iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Happy publication day to Beastie Bros: Dungeons & Dragonflies! Thank you to the team at @scholasticuk.bsky.social for making the creation of this so much fun! I'm spending the morning at Bag of Books in Lewes, doing a window painting, if you'd like to come along & say hello! #ukkidlit #kidlituk

The cover of Beastie Bros: Dungeons and Dragonflies, showing Dribble the snail and Dash the firefly being chased by a monster dragonfly.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Beastie Bros: Dungeons and Dragonflies is out this week! It has daring deeds, a choose-your-own-adventure chapter, maggots, a sword called Jennifer Richards, and open mic poetry! I had a heap of fun making it with lovely @scholasticuk.bsky.social. #kidlituk ##ukkidlit

An illustration of a tour bus filled with bugs. A slug called Reg Scribble leads the party.

An illustration of a bunch of bugs watching a ladybird give a poetry reading on stage in a juice bar.

An infographic comparing the appeal of kittens versus maggots. The result is fairly even.

The cover of Beastie Bros: Dungeons and Dragonflies, featuring Dribble the snail and Dash the firefly.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Hello! BEASTIE BROS: DUNGEONS & DRAGONFLIES is out in August! Dribble & Dash are on a quest to find the Gumdrop of Destiny, but perils await in the maze of tunnels beneath the ant hill... Fantasy fun featuring fake beards, custard lakes & a trusty sword called Jennifer Richards! #ukkidlit #kidlituk

The book cover of Beastie Bros: Dungeons & Dragonflies, featuring Dribble the snail and Dash the firefly being chased by a fierce giant dragonfly.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

BEASTIE BROS is out today, squishing everything I've learned about books & story making into something that's absorbing, informative & engaging, & visually dynamic too! Huge thanks to Scholastic, particularly brilliant editor Julia Sanderson & fab designer Sarah Baldwin! shorturl.at/l2XBi #ukkidlit

Beastie Bros cover with a Dribble the snail and Dash the firefly on the cover.

A blueprint of Roboslug, Dribble's invention, showing how it makes cabbage juice out of cabbage leaves.

The naughty slugs, Reg Scribble and Flattened Dominic, doing karaoke.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

I've created an activity pack to go with my Beastie Bros book (out on Thursday!). Including wordsearch, colouring sheet, and story-making ideas - might keep young ones busy for a bit during half-term. Download for free from here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/resources/48... ##ukkidlit #kidlituk

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Last one of these - I saved the best until last (debatable)!

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Possibly my favourite characters in Beastie Bros.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Grottibottigan’s Juice Bar is the coolest hangout in Bugtown.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Some of Dribble and Dash's friends...

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

I've realised Dribble and Dash represent different aspects of me. Mostly I'm grumpy Dribble, but I have my Dash moments (except I don't flash my bum too often these days).

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Introducing some of the characters from my book out next week! 🐌 (I promise I will stop going on about it at some point. Just not yet.) #ukkidlit #kidlituk

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

From Scholastic UK: COMPETITION TIME! #ukkidlit Would your class want to meet MINIBEASTS like Dribble and Dash (UK only)? The 'Snail Code' is very important to Dribble. Write your 'Human Code' as a class to be in with a chance of winning a visit from Bugfest! Enter now: surveymonkey.com/r/QLHJWGQ

Win a Minibeast visit to your school! Learn all about different invertebrates and even handle a few.

The Snail code. 1. Let no others enter the Shell for the Shell is sacred. 2. Let no cabbage leaf go un-nibbled. 3. Let your slime trail record your path through life. 4. Let kittens bring joy into your world. 5. Let your underpants be changed once a week. 6. Don't be a slug.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Beastie Bros is out in a month! [Flabrella = flab umbrella, ie. a human from the viewpoint of a bug on the ground.]

Dribble the snail and Dash the firefly telling you their book Beastie Bros is out next month.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Advance copies of my heavily illustrated chapter book 'Beastie Bros' have arrived! I love how it's come out!! It has a map, silly adverts & activities + an exciting story too. Out in Feb '25. Thank you Scholastic UK! 🙏 🪳🕷🦋🦗🐞🪲🐝🪰🐜🐛🐌🪱

Cover of the Beastie Bros book with Dribble the snail and Dash the firefly in a skateboard.

A map of Bugtown, including the Museum of Cool Stuff.

A funny advert for Pretty Kitty Clothing, kitten-themed boutique loved by Dribble.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Sneak peek from my Beastie Bros book! This is Crispin T. Earthworm who pops up occasionally as a living footnote to wormsplain bug language and culture to us humans. Beastie Bros is out in February '25.

A cartoon image of an earthworm explaining that snails have a code they live by, setting them apart from lax and untrustworthy slugs, plus a list of silly things that form the snail code itself.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Hello Monday! Two of my fave characters from my book Beastie Bros (out Feb 13th from Scholastic UK): the naughty slugs! Reg Scribble's spent time at sea. When he wiggles his tummy his mer-slug tattoo does the backstroke. Flattened Dominic was run over by an escaped courgette. They both love karaoke!

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Sneak peek from my book Beastie Bros, out in February! I love cutaways, so I put in a double-page spread of Roboslug, Dribble the snail's cabbage juice-making machine, complete with tooter, snack box and poo launcher. More sneak peeks to come.

A blueprint of a giant slug robot showing the workings of its internal cabbage juice-making factory.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Hello - I seem to be picking up followers from a political starter pack that has my name in it by mistake. You're very welcome to stay, but I only post about children's books, so unless you're into bug drawings + fart jokes you might find my feed a bit of a let down.

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David O'Connell @davidoconnell.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Thank you so much to Charlotte Eyre and The Bookseller for making Beastie Bros a 'One to Watch' in their February previews! A pre-order or two would be very welcome!

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