Sussex


<p>If you&#8217;ve ever so much as met a child, you&#8217;ll have heard about Liz Pichon&#8217;s work. </p>



<p>The Brighton-based author and illustrator is the creator of the bestselling and ever-growing <em>Tom Gates</em> series. The first was published in 2011, and 22 books later, their peppy combination of side-splitting storytelling, distinctive doodle-style images and relatable characters has won them a global fanbase and sold a cool 16.5 million copies. They&#8217;ve also transformed the hitherto largely illustration-less middle grade market, opening up literature to readers who&#8217;ve grown out of picture books but are struggling to find the feet with chapter books. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Untitled-design-78.jpg" alt="Tom Gates author Liz Pichon's tips on getting kids reading" class="wp-image-75806" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Untitled-design-78.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Untitled-design-78-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Untitled-design-78-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Untitled-design-78-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A new book, Tom Gates: Pesky Pets and Parties is due in early October, but  she&#8217;s also created a second hit series aimed at readers age five and up. <em>The Mubbles </em>is set on the Isle of Smile, which runs on sun, wind and flower power, and features a quirky cast that includes the Earworms, the Wibbles of Wobble Mountain, and the one-eyed Drib Drabs. Having debuted earlier this year, a second title just hit the shelves. </p>



<p>Liz, as you&#8217;re probably realising, has a magic touch when it comes to creating books the children will seize upon, but what you might not know or indeed guess is that she&#8217;s dyslexic. She&#8217;s also a tireless awareness-raiser and this Sunday afternoon, 28 Sept, you can help her launch her second Mubbles book at a special event in Chichester. They&#8217;ll be music, games and plenty of doodling (pencils and paper provided!). Adults go free and all proceeds from the kids&#8217; tickets (£7 a pop) go to the Children&#8217;s BookFest Charity, the local organisation that&#8217;s out to inspire a love for reading and books in children of all ages. </p>



<p>Not being overly patient, Muddy met her beforehand, in between her filming session with <em>The One Show</em> and delivering her third <em>Mubbles</em> book. Ever worried about your kids&#8217; reading or fancied trying your hand at a book of your own? Read on for expert tips&#8230; </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/09/Untitled-design-176.jpg" alt="Liz Pichon's tips on getting kids reading" class="wp-image-78783" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/09/Untitled-design-176.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/09/Untitled-design-176-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/09/Untitled-design-176-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/09/Untitled-design-176-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/09/Untitled-design-176-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-your-relationship-with-books-as-a-child-nbsp"><strong>What was your relationship with books as a child?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Reading took me a really long time but I always loved books, especially funny books like Roald Dahl’s <em>Revolting Rhymes</em> or <em>Silly Verses for Kids</em> by Spike Milligan. I would also devour any type of comic. I’ve still got books that were given to me as a child, including a Winne the Pooh cookbook that I use.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But I can still remember the stress of when we had to read aloud as a class, and you’d take turns. When I started having to do book events I would have terrible flashbacks.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-come-it-took-you-so-long-to-write-your-own-books-nbsp"><strong>How come it took you so long to write your own books?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I didn’t start writing my own books until I was in my mid-40s because I just didn’t think that the writing world was for me. One of the biggest things when you’re dyslexic is you really lose your self-confidence. You’d get really excited about writing a story and then you’d get your work back and it would just be covered in red pen, and all the trouble you’d gone to trying to make a story funny or interesting just wouldn’t resonate – all you remember is the teachers going, &#8216;Your spelling is terrible!&#8217; And that knocks your confidence.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-got-you-started-in-the-end"><strong>What got you started in the end? </strong></h3>



<p>I think about stories in a very visual way, so my route into writing came because I was working as an illustrator. I got to the point where I thought, if I had a go at writing my own stories, then I wouldn’t have to wait for someone to give me an illustration job.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-must-be-really-proud-of-tom-gates"><strong>You must be really proud of <em>Tom Gates</em>. </strong></h3>



<p>I think one of the reasons why it’s been so good for unconfident readers is because as a dyslexic, I think so visually. And I do get a lot of parents saying &#8216;This is the only book my son likes to read!&#8217; </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-does-each-instalment-in-the-series-typically-take-you">How long does each instalment in the series typically take you? </h3>



<p>Anything from four to six months. They’re very labour intensive—I spend such a long time crafting each page and then the kids read them really quickly. Sometimes they&#8217;ll even finish them in the signing queue! </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-important-for-kids-to-have-physical-books-right"><strong>It&#8217;s important for kids to have physical books, right? </strong></h3>



<p>You can&#8217;t beat it. Kids take ownership of the books and build memories, and you can take them anywhere, you don’t need to charge them up. I always get slightly watery-eyed if I see kids reading when they’re travelling because these days mostly they&#8217;re looking at screens.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-some-of-the-best-worst-questions-that-they-ask-at-your-events"><strong>What are some of the best/worst questions that they ask at your events? </strong></h3>



<p>They quite often will ask you how old you are. Asking them to guess is a mistake—I’ve had variations from 26 to 86! The one question you get asked all the time is where do you get your ideas from, and even if you tell them, about two minutes later another child will ask exactly the same question.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-you-get-your-ideas-from"><strong>Where <em>do </em>you get your ideas from?</strong></h3>



<p>I always say that everyone has ideas or funny things that have happened to them, and the only difference is that I find a way to write them down. I tell them that I’m very nosy as well, so I don’t put headphones on when I’m travelling, I like to listen to people’s conversations, I take pictures of things—I’m always collecting things that are useful for stories. Also, don&#8217;t worry about making a mistake: even when you have a good idea, you have to keep working on it, it doesn’t happen straight away.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-did-tom-gates-originate"><strong>How did <em>Tom Gates</em> originate? </strong></h3>



<p>It started off as a picture book idea but everyone thought there wasn’t enough of a story behind it. Then I decided Tom could be writing in the first person about a terrible summer holiday he’d had. So I wrote everything down in an exercise book and imagined that the teacher would write little comments, because my son had a teacher who used to write really funny comments that we used to enjoy.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-writing-advice"><strong>What&#8217;s the best writing advice? </strong></h3>



<p>Just don’t worry about making mistakes. Very few people are brilliant at what they do when they first start but amazingly, the more you do it, the better you get at it, particularly books. They do take a long time and you just have to do a little bit every day. Also, trust your instincts. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-you-share-any-dos-and-don-t-for-parents-who-are-worried-about-their-kids-reading"><strong>Can you share any dos and don&#8217;t for parents who are worried about their kids&#8217; reading? </strong></h3>



<p>If you&#8217;re kids are reading, don&#8217;t worry about what they&#8217;re reading. If they like something and they’re reading it over and over again, lots of parents get really twitchy and think they should be moving on and reading ‘proper’ books but honestly, nothing puts kids off reading more than reading something which they don’t enjoy. </p>



<p>Audiobooks are really brilliant—it’s a great way of reading in the evening, having a book to look at and then listening to the audiobook at the same time, just 15 minutes before bed. My kids used to have to share a room and <em>Horrible Histories</em> was the only audiobook they could agree on! </p>



<p>Also just having books around, going to a library if you can, experiencing the thrill of being able to pick whatever you want—a book on insects or crafting. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mubbles-is-set-on-the-isle-of-smile-where-makes-you-smile-nbsp"><strong><em>The Mubbles</em> is set on the Isle of Smile. Where makes you smile?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I’m definitely a sea person, that always makes me smile. I have such childhood memories of coming down to Brighton with my dad during the summer holidays from London. He was a salesman and so any time he was going somewhere near a beach, I’d go with him. I still remember that ‘I can see the sea!’ moment. I still feel like that about it, even now.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-beach-nbsp"><strong>Do you have a favourite beach?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Brighton beach, away from the pier. It&#8217;s pebbly and all the rest but even last week I managed to go for a swim and it&#8217;s always fun on Christmas Day as well, with everyone jumping in.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-cafe-for-dreaming-up-ideas"><strong>Do you have a favourite cafe for dreaming up ideas? </strong></h3>



<p>Rockwater Hove has completely changed that area because there wasn’t really anywhere up that end, and now it’s become a place where we meet our friends.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-a-favourite-local-bookshop"><strong>What about a favourite local bookshop? </strong></h3>



<p>The Book Nook in Hove, let’s give them a shout out. I just popped in there this morning, and they are amazing and do so many incredible events. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-you-go-when-you-re-stuck-for-inspiration-nbsp"><strong>Where do you go when you&#8217;re stuck for inspiration?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I go for a run by the sea or a walk around Preston Park or Hove Park.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lastly-the-mubbles-books-have-songs-to-go-with-them-tell-us-about-those"><strong>Lastly, the <em>Mubbles</em> books have songs to go with them. Tell us about those. </strong></h3>



<p>Along with crafting activities we&#8217;ve put on YouTube, the songs are a big part of <em>The Mubbles</em> world. My husband&#8217;s a music producer and we write them together. We wanted to do real music that parents and kids would really enjoy, so it’s not ‘kids’ music’.&nbsp;We put a song up about four months ago called <em>Friendship Ends</em>, inspired by a trip to Nashville, and it’s had nearly 600,000 views. </p>



<p><em>Liz Pichon will be appearing at Chichester Free School at 2pm on 28 Sept. Head <a href="https://www.childrensbookfest.com/events" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more info and tickets. </em></p>



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Muddy meets: Liz Pichon, creator of the Tom Gates series

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