Thursday, September 28, 2006

BOOKTRUST EARLY YEARS AWARDS

Congratulations to:
Mandy Stanley for winning the Baby Book Award with "How do you feel" published by HarperCollins;
Sam Lloyd for winning the Pre-School Award with "Mr Pusskins" published by Orchard Books
and
Catherine Rayner for winning the Best New Illustrator category with "Augustus and his Smile" published by Little Tiger

Writer's Day in Winchester

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators are running a one day conference on Saturday 11 November 2006 at King Alfred's University College, Winchester. Entitled "Write it, craft it, sell it!" it is a day packed with seminars and ending with an editors panel. Plenty of practical information and advice from such seasoned authors as Rachel Anderson and Debi Gliori. Members of SCBWI or Society of Authors get in for £70 for the day including hot lunch(!), students £60 and non-members £90. Full details on their website www.britishscbwi.org

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

CHILDREN'S FILMS AT LONDON'S BARBICAN

The family film club, now in its 22nd year, presents exciting screenings and workshops every Saturday. There is a new theme each month. October is Halloween Horrors and screenings include ". The Worst Witch".

The Film Club is open to all 5-11 year olds and their families and membership costs £7.50 a year for the whole family - up to 6 people. Members pay only £2.50 ticket in advance or £3 on the day.

Check out the website for full details www.barbican.org.uk/family-film-club

Friday, September 15, 2006

BLUE PETER AWARDS 2006 SHORTLIST

The Shortlist has now been decided by the adult judging panel consisting of the Editor of Blue Peter, Richard Marson; Jane Churchill, Director Cheltenham Literary Festival Programming for the Young; Tony de Saulles, award-winning illustrator of the Horrible Science series.

The book I couldn't put down
The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins)
Blood Fever, Charlie Higson (Puffin)
GRK and the Pelotti Gang, Joshua Doder (Andersen)

The best book with facts
Connor's Eco Den, Pippa Goodhart (Barrington Stoke)
Poo, Nicola Davies and Neal Layton (Walker)
Spud goes green, Giles Thaxton (Egmont)

The best illustrated book to read aloud
Guess who's coming for dinner?, John Kelly and Cathy Tincknell (Templar)
Lost and found, Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
Traction Man is here, Mini Grey (Red Fox)

Ten young judges, selected as a result of a Blue Peter on-line competition, will now read the short list and meet to decide on the winners and the overall winner next month.

Friday, September 01, 2006

PETER PAN LEAK!

It is unusual for children's books to have strict embargoes - and even more unusual for those to be of sufficient interest to be breached. The New York Times on 28th August ran a story

"A copy of Ms McCaughrean's manuscript obtained by The New York Times is more in keeping(than the Barry and Pearson prequels) with the style of Barrie's educated British voice and her Peter is truer to the original: as selfish and egomaniacal as ever."

It then goes on to give hints of the story and have caused OUP to issue a press release saying that they are investigating the leak. In a joint statement with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity say they "obviously we will be trying to find out, in conjunction with the US publisher, how this happened. However the published article only included a few new details, plus some inaccuracies..."

The book, "Peter Pan in Scarlet" by Geraldine McCaughrean will be published in the UK by OUP, in the States by Simon & Schuster and will be published simultaneously in 31 countries in 34 editions on 5th October 2006.

Carousel will be carrying an interview with the author, Geraldine McCaughrean, in the next issue - available from the end of October. If you wish to subscribe please complete the form which you can access from the home page of the Carousel website or leave a message on 0121 622 7558 or email carousel.guide@virgin.net

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEVEN STORIES

They celebrated their first birthday on Saturday 19th August with a traditional party. Mary Briggs, Chief Executive at Seven Stories says "We have had 80,000 people through the door in our first year and fantastic feedback from visitors young and old." Elizabeth Hammill, Collections Development Director "It's been a roller coaster ride in the politics, economics and challenges of initiating a new cultural enterprise".

Seven Stories is based in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle and is open daily. There is a large children's bookshop, changing exhibitions and a growing collections of books, artworks, manuscripts and other pre-publication materials by modern authors and illustrators.

Hampshire Book Award

Students from 40 Hampshire secondary schools have chosen THE SPOOK'S APPRENTICE by Joseph Delaney as their top paperback fiction title published in 2005. This is the first time this book has won a prize despite being on many short lists. Just shows that fantasy still strikes a cord with the young. The other short listed titles were MUDLARK by John Sedden; RUBY TANYA by Bob Swindells; BLOOD PRESSURE by Alan Gibbons and THE HEAVEN SHOP by Deborah Ellis.