Ideas come to me when doing ordinary things like walking my dog or when I’m in the supermarket. I love writing the first chapter and getting into the story. I write all the way to the end rather than stopping and starting, and then I’ve got the whole story to work with. I might plan a few scenes here and there but I basically just write and see where the story ends up! I've been a fan of Jacqueline Wilson since I was a child, and I was overjoyed to be able to obtain a signed copy during a local author talk promoting Edie Trimmer - a book that has soared to my number one favourite spot among her many titles. Encourage a love of reading. If you have a passion for books and you want to encourage your child to follow in your footsteps then reading to them from an early age is a great way to do so. Reading to them in a relaxed setting can help them to associate reading with something nice and comforting. This can help to start a life-long love of literature. In fact, I enjoyed almost every character introduced to us, including the ones who are perhaps overly sour. The only character I felt rather bland about was Alex. She has her reasons for existing, but somehow, I felt like she paled in comparison to the others.

It was really dark, depressing and distressing seeing just how dreadful and horrible things were in the workhouse, having always known them to have been horrible places, but seeing just how awful it was was very unsettling and disturbing. I just can't believe they actually had institutions like this exist that deprive people of proper sustenance and leisure, of basic needs such as going the toilet whenever they needed it and washing, forcing them into manual labour 24/7, especially in regards to the children, as you'd have though child abuse would be against the law, but seemingly not seeing how incredibly abusive the policemen were towards children and the workhouses of course, which were all about abusing and neglecting children, and people of any age for that matter. I felt unsettled and traumatised just reading about Edie's experience, and seeing what it was like for the other people who were forced to work and live there too. I just couldn't believe people were treated like that, especially the children, and that the staff could be so heartless and ruthless, with the inmates lives and needs just being dismissed basically. It definitely seemed worse than prisons did, and I can't believe they existed for as long as they did. Primary Times talks to Dame Jacqueline Wilson, one of Britain’s bestselling and most beloved children’s authors, about the release of her new book, ‘ The Other Edie Trimmer’. Also incredibly illustrated by Quentin Blake, you and your children will love reading the twisting and melodic lines and looking at the legendary and funny illustrations. Empathy. It’s so important that children learn how to be kind and to learn what life is like in another person’s shoes. I didn’t sit and plan which messages to include when writing but I hope that sprinkles of empathy and compassion are hopefully embedded in the story itself.

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Q7) Can we expect any other stories about Edie in future, or are you working on any new ideas that we should keep an eye out for? Now this is a hotly debated subject and one that will go on for the rest of time. For now though, we have compiled a list of our top 5 favourite children’s stories that are perfect for bedtime reading for your children. We feel that our list has a good mix of classic and modern stories that you and your children will love.

I might revisit Edie at some point in the future, who knows! I do have a book for younger readers coming out later this year, as a sequel to ‘Sleepovers’ which I wrote quite a long time ago. It’s a relatively short book but explores all aspects of friendship which I hope readers will enjoy. In regards to her modern-day life, I loved seeing how strong and lovely her friendship with Alex was, as most stories would have the two best friends falling out over one having gotten a part in a play that the other was hoping to get, with that usual competition and rivalry getting in the way, but they still remained best friends, supporting and happy for each other throughout! Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain's bestselling and most beloved children's authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold.

About this book

It is getting near your child’s bedtime and you want to read them a story but you are conscious where you left off will take another half an hour to get somewhere you can stop. What do you do? In a story full of her trademark compassion, Jacqueline Wilson thoughtfully explores the devastating effect of poverty on children at any time and, in doing so, subtly provokes readers to think about contemporary poverty. There is another Edie Trimmer who lives in great poverty in Victorian London and modern day Edie finds herself at risk of being swapped into her life! Edie finds herself in Victorian London. She feels the same, but everything around her is completely different to what she knows. Soon, she realises she's living the life of another Edie Trimmer - and is in danger of being sent to a real workhouse! So there we are, some great reasons to why we should be reading to children before bed. But, what should you read?

A heart-warming time slip adventure about family and friendship from the much-loved, bestselling Jacqueline Wilson. But when she starts writing, something strange happens. Edie finds herself in Victorian London. She feels the same, but everything around her is completely different to what she knows. Q2) Who are your favourite characters in the book and which character do you think will be a firm reader favourite?You are in need of a short story that can entertain your child for 15 minutes and help them ease off to sleep. But where do you get them from? Children tend to be quite interested in the past and the workhouse scenes might also be helpful with aspects of the current curriculum as well. I hope I’m converting children into saying that history is fun! Q3) What made you want to write about Victorian London as the setting and tell this particular story? Well, I must say I was very much enthralled and compelled by this book, finding it a most gripping read, as I carried on reading determined to find out what would happen next, which is always a sign of a great book! When I first saw Jacqueline Wilson's next book that was coming out I just sort of overlooked it, after having been unimpressed with her last book, The Fairy Project. However the more I read into it, being a time travel story, I took a particular interest and decided to get it, always being up for a good time travel interest myself, and I'm really glad I did!

Not only does reading to your child before bedtime create a stronger bond between you both but it can hugely help your child out, after all, that is what everyone wants to do, do everything possible to help their children. Contribute to children’s brain development. It has been found by American Academy of Paediatrics that there is a high positive correlation between reading and neural activation in the left-sided parietal-temporal-occipital association cortex. It has been described as a ‘hub’ region of supporting semantic language processing. Reading bedtime stories to your children could help them to develop language skills through sounds, words and pictures. Jacqueline began writing at a very young age and has been honing her craft ever since. Having now penned over 100 books and sold more than forty million copies, including creating the notorious and well-loved character Tracy Beaker, she has turned her attention once more to Victorian London. This new heart-warming story which is perfect for readers aged seven and above is one of adventure, history, time-slips and more! We asked Jacqueline a few questions about ‘The Other Edie Trimmer’ and what to look out for… Keen actress Edie Trimmer is bitterly disappointed when she doesn’t get a part in the drama club’s production of Oliver. What’s worse is that her best friend does which means Edie has find some new ways to spend her time.Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain’s bestselling and most beloved children’s authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold. Home> News> May 2023> Exploring family, friendship, and Victorian London with Jacqueline Wilson Exploring family, friendship, and Victorian London with Jacqueline Wilson When she is given an old notebook and pen and some ink she settles down to write a story. But someone else seems to be telling the story too! A heart-warming time travel adventure about family and friendship from the much-loved, bestselling Jacqueline Wilson.