were mostly incidental rather than the focus of the trip. Between us we took so many pictures they need another post.
#trees #tree #tolkein #ancientwoodland #bookresearch #picturebooks

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Oct 16



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On the Thames foreshore there are hollow Elm tree trunks that used to form part of London’s water system.

They are often in inaccessible places but the other day I got up close to one. On school visits children find it hard to imagine a time when you couldn’t just turn on a tap for water - but even when these pipes were in place very few buildings had water pumped in directly.
#water #thames #londonhistory #mudlark

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Oct 15



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Obviously couldn’t leave behind something with Acme on it, as it brought the Road Runner immediately to mind! Nor could I leave my first unbroken bottle - even though it’s not that old. The pipe bowl behind it is definitely one of the oldest small bowls when tobacco was so expensive your pipe was small. It’s alongside a much later one for comparison. Finally a 1951 sixpence was sitting on the foreshore like someone dropped it yesterday. All went in the tub with some more copper pins for my growing collection, a little hook and a foot off a Tudor pot. 
#acme #mudlark #greenwich

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Oct 13



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For a short time only I'm trying out a new more affordable online school session.

This will be a 30-minute online Q&A slot where I (and Vlad) will answer questions about writing books, reading, history and mudlarking finds, depending on what the children asking the questions want to know.

There are three days in November with slots of 30-minutes for £50. 

I will offer the cheap book options for parents/carers/schools, give a lesson resource on asking questions before the session and tips on making it run smoothly with as few gaps between questions as possible.

If you want to snap up one of these sessions you can see availability and book on www.calendly.com/readingriddle and will be sent a booking form after reserving a slot. Usually online sessions are 60-minutes and £100 and an in-person visit is £350+expenses – these are still available to book through this link and you can find out more about them on the school visit page of the Reading Riddle website.

In the meantime if you have any top tips about getting funding for me to visit schools I am always keen to hear of new ideas to share. If you want to contact me you can do it through the contact form on this website or by email readingriddle@gmail.com

#schoolvisit #schoolvisits #historyteacher #primaryschool #primaryschool #authorvisit #meettheauthor #historyforkids #picturebook #teacher #teachertok #greatfireoflondon #florencenightingale #firstworldwar #tutankhamun #ancientrome #tudor

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Oct 1



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Yesterday I posted about wanting to find a medieval tile - then I then found one. My husband joked I should post I wanted to find a gold sovereign. Lo and behold today I found …

a sovereign of sorts. Apparently a sovereign was roughly equivalent to one pound and was approximately one month’s salary in 1500. Unfortunately doesn’t even get you a coffee now so not quite the find I was hoping for! Guess my manifestation needs to be a little more specific 😂
#manefestation #pound #mudlarking #mudlarkingfinds #gold

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Sep 30



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On Sunday I posted on my substack about roof tiles and pieces hypocaust I've picked up, but pointed out I hadn't found any medieval tiles.
Incredibly the first thing I found on my next visit was this beautiful chunk! 
My husband is now under the impression that if I publicly state I've not found a gold sovereign one will appear the next time I go ... I'll keep you posted!
#mudlarking #riverthames #medievaltiles #history

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Sep 28



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#lostriver #thames #londonhistory

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Sep 26



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So why do I have 2,000 finger puppets in my house?
I’m so glad you asked.
Last year I carried through with my belief that puppets have a really important part to play in engaging children in storytelling. Not only that but they also help us find out if they have understood a story and supports them in making their own.
I joined with The Puppet Company and now the Vlad Flea finger puppet lives (in my house)! There’s more detail about all this in my free post on the Reading Riddle substack.
www.readingriddle.substack.com

#puppet #storytelling #readingforfun #flea #greatfireoflondon #romanstories #readingcomprehension #primaryteacher #primaryeducation #literacy

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Sep 25



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We love the Summer Reading Challenge celebration. 📖🎉😍
What's not to love ... reading ...children ... books ... drawing ... Vlad Flea's dance moves 😮🕺
Organised by @tootinglibrarysw17 and featuring @samcunninghamart 
Join us on Saturday 11th October 

#summerreadingchallenge2025 #readingagency #tootingnewsie #library #libraryfun❤️ #readingforpleasure #readingtime



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