[H1]Hitchin Nub News supports our community, showcasing talented individuals, bright stores, great businesses, inspiring charities and popular sports clubs.[H1]

We highlight some of the most interesting people, businesses, organisations every week in our in-depth Nub News feature called 'Up Close in Hitchin'.

As Word Book Day approaches, today's Up Close showcases the brilliant Hitchin author, and Beano comic writer, Danny Pearson (and his adorable pug Jess) on the launch of his must-read new book.

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World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading, with its mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.

So who better to talk to than Hitchin's very own children's author Danny Pearson.

Renowned author Danny, who writes for the world famous Beano comic as well as a range of children's books, disarms us by asking: "What is it like to live in the hottest and coldest places on Earth?"

The reason Danny asks that question is because through his new book, you can discover how different communities survive in some of the world's most extreme climates.

Danny tells us he was first fascinated by how human adapted to life in extremes after visiting the stunning island of Iceland.

Speaking to Nub News ahead of World Book Day, good-natured Danny said: "The people there had learnt how to co-exist and respect the environment.

"It was easy to see why it was one of the happiest places in the world to live.

"I wrote this book to explore how humans have adapted, and thrived, to live in extremes.

"There are so many places to discover on this amazing planet. So, get out there and get exploring."

More on Danny

Danny is Hitchin born and bred. He was one of the last babies to be born at the old Hitchin Hospital before everything moved to the Lister Hospital in Stevenage.

He then attended Hitchin's William Ransom primary school, prior to heading over to John Henry Newman in Stevenage - while still keeping loads of friends at Hitchin Boys' School and Hitchin Girl's School.

Danny has given many talks at Hitchin Library and other events such as Next Page Books on Queen Street.

Danny is a big advocate of World Book Day which aims to give more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them.

Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.

Danny adds: "It's available from all good bookshops and online. Order now and grab a copy of Life in Extremes."

Collins Big Cat series supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read.

Its books are banded for guided and independent reading, there are reading notes in the back, comprehensive teaching and assessment support and ebooks available. This book provides challenging text and vocabulary as well as opportunities to practise inference, prediction and reading stamina.

Acclaimed author Danny has also been published by highly-respected Harper Collins group, with his book, 'Night of the Chickens' part of the Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds series, featuring exciting fiction and non-fiction to enthuse and inspire children.

Life in Extremes

ISBN: 978-0-00-848561-0

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A SELECTION OF PREVIOUS HITCHIN NUB NEWS UP CLOSE FEATURES:

https://hitchin.nub.news/n/up-close-bowled-over---bowmans-and-ickleford-cc-are-the-perfect-match Up Close: Bowled Over - Bowmans and Ickleford CC are the perfect match

Up Close: Angels' Share owners Harpreet and Preeti's exciting new plans for Lower Stondon's Bird in Hand pub

UP CLOSE: How backpacking trip led to Lauren and Toby creating acclaimed Bite Around the World - that has now catered for Nike, Google and Just Eat

UP CLOSE: Amanda Reed lollipop lady – our town's true unsung Hitchin hero

UP CLOSE EXCLUSIVE interview with Sir Kier Starmer

UP CLOSE: Bim Afolami, Hitchin MP on racism, NHS, Brexit, lockdown, welfare, Marcus Rashford, Kier Starmer and much more

UP CLOSE: Matt Bean, owner of Cantina Carnitas

UP CLOSE: Chris Cheah, owner of Chicken George

UP CLOSE: Fabio Vincenti, owner of Fabio's Gelato

UP CLOSE: Simmy and Jhai Dhillon, owners of Rice and Spice

UP CLOSE: Danny Pearson, Beano comic writer

UP CLOSE:Hitchin Squirrel Rescue

[L]https://hitchin.nub.news/n/feature-hitchin-food-rescue-39seeing-volume-of-food-that-would-otherwise-go-to-waste-makes-it-very-real39[L+]UP CLOSE: Hitchin Food Rescue

UP CLOSE: Adam Howard, organiser BackToSchoolival

UP CLOSE: Hitchin's inspirational Black Lives Matter movement

UP CLOSE: RuPaul revolutionised positive perception of drag among mainstream says north Herts' Magenta

UP CLOSE: The brilliant Keith Jones - master butcher and master crooner

UP CLOSE: Freddy and Em, landlord and landlady of The Half Moon pub

UP CLOSE: Tradee On Demand - the brilliant new app dubbed 'Uber for property maintenance'

UP CLOSE: Flip Connect and Hitchin Town - The Perfect Match

UP CLOSE: Introducing Wellington Evans - Hitchin's newest estate agents

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If you or your business or organisation would like to be featured in a future UP CLOSE please email [email protected] or tweet us @HitchinNubNews