The Hannah the Spanner series of books were originally written as bedtime stories for Stuart Simmonds’ eldest daughter Hannah.
He promised her that one day they’d be published – and early last year that promise became a reality as the first four books in the series of seven hit the shelves. They were released to coincide with Hannah’s 21st birthday.
The books have been such a huge success, and Stuart has been inundated with bookings from schools asking him to visit to read the books and run workshops encouraging children to read.
Aimed primarily at four to nine-year olds, they are funny and witty enough to entertain the adults, whilst the children enjoy the stories and pictures.
Each book in the series follows a different adventure of Hannah and the dreadful Aubrey:
HANNAH THE SPANNER AND THE DANCING BEAR
Time for a back garden disco.
Trampolines, ponds and garden sheds, an escaped bear on the run who loves to dance and eat cake and a grumpy zoo keeper with a very special nose.
Just the sort of adventure that normally happens on a Monday evening.
HANNAH THE SPANNER AND THE ROBOT
Can the robot stay for tea?
A robot with no shoes, a naughty boy with major wind issues, trick-or-treating, a grumpy Dad who can’t fix the internet and wrongs being righted.
It’s a normal Tuesday night in the Hannah the Spanner household.
HANNAH THE SPANNER AND THE CIRCUS
No time for clowning around!
The best trip of the year, a big top, an over excited teacher, custard pies, strongmen, acrobats, The Great Donaldo and the town’s newest clown. Oh, and not forgetting a quite beautiful elephant called Trunky.
All in a day’s work for Hannah the Spanner.
HANNAH THE SPANNER AND THE TRIP TO THE MOON
“Whatever you do, do NOT press that button.”
Find out what happens when someone doesn’t do quite what they’re told and the amazing adventures that unfold once Hannah and her friends are blasted into outer space.
This was not what they were expecting to happen when they got on the school minibus.
HANNAH THE SPANNER AND THE DIAMOND ROBBERY
Have you seen these men?
Notorious bank robbers, missing diamonds, harassed teachers, Yoga karate, coach rides into the city, Aubrey entertaining himself in the Natural History Museum, a GPS and two grumpy old ladies on an open top bus.
For Hannah, this will not be your normal school trip to London.
HANNAH THE SPANNER AND THE RACING CAR
Start your engines… on your marks… get set… go!
Birthday parties, amusement parks, farmyard animals, sticky buns and stressed out mums. All there with a living legend and his rather strange racing friends.
Come and join Hannah, Aubrey and their friends as this Saturday, they get to pit themselves against the Track of Doom.
HANNAH THE SPANNER AND THE POLAR BEARS
This isn’t the sort of thing that usually happens on Christmas Eve
Bored senseless in the superstore, grumpy parents, sick reindeers, walkie-talkies from aisle 17, shower time, some very strange goings on in your back garden and an emergency visit to the Professor’s house.
Come join Hannah and Lucy as they join forces with some furry friends in order to help a big chubby man in a red suit save Christmas.
For more information on the series, please visit www.hannahthespanner.com. The books can also be purchased, at an RRP of £7.99 each, from leading retailers including Amazon and Waterstones.
About the author:
Stuart Simmonds is a married father of two girls, Hannah and Lucy. An accomplished cricketer and sports coach, he now runs a property business from his home in East Grinstead, Sussex.
Prior to writing the Hannah the Spanner series, he wrote an autobiography on a life in cricket, titled ‘Watching With My Heroes’, which was widely sold through all major retailers.
Having long considered writing children’s books based on a promise made to his daughter when she was just five, late last year he presented her with the first edition drafts on her 21st birthday.
