School Visits & Events

Author/illustrator, Cate Douglas, visits schools across the UK, delivering her exciting Poppy's Tail workshops to children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. After Cate has read her book, the children can ask questions, share their ideas and expand their imagination.
Cate also brings along a huge suitcase full of animal tails for the children to wear and waggle to music—never a dull moment! She also provides a pack of activity sheets for use in the classroom and each child receives a Poppy's Tail bookmark to take home.
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Scroll down for Schools Testimonials
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School Testimonials

''What a wonderful book, loved by our children from the age of 3-8. Cate visited our school today - incredibly well paced, fun, interactive sessions delivered with complete understanding of each group of children. Can’t recommend the book and tails (inspired idea) enough! More please."
Miss S L Cutting, Hymers Hessle Mount School, East Yorkshire

''The staff and children in Reception and Year One really enjoyed ‘Poppy’s Tail’ and we are very thankful that you took the time to share it with all of us."
Rebecca Leviston, Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School, London

''From start to finish, all the children were captivated by ‘Poppy’s Tail’. Both boys and girls engaged with it and enjoyed trying on different tails and sharing why they had chosen them. The whole experience ignited the children’s imagination and got them enthused by reading. Thank you for making our World Book Day so memorable."
Krystyna Flanc, South Farnham Educational Trust

''Many thanks again for coming in to read Poppy’s Tail to the children. Your interactive session was hugely popular and the children loved donning a tail and becoming part of the story."
Christopher McMinn, Headmaster, St Mark’s Hall Nursery School, London

''It was great of you to come in and share your book, the children absolutely loved it!"
Morwenna Davies, Kew Green Preparatory School, London

''Cate Douglas enthused and engaged the children and they joined in with the story-telling, being able to predict due to the rhyming text. Cate also brought along lots of tails from the story for the children to try on, and they were delighted to become the 'tail character'. She was then 'interviewed' by the KS1 and Reception children, as part of their topic about authors and illustrators, and spoke with enthusiasm about writing stories and the personal rewards writing can bring."
Lesley Osman, Black Torrington School, Devon

''A big THANK YOU! from all of us in the Y1 and 2 team at ICS, for coming in to read Poppy's Tail. It was such a delight to have you. The children and staff had a wonderful time. Students thoroughly enjoyed your read aloud. I think they couldn't believe that they got to meet a real author! I've heard from multiple parents who have said that their children wouldn't stop wearing their tail and only when they went to bed did they manage to convince them to take it off! So it seems that Poppy is not the only one who would like to have a tail!"
Jasmin Thornburrow, International Community School, London

''Thank you so much for visiting Oatlands yesterday. It was such a wonderful opportunity for the children and they absolutely loved Poppy's Tail and have been buzzing about it still today."
Tanya Mooney, Headmistress, Oatlands School, Weybridge
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''The Poppy’s Tail session with Cate was so wonderful! Boys, girls, EAL, SEN and High Achievers alike enjoyed the session because it was so interactive and accessible. Cate was so clear and engaging when telling the story and the book is full of detailed illustrations to keep it engaging to look at. The children had such a memorable and meaningful experience trying on all of the tails and moving in response to the text and music. Thank you for a lovely morning!"
Assistant Head, Worple Primary School, Isleworth
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