Stories That Shape Us

Welcome to Stories That Shape Us! Join us at The Story Museum to hear from a brilliant line-up of speakers. We'll hear from Jackie Morris - illustrator and author, Theresa Heapy - children's author, Penny Boxall - poet and debut Puffin author, and Bill Laar - education author and storyteller. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow story enthusiasts and celebrate the stories that make us who we are. See you there!

Info: Teresa Heapy was a commissioning editor for Oxford University Press and Heinemann before becoming a children’s writer.
Teresa authored the Very Little picture book series: VERY LITTLE RED RIDIING HOOD (winner of Best Picture Books in the Oxfordshire Book Awards and the Coventry Inspiration Book Awards), VERY LITTLE CINDERELLA, VERY LITTLE SLEEPING BEAUTY and VERY LITTLE RAPUNZEL, all illustrated by Sue Heap (Random House). Teresa and Sue collaborated again on TEN CARS AND A MILLION STARS, published by Walker Books. Other picture books include THE MARVELLOUS MOON MAP and THE SPECTACULAR CITY (Penguin Random House), both illustrated by David Litchfield, LOVED TO BITS (David Fickling Books) illustrated by Katie Cleminson, THE WONDER TREE (Farshore) illustrated by Izzy Burton, and THE GREAT CAKE RACE (Bloomsbury), illustrated by Erica Salcedo, for the Bloomsbury Readers series.
Teresa’s latest title, WILL WOLFHEART (David Fickling Books), with illustrations by Adam Beer, is now published.

Info: Penny Boxall is a poet, children’s writer, and enjoyer of strange historical facts. She has worked in a number of museums, including the Ashmolean. In 2016 she won the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award (Scotland’s largest poetry prize). Her debut novel for children, Letty and the Mystery of the Golden Thread (Puffin, 2025), was Blackwell’s Book of the Month. It was followed by her verse novel for children, Elsa and the Shadow Theatre (Hodder, 2025). She is now an RLF Bridge Fellow, working in secondary schools in the Midlands and further afield.

Info: Jackie Morris is an artist, writer, illustrator and reader. She lives in Wales and loves to listen to the quiet voices of the wild world. This is where her stories arise from, wrapped in birdsong and the wind over landscape. Her books have been published in many languages and are for all ages, from the very young to the old and wise. She loves birds, the light beneath trees, the sea, rivers, the scent of heather and many more things.

Info: Bill has worked with schools and teachers around the country and overseas, as a Headteacher, education adviser, Ofsted inspector and consultant, and has contributed as a speaker and storyteller at many conferences. In his talks and writing, he addresses a wide range of educational issues, such as leadership, curriculum, literacy, story and narrative, children’s literature, and creativity in schools. Primary Heads (2014) and Reclaiming the Curriculum (2018) were both published by Crown Publishing.

Host or Publisher Oxford children's book group