A HALSTEAD children’s author is celebrating the release of her latest book with a series of online and in-person events.

Josie Dom recently published Olympic-themed children’s book Animalympics.

The rhyming book features animals taking part in Olympic sporting events which would suit them if the human Olympics was cancelled and they took over.

Now the author is hoping to keep residents entertained during a lull in the action between the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

She will be hosting a series of events across Essex during the 17-day gap between the sporting events, starting on Sunday, August 8. It will run until Tuesday, August 24 and starts with Josie featuring online with author and illustrator interviews along with celebrity readings and a colouring competition for children.

Josie will also join Red Lion Books in Colchester on Thursday, August 12 for an Animalympics Parade.

On Sunday, August 15, Josie will then be at Rumblebees Book Shop and Music Café in Felsted where there will be animal face-painting and music.

She will then be in Billericay where she will host an Animalympics activity session with the chance to win an Animalympics Gold Medal at the Barleylands Farmlympics.

The final outdoor event is at the Maldon Promenade Park with Maldon Books for another parade.

For more information, visit animalympics.co.uk.