For Arthur Ransome Fans

Peter Duck will be moored in St Katharine’s Dock, Lon-

don, June 14th—16th 2011 to celebrate the publication of

The Salt-Stained Book. Visitors are welcome

10.30 —6 (Tues & Weds) 10.30 —2.30 (Thurs).

If you’d like to come please phone the author of The Salt-Stained Book, Julia Jones on 07765 703700

to check arrangements (and weather!)

Writing the World

Polka Theatre is delighted to announce the winners of their annual story-writing competition for children of primary school age. Inviting children to write short stories inspired by a different country each year, the winners of this popular competition will have their stories performed on Polka’s Main Stage at the Writing the World Festival on Saturday 9 July 2011.

This year, young writers looked to Brazil to inspire their creativity alongside children’s author Marcus Sedgwick. Marcus supported the competition by blogging on Polka’s website about the writing process and offering some top tips for applicants. He also wrote his own story; Charlie, which is inspired by Brazil and available for all to read for free on Polka’s website.

With a prolific career in young adult fiction and the author of The Raven Mysteries, Polka were delighted to have Marcus’s support who was equally pleased to be part of the scheme:
‘Writing the World is such a great idea. How better to get us all thinking about parts of the world we know less about, than to explore them through story writing?’ Marcus Sedgwick

Children's Laureate 2011-2013

A packed hall at Kings Place sat through nine(!) speeches which, in differing ways, celebrated the post of the Children's Laureate.

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries said "I am determined to see the library service thrive" and he also expressed his view that "libraries and the book are fundamental to children's education".

Julia Donaldson said that she wants to reinforce the work done by the six previous laureates and to bring a touch of drama and music to the role. She said "I'd like to encourage children to write plays as well as act in them" and that "drama and music are going to be my main mission". She said she would put an emphasis on helping deaf children participate fully. She would speak up against the cuts and "library closures that are so damaging to our children's future". She mentioned the Campaign for the Book and that she would "like to do a libraries tour and combine drama with libraries".

18 children's publishers sponsor the award and the main sponsor is now Waterstone's who said they would be having window displays in something like 120 of their stores (sorry not to be precise my attention drifted). Waterstone's further announced that they planned to increase the size of their children's department where possible. Administration continues to be handled by Book Trust.

Enid Stephenson

(top pic: Floella Benjamin, Chair of the CL selection panel, Anthony Browne outgoing Children's Laureate, Ed Vaizey. Second pic: Julia Donaldson during her acceptance speech)

Judith Kerr Exhibition

"From The Tiger Who Came to Tea to Mog and the Pink Rabbit" a retrospective of the work of Judith Kerr will be on display at the V & A Museum of Childhood 28 May to 4 September. Well worth a trip to Bethnal Green. You can easily visit the museum, open every day 10am to 5.45pm, by tube to Bethnal Green (a five min. walk from the station) or numerous buses stop outside D6, 106, 254, 309, 388. Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA

Shirley Hughes Exhibition

A celebration of 30 years of Alfie at the Illustration Cupboard Galley, 22 Bury Street, St James, London - just off Piccadilly. Always worth visiting this attractive and enterprising and unstuffy gallery. This exhibition runs from 2-25 June.

Charlotte Voake et al

A whole raft of joyous illustrations to buy by such artists as Charlotte Voake, John Lawrence and Salvatore Rubbino. Have a look at the website www.childrensbookillustration.com

Hackney Short Novel Award

The votes are in....and Hackney pupils have declared ‘The Uniform’ by Tommy Donbavand the winner of the 2011 Hackney Short Novel Awards!

Now in its second year, the Awards sees pupils from secondary schools in Hackney reading and reviewing a shortlist of five novels and voting for a winner. The Short Novels Awards scheme is the result of a collaboration between The Learning Trust, the publishing house Barrington Stoke, local bookshop Victoria Park Books and the Ministry of Stories in Hoxton.

The winning novel was announced at an event held at Hackney Town Hall on Thursday (26 May) with close to 60 pupils in attendance from the five participating schools – Bridge Academy, Cardinal Pole Catholic School, Petchey Academy, Skinners’ Academy and Stoke Newington School.

Commenting on his win, author Tommy Donbavand said: “I'm thrilled that The Uniform was chosen as the winner of the Hackney Short Novel Award. I'd always wanted to write a spooky story without any zombies, werewolves or other creepy characters - just real people in a terrifying situation - and The Uniform was that story. To hear that people are enjoying reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it is simply wonderful!”

BRANFORD BOASE AWARD: SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The 2011 shortlist for the Branford Boase Award is announced today. The Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children.

The books on the shortlist are:

I Am The Blade by J.P. Buxton, edited by Beverley Birch (Hachette, £5.99)
When I Was Joe by Keren David, edited by Maurice Lyon (Frances Lincoln, £6.99)
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay, edited by Bella Pearson (David Fickling, £5.99)
Unhooking The Moon by Gregory Hughes, edited by Roisin Heycock (Quercus, £5.99)
Out Of Shadows by Jason Wallace, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press, £6.99)
The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh, edited by Imogen Copper (Chicken House, £6.99)

Carousel has reviewed all the shortlisted titles in the last few issues.

The Branford Boase Award was set up to encourage new writers and is given each year to the most promising work of fiction for children by a first time novelist. The Branford Boase Award also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent.

The Branford Boase Award judging panel has had an uncanny ability to pick future best-selling and critically acclaimed authors. Previous shortlisted and winning writers include Marcus Sedgwick, Meg Rosoff, Philip Reeve, Cathy Cassidy, Kevin Brooks, William Nicholson,Frank Cottrell Boyce, Mal Peet and Bali Rai.

This year’s eminent judging panel is: independent bookseller Isla Dawes, of The Barnes Bookshop; Jake Hope, librarian and Bookseller Magazine reviewer; Damian Kelleher,journalist and writer and Lucy Christopher, author of Stolen, winner of last year’s Branford Boase Award. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, children’s books editor of The Guardian.

Julia Eccleshare says: “This year’s varied and impressive shortlist is a very positive statement about the strength and health of children’s books. Everyone is looking for creative new authors and it good to see them being spotted by both the major houses and the small and independent publishers”.

The winner of the Award will be announced on July 6th at a ceremony in London. The
winning author receives a cheque for £1,000 and both author and editor receive a unique,hand-crafted silver-inlaid box.

The Branford Boase Award gratefully acknowledges support from Walker Books and
Dame Jacqueline Wilson O.B.E.

suffolk libraries - u-turn hurrah!

East Anglian Daily Times reports
Controversial county council proposals to stop running its library service have been abandoned.
Suffolk County Council had planned to divest the service and hand over responsibility for running libraries to community groups, parish councils or other organisations. The plans could have resulted in the closure of 29 community libraries if no groups took over the running of them. However, due to the strength of feeling across the county, which resulted in a number of demonstrations in towns such as Saxmundham, Leiston and Eye, the county council has made a dramatic U-turn.
It emerged last night that the authority will retain ultimate responsibility for running libraries – although communities will have an opportunity to help run individual branches. And while there is no guarantee that all branches will be retained, cabinet member with responsibility for libraries Judy Terry said she expected the overwhelming majority to stay open. She said: “I really hope that all libraries will remain open, ultimately we would like to be able to see new libraries created for communities across the county.” The libraries are set to be run by a community interest company which will be fully owned by the county council – but will include representatives of communities across Suffolk as well as councillors and officials.

Looking for change – going out on a wire to find a new favourite book

I get a bit frustrated sometimes at the fact that the same books, or authors, always seem to crop up on lists of recommended books. Of course we all love Dear Zoo (Rod Campbell) and The Gruffalo(Julia Dondaldson). The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle) is a staple in the homes of young children and many children can’t imagine going to bed without Goodnight Moon (Margaret Wise Brown). Similarly, you’re hard pressed to find a child who can’t relate to Max in Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak).

These are all great picture books – of course we want to recommend them. They are books that you want to share with parents, to ensure that all children have a chance to experience them. They have delighted children for many years and families can’t help but pass them down through the generations. They’re well loved and well known, which make them perfect for gifting. But if parents, friends, experts and librarians are always recommending these same books, it does beg the question -what are we missing out on?

I once read an article that said parents should read children three books a day and aim for variation. The article recommended that these three books included one of the child’s favourites; a classic fairy tale and something new to help the child and parent) discover new books. Of course, involving the child in the selection processes will help encourage success. If we stick to this three book rule, then we get the best of all worlds – classics, favourites and the chance to discover something new.

Finding new books is actually quite a fun task. Follow blogs and read book reviews to get an idea of newly published books. Talk to friends and family to find out what books they love and most importantly take time to browse your local library. Ask librarians to point out new titles and recommend books. Visit bookshops and ask the book sellers to recommend something new. Pick up books you haven’t looked at before and try reading them aloud.

It’s all about diversifying reading habits and giving children the chance to explore something new.You can have fun exploring books along the way. There is nothing wrong with sticking to the favourites. Of course, those books have stood the test of time and are favourites for a reason. They were once newly published and someone had to recommend them to others. If we support new authors and new titles then maybe in 40 years time these books will join the classics on all the lists of recommended books.

Tracy Lowe is the Early Years Training Manager at Scottish Book Trust.
She runs training programmes on a wide range of topics linked to early literacy, including brain and language development and use of songs,rhymes and book sharing with children under five. Check out her blog at
www.scottishbooktrust.com.

Ursula Moray Williams Exhibition

The Enchanted Country – Hampshire celebrates Ursula Moray Williams’s
centenary.

Several generations of children have enjoyed books written – and in many cases illustrated – by Ursula Moray Williams, such as Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat and
Adventures of the Little Horse. She wrote 68 books between 1931 and 1987, which can be enjoyed by a wide range of age-groups, and she used a variety of styles of illustrations, from lively figure-drawings to intricate scissor-cuts. The centenary of her birth on 19 April 1911 is being celebrated through a series of events, mainly in herhome county of Hampshire, providing a chance to celebrate her long career, and theways in which her early surroundings inspired the characters and settings in many of her books.

An exhibition, The Enchanted Country: the extraordinary world of Ursula Moray
Williams, is touring venues in Hampshire and elsewhere. Using copies of photographs
and other archive material provided by her family, it tells the story of Ursula’s life and career, and in particular will explore the ways in which her Hampshire childhood influenced her writing. Her early years growing up as a twin near Petersfield, playing with hobby-horses and walking past a shop which sold wooden model horses,influenced such books as The Twins and their Ponies as well as Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse. From the age of 11 until her marriage she lived at North Stoneham Park, between Eastleigh and Southampton, a magnificent, yet unfinished and dilapidated, mansion set in magical grounds, which inspired such books as A Castle for John-Peter, Grandpapa’s Folly and the Woodworm-Bookworm, and
Bogwoppit – which features cuddly yet ferocious animals living beneath a mansion
closely based on North Stoneham. She was a keen member of the local Girl Guides,
and many of her early stories were written for Hampshire Brownies. The exhibition
also covers her later life, showing how her work as a juvenile court magistrate
inspired her to include children from troubled backgrounds in her later writing.

Copies of early editions of many of her books, and translations into other languages
of some popular works, are included in the display, together with two toy Bogwoppits
made by Ursula herself. Browsing copies of a selection of the books are also being
made available for visitors to enjoy.

The exhibition is now on show in the foyer of Hampshire Record Office in
Winchester, where it will remain until 28 June. The foyer is open on Mondays-
Fridays, 9am-5pm, and Saturdays 9am-4pm (closed 22-25 April, 29 April, 2 May and
30 May). It will then tour to Surrey History Centre in Woking from late July until theend of August, returning to Hampshire for showings at Petersfield Museum, 5 Sept-20Oct, and Eastleigh Museum in Nov-Dec, before heading north to Tewkesbury Library
in 2012.

A number of events have been arranged to complement the exhibition. The first
full biography of the author, Through the Magic Door: Ursula Moray Williams,
Gobbolino and the Little Wooden Horse, was published by Northumbria Press on the
same day that the Winchester exhibition opened. Its author, Colin Davison, who has
collected the material for the exhibition, will be giving a number of talks including a free half-hour lunchtime lecture in Hampshire Record Office at 1.15pm on Thursday 28 April, ‘Through the Magic Door: the extraordinary life and work of Ursula Moray Williams’ (no booking required). Colin will also be speaking at Surrey History Centre on 23 July and at Petersfield Museum on 24 October, and a number of children’s events are being planned, including the chance to make a collage, Ursula Moray Williams-style, at Petersfield Museum in half term week, 25-29 October.

A special evening has been arranged at Hampshire Record Office on Wednesday
11 May, 7pm-9pm. Colin Davison will speak in more detail about her links with
Hampshire, including North Stoneham, and Harry Willis Fleming will set this in the
context of the story of this mansion, built for his family in the first half of the 19th century. Light refreshments will be available, there will be a chance to meet two of Ursula Moray Williams’s sons, get copies of the biography signed by Colin Davison,and see an additional display. The evening costs £7.50 per person, and advance booking is essential, on 01962 846154.

More information about the events at Hampshire Record Office can be found
at www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/whatson-hro.htm or by phoning 01962 846154.
Surrey History Centre’s website is at www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistorycentre
and information about Petersfield and Eastleigh Museums can be found at
www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk and www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/eastleigh-museum

David Rymill
Hampshire Record Office
01962 846146 / 846154
david.rymill@hants.gov.uk

Anthony Browne at the Illustration Cupboard

An evening with Anthony Browne
Playing The Shape Game
Thursday 14th April 2011
5.30pm onwards

Anthony Browne will be in attendance at the gallery this Thursday from 5.30pm onwards to sign copies of his biography, Playing the Shape Game, written by his son Joe and published by Jonathan Cape. (£25)
He will be happy to dedicate books, meet and talk to fans and collectors. Families are most welcome and entrance is free. No booking is required for this event and refreshments will be served.

A showcase exhibition of Anthony Browne original illustration artwork will accompany this event, and all artwork will be available for purchase from the gallery.
Preview of this can be seen at www.illustrationcupboard.com
Signed books are sold at cover price.


Illustrationcupboard
22 Bury St
St James’s
London
SW1Y 6AL
+44 (0)207 976 1727
www.illustrationcupboard.com

From Jam Tarts to Jabberwockys

WONDERLAND COMES TO OXFORD Tea parties galore as Oxford – and the Red Queen, Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit, not to mention Alice herself, start to get ready for Alice’s Day 2011. This year’s brillig event takes place on Saturday July 9 with a host of activities planned in historic and world-class locations, many of them known to Lewis Carroll and the real Alice – from Christ Church and the Bodleian Library, to Oxford Castle and the Botanic Gardens.

Highlights will include an outdoor Jabberwocky performance by Mad Dogs theatre group, Mad Hatter’s tea parties, outdoor film screenings, colourful tales by leading storytellers, waterland walks along the River Thames – with White Rabbits and other Wonderland characters along the way. Alice enthusiasts young and old will enjoy a unique chance to view special exhibitions of Alice memorabilia, take part in panel discussions and listen to talks from distinguished experts – all in the city of the Dodo, where Lewis Carroll first told one of the best-loved children’s stories in the world.

More than a dozen Oxford organisations are involved in Alice’s Day, which is coordinated by the Story Museum. Director Kim Pickin said; “We are buzzing with ideas for Alice’s Day, but Tea will play a big part! We’re encouraging people to dress up for the day, bring a picnic and join in this family day, where once again nearly all events are free.”

The Story Museum will be announcing more surprises as plans progress. In the meantime, enthusiasts can enjoy a treasure trove of all things Alice and view pictures from previous years at www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice. See below for short listings entry.

Dr Who Script Competition for 9-11 year olds

To herald the new series of Doctor Who, BBC Learning and Doctor Who Confidential today announced Script To Screen, an exciting competition that will give one lucky team of school children the chance to write their own Doctor Who mini-adventure starring the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith.

To win this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, school children aged 9 to 11 years will be encouraged to collaborate on a three-minute script that takes the resident Time Lord on a new quest travelling through space and time inside the TARDIS.

The lucky winners will travel to the BBC's studios in Cardiff where they will see their script brought to life by the Doctor Who team and cast, including Matt Smith.

Children can be as creative and imaginative as they like in order to put together a story that's filled with all the excitement and adventure of the popular BBC One sci-fi drama.

The action-packed script must feature Matt Smith and can include one of four fearsome monsters/aliens from the show: Ood, Judoon, Cyberman or Weeping Angel, as well as a brand new human character to test the wits of the Doctor.

Tailored learning resources will be available on the BBC Learning website to help guide teachers and pupils through the process.

BAFTA winner and head writer at Doctor Who, Steven Moffat, will also offer his expert advice and helpful tips on how to pull together a stand-out script with memorable characters.

Steven Moffat said: "Doctor Who made me want to write. It made me fall in love in television, script-writing and storytelling, and led me by the hand to the best job in the world. It also made me want to defend the Earth from aliens but that hasn't come up so often.

"I know the power this show has to set young imaginations alight, because I've lived it, so I'm incredibly excited to be involved in this project. Plus it's never too early to start looking for your replacement."

The winning script will be chosen by Steven Moffat, Saul Nassé and executive producers of Doctor Who, Piers Wenger and Beth Willis.

Full details of how to enter the competition are available on bbc.co.uk/teachers.

Downloadable BBC Learning resources will be available from 23 April 2011 and the closing date for entries Monday 13 June 2011.

A Fantastic Bookshop

Salts Mill, Saltaire just outside Bradford is one of those places that never disappoints. Saltaire itself is a wonderful place and the Mill contains the most incredible number of David Hockney's work plus on the top floor some of his stage sets. And on the first floor there is this terrific bookshop. The vast majority of the books are not on shelves but on enormous mill tables, and it is almost impossible to leave without buying a book or two. For those interested in children's picture books the selection would put most shops to shame - and they are lucky enough to have sufficient space to show them properly. And then when you have finished looking and buying you can have an excellent lunch just beyond the bookshop, but on the same floor. There is a lift for those who find stairs difficult. And on the raised ground floor a good assortment of art books and materials surrounded by the most glorious array of vases and of course Hockneys. Further up the building there is a fish restaurant, and other extremely stylish shops. A real treat.

The Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition

Michelle Paver, the creator of Wolf Brother, launched the 2012
Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition on Saturday
26th March. It is the only prize of its kind, with the winner
being offered a worldwide publishing deal with Chicken House,
the independent-minded publishing company run by
Barry Cunningham OBE who is highly regarded for his ability
to spot and nurture new talent. The prize also includes an offer
of representation from top literary agency Christopher Little.
The aim of the competition is to find a talented new children's
author, and an exciting new novel. www.thetimes.co.uk/competitions

Scottish Book Trust Meet our Authors Programme

Each author is filmed (in front of a live audience of children) either reading from their books, answering questionings or chatting about becoming an author (for about 40 minutes) and the film is simultaneously broadcast live over the internet so that children in schools across the UK can watch for free. Last year we had an overall audience of 300,000 children taking part in the webcasts. They are really popular but Scottish Book Trust are still keen to let as many schools and parents as possible know that they are happening.
The authors for 2011 are as follows:
James Mayhew 12th May 2011http://james-mayhew-author-illustrator.blogspot.com/http://james-mayhew-author-illustrator.blogspot.com/>
Andy Stanton (focussing on reluctant readers)16th June 2011 http://www.mrgum.co.uk/books.htm <http://www.mrgum.co.uk/books.htm>
David Almond (focussing on creative writing)29th September 2011 http://www.davidalmond.com/ <http://www.davidalmond.com/>
Kjartan Poskitt (focussing on maths)1st December 2011 http://www.kjartan.co.uk/ <http://www.kjartan.co.uk/>
You might want to watch a recent Meet our Authors event that we did with Eoin Colfer (it’s really funny) to get an idea of what we do: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/podcasts/video/authors-live-with-eoin-colfer-full-session.

Library Cuts: Legal Challenge

The Campaign for the Book has launched a legal challenge over the widespread library closures, claiming culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has failed to comply with his duties under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act.
Author Alan Gibbons, campaign organiser, said he had instructed his solicitors to "pursue the campaign's concerns". He said: " I think it is vital that the courts examine the legality of the Secretary of State's approach on the provision of libraries in England and Wales.
"He has a duty to ensure that councils provide a 'comprehensive and efficient' service. I believe that he is failing in that duty."

Blue Peter Book of the Year 2011

The overall winner of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2011 is Dead Man’s Cove - the first in a series - follows the adventures of Laura Marlin, an 11-year-old amateur sleuth, as she departs her children’s home and embarks on a new life with her mysterious uncle in St Ives. Packed with all of the ingredients of a classic British adventure novel, mixed in with modern-day themes, the book triumphed in the Favourite Story category before securing the ultimate accolade of Blue Peter Book of the Year 2011.
The book’s author, Lauren St John, was born in Rhodesia, living on a private game reserve until she was 16. She is also the author of the bestselling The White Giraffe series and has worked as golf correspondent for The Sunday Times. She now lives in London.
The enormously popular and influential Blue Peter Book Awards have been recognising and celebrating the best authors, the most creative illustrators and the greatest reads for children since 2000.
There are three categories of awards: Best Book with Facts, Most Fun Story with Pictures and Favourite Story. The favourite of the three is voted Blue Peter Book of the Year.
The category winners are:
Best Book with Facts:
Do Igloos Have Loos? by Mitchell Symons (Doubleday)
Most Fun Story with Pictures:
Lunatics and Luck (The Raven Mysteries) by Marcus Sedgwick, illustrated by PeteWilliamson (Orion Children’s Books)
Favourite Story:
Dead Man's Cove (A Laura Marlin Mystery) by Lauren St John (Orion Children’s Books)
The winning author and illustrator in each category were awarded a special Blue Peter Book Award Trophy.
The final nine books were judged by a selection of young Blue Peter viewers, who decided the winners in each category and, from these, selected the overall winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year.
Lauren St John was interviewed in Carousel issue 43 (back copies available from Carousel).

Divine Poetry Competition

Acclaimed author Meg Rosoff joined Divine & Christian Aid to judge this year’s nationwide Divine Poetry Competition Divine Chocolate, the chocolate company owned by cocoa farmers, is delighted to announce the winners of the ninth national Divine Poetry Competition, held in association with Christian Aid. The quality of poems this year was particularly high making for a tough selection process. The judging panel was headed by Meg Rosoff, author of the critically acclaimed novel How I Live Now. Thousands of budding poets of all ages from all over the UK embraced this year’s theme: From Bean to Bar. Videos of Meg reading out the winning poems can be found on the Divine website. Nine years of fantastic poems about cocoa, farmers, chocolate and Fairtrade means they have a wonderful collection.

Very Short Story Competition

CREATING STORIES IN 247 WORDS Bloomsbury’s VERY short story competition for young writers!
247tales.com is an online writing competition from Bloomsbury that challenges young writers to create stories using only 247 words or less. Launched in 2009 the competition has proved very popular, with more stories being entered month on month. In 2010 there were over 100 entries each month showing there is a lot of potential in our young writers.
In 2011, the competition is back with a new look website, thrilling stories and inspiring topics. Each month a different Bloomsbury author will pen a 247tale on a given theme. It is then over to the UK’s budding young writers aged between 10 and 16 to create their own miniature masterpiece.
One winner will be chosen each month and they will have their 247tale featured on the website as well winning a selection of books and a framed copy of their story. Ten runners-up will get a signed copy of the latest book from that month's featured author, and their story will appear in the 247Library section of the website.
The competition launches at 2:47pm on World Book Day (Thursday 3rd March) with a 247tale from new author Jim Carrington on the theme of The Money. Rules and details of how to enter are on the site - www.247tales.com. This year the site has been re-launched in a blog format to encourage entrants to comment on the work, talk about short stories and become part of a 247tales community. Authors taking part in 2011 are Celia Rees, Angie Sage, Cathy MacPhail, Alyxandra Harvey, Irfan Master, B.R. Collins and Isobelle Carmody. www.247tales.com

Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2012

John Burningham and Philip Pullman have been nominated by IBBY UK for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Awards which are given to “great authors and illustrators who have made an outstanding contribution to children’s literature”. Regarded as the equivalent of Nobel Prizes, they are the leading international awards in the fields of writing and illustrating for children and young people. In their fifty year history they have been won by some of the great names in children’s literature, including Britain’s Anthony Browne, Aidan Chambers, Quentin Blake, and most recently, David Almond.
John Burningham has been writing and illustrating picture books for more than forty years and has produced a number of classic titles including Borka: the Adventures of a Goose with No Feathers and Mr Gumpy’s Outing, both of which won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1963 and 1970 respectively.
Philip Pullman’s first book, The Ruby in the Smoke, was published in 1985 and since then he has gone on to write a number of significant titles including the His Dark Materials trilogy the first volume of which, Northern Lights, won the Carnegie Medal in 1995. In 2005 he was presented with the International Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award which is given to authors in recognition of their entire literary output.
Nominations have now closed from more than 70 IBBY national sections and will be sent to the International Jury when it meets at the Bologna Book Fair next month. A detailed dossier for all the nominated authors and illustrators will then be prepared by each national section with a closing date for the end of June this year. The final announcement of the winners will be made at the Bologna Book Fair in 2012 and the Awards will be presented atthe IBBY International Congress which is being held in London in August of that year.
IBBY is a worldwide non-profit making organisation dedicated to bringing children and books together

Red House Children's Book Award

Children nationwide are now invited to vote for their favourite of the ten shortlisted books. The category winners and the author of the best children’s book published in 2010 will be announced at the Award Presentation Ceremony which takes place at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham on 11th June 2011. A dedicated website www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk showcases all the shortlisted titles and featured authors. Any child can vote for their favourite book until 21st May 2011. The full shortlist for the Red House Children’s Book Award 2011 is as follows: Books for Younger Children Gilbert the Hero – Jane Clarke and Charles Fuge (Simon & Schuster)Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza – Holly Clifton-Brown (Andersen Press)Yuck! That’s not a Monster! – Angela McAllister and Alison Edgson (Little Tiger Press)Dragon Stew – Steve Smallman and Lee Wildish (Little Tiger Press) Books for Younger Readers The Great Hamster Massacre – Katie Davies (Simon and Schuster)Time Train to the Blitz – Sophie McKenzie (Usborne Books)Shadow – Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins) Books for Older Readers Trash – Andy Mulligan (David Fickling Books)The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid – Rick Riordan (Puffin)TimeRiders – Alex Scarrow (Puffin)
The Book Award is organised by the Federation of Children's Book Groups.

World Book Day, in aid of Book Aid International.

World Book Day is an opportunity for people to celebrate the education, imagination and information that books provide us all with. There are a whole host of events and activities you can get involved with, whatever your age. They include Meet Talk Give (http://www.bookaid.org/cms.cgi/site/getinvolved/adultreaders2011.htm), an easy fundraising initiative that anyone can follow with their friends or book group. Or there are the ten new books in the Quick Reads series to try, from which proceeds go to World Book Day.
So where's the best place to start finding out more? Take a look at Book Aid International's blog (http://bookaidinternationalblog.wordpress.com) for a start.

Read It Again shortlist

The shortlist for the sixth "Read it Again!" Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Award has just been announced.
The award is for a first time picture book where the story and pictures are the work of one individual.
Between World Book Day and mid June, thousands of Cambridgeshirechildren in schools, libraries and reading groups will be reading and discussing the 8 books on the list and then voting for their favourite.
The winner will be announced at a special award ceremony in late June/early July.
Short List
"Immi" by Karin Littlewood [Gullane]"A Bit Lost" by Chris Haughton [Walker]"Birdsong" by Ellie Sandall [Egmont]"Not Me!" by Nicola Killen [Walker]"Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza" by Holly CliftonBrown.[Andersen]"Magpie's Treasure" by Kate Slater [Andersen]"The Talent Show" by Jo Hodgkinson [Andersen]"The Wychwood Fairies" by Faye Durston.[Macmillan]

Royal Mail Awards 2010

Julia Donaldson, Barry Hutchison and Catherine MacPhail have been named as this year’s winners of the 2010 Royal Mail Awards, Scotland’s largest Children’s Book Prize (each winner receives £3,000 ) which is voted for exclusively by Scottish children themselves. The winners were announced today during a special circus themed ceremony at Glasgow’s Tramway Theatre, attended by 500 young people from all over Scotland. Best-selling author Julia Donaldson won the Early Years (Bookbug) category (0-7) for her picture book What the Ladybird Heard ((Macmillan), which is illustrated by Lydia Monks. Julia said: “I am absolutely thrilled that What the Ladybird Heard has won - especially as it's the fourth time I've been shortlisted, so I have been saved from despair! These are such worthwhile - and fun - book awards and I'd like to offer a big thank you to Scottish Book Trust and the Royal Mail, to my brilliant illustrator Lydia Monks, to the other authors and illustrators, and especially to the children who took part (even the ones who voted for the other books!)” Debut young-fiction author Barry Hutchison won the Younger Readers category (8-11) for his first novel, Invisible Fiends – Mr Mumbles (Harper Collins). He said: “When I found out that my first book was shortlisted for the award, I was shocked and delighted in about equal measures. I’ve been practicing my ‘gracious runner-up’ face for months now, fully expecting not to win. So to find out that Mr Mumbles has taken the prize was an absolutely brilliant surprise!” Popular teenage fiction author Catherine MacPhail won the Older Readers category (12-16) for Grass (Bloomsbury). A previous winner of the Royal Mail Awards in 2006, Catherine commented: “To win this wonderful award once was exciting enough, but to win it twice, I still can't quite believe it's true. It's a mistake, someone is going to come up and snatch it from me. But they won't get it. It's mine! And I am so proud that so many young people voted for Grass, such a simple story about such an ordinary boy. Delighted doesn't come close to describing how I feel."

World Book Day

World Book Day is an opportunity for people to celebrate the education, imagination and information that books can provide.

There are a whole host of events and activities you can get involved with, whatever your age. They include Meet Talk Give (http://www.bookaid.org/cms.cgi/site/getinvolved/adultreaders2011.htm), an easy fundraising initiative that anyone can follow with their friends or book group. Or there are the ten new books in the Quick Reads series to try, from which proceeds go to World Book Day.

Take a look at Book Aid International's blog (http://bookaidinternationalblog.wordpress.com/).

Polly Dunbar Exhibition

The Picture Book World of Polly Dunbar an exhibition of artwork presented by Children’s Book Illustrationat Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4QW 17th – 24th March 2011
Specialist online gallery, Children’s Book Illustration, is staging an exhibition of artwork by a current star in children’s book illustration, Polly Dunbar, at Daunt Books. Featuring over 60 original illustrations from such favourites as Penguin, My Dad’s a Birdman, Here’s a LittlePoem and Tilly and Friends amongst others. This is the first time so much of Polly’s artwork will be on public display and available for purchase from the exhibition itself and online athttp://www.childrensbookillustration.com/.
Meet Polly Dunbar and have your books signed on Saturday 19th March, 10.30 – 12.30 and2.30 – 4.30. Free entry. Further information from http://www.childrensbookillustration.com/

The illustration is Penguin bit Ben on the nose. 170mm x 170mm. Original unpublished artwork from Penguin, written and illustrated by Polly Dunbar. Published by Walker Books. Framed, £450. Penguin has won numerous awards including the Book Trust Early Year's Award 2007, the Nestle Silver Children's Book Prize 2007, the Practical Pre-School Award 2007, the Red House Children's Book of the Year Award 2008 and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

SITA BRAHMACHARI SCOOPS WATERSTONE’S CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE

Debut author Sita Brahmachari has won one of the most valuable and prestigious children’s book awards in the country for her striking coming-of-age novel about life, death, friendship and love. Artichoke Hearts was announced as the winner of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize 2011 by Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne at an evening ceremony at Waterstone’s Piccadilly, on Wednesday 9th February. Anthony Browne described Artichoke Hearts as “a beautifully written book about family, friendship, grief and hope, which made me laugh and cry – sometimes at the same time.” Inspired by the author’s ‘beautiful and bohemian’ mother-in-law, whose long battle with cancer was heartbreaking for her family, Brahmachari started writing the book as a way of dealing with her grief. Artichoke Hearts was praised by the judging panel for the way it tackles the issue of death head on, treating it as part of the cycle of life and of growing up, and for the “effortless way in which it shows how inspiring grandparents and the older generation can be for children.”

Overheard

Girl aged around ten in the Aldeburgh Bookshop

Mother "Are there too many books for you to choose"

Girl "No, I'm just fed up with all those books about magic"

Publishers please note!

Bookbug funding

Government Announces £1.05 million for Bookbug Programme
The Scottish Government today announced funding of £1.05 million to Scottish Book Trust to enable it to continue its highly successful Bookbug early years book sharing programme in 2011-12. The Bookbug programme distributes 240,000 free packs of books to young children and runs free Bookbug song and rhyme sessions in libraries and other venues all over Scotland. It also promotes best practice for early years professionals in Scotland and provides valuable support to parents encouraging them to share books. The pledge of continued funding to the Bookbug programme will ensure that despite tough economic circumstances, young children in Scotland will not lose out these vital early years experiences. Announcing the funding today, Children's Minister Adam Ingram said:"Evidence shows that reading with a child can make a real difference to their development and help lay strong foundations for their future learning. By helping our children enjoy reading during those early years we can also develop a love of books which can last a lifetime.We want to maintain [Bookbug’s] good work and ensure that despite the tough economic times facing us all - and regardless of what decisions are taken over equivalent programmes in England - that we continue to do what we can with Scottish Book Trust to promote and encourage reading among our children."
The provision of the funding was announced following the passing of the Scottish Government's budget for next year. Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said:"We recognise the valuable contribution Scottish Book Trust is making through its Bookbug programme. As well as being great fun for children, it is helping to equip them with the literacy and creative skills they need to succeed. By instilling an early love of books and reading, it is also helping to inspire our next generation of writers and grow Scotland's rich literary landscape."
Marc Lambert, CEO of the Scottish Book Trust, said:"The renewal of Scottish Government support for this universal programme is seriously brilliant news for all children, families and carers right across the length and breadth of Scotland. It will also be hugely welcomed by library services, NHS Health Visitors, educators and all those who recognise that investment in Early Years represents a vital and effective contribution to individual lives, society as a whole, and the future of this country.”

Save Our Libraries Day in Edinburgh

90 people gathered outside the Scottish Parliament building on Saturday morning led by writers Theresa Breslin and Julia Donaldson. They were joinedby many writers including Nicola Morgan, Keith Gray and Vivian French as well as others from the children's book world and readers ranging from a baby to septuagenarians! Theresa Breslin received over 700 e-mails when, just 4 days ago, she wrote of her concerns for the closures of schools and library services throughout the UK. A former librarian, she said '...the cuts to book budgets, library opening hours, mobile services, branches and the drastic and unnecessary deletion of professional posts strike at those most in need of a library service and those least able to protest against the cuts in the service....'The petition, containing the first 100 names plus a large portrait of the founder of modern libraries and fellow Scot, Andrew Carnegie was handed into Parliament. Readings from favourite books then took place including a small 6 year old girl, a dad holding his 6 week old's board book, Gavin MacDougall, a publisher as well as Julia and Theresa. This protest took place on a UK-wide Day of Protest against library closures when thousands gathered to protest again Government plans to reduce or delete library services.
Valerie Bierman

Libraries Saturday 5 February

Much has been written in the press about the threat to libraries...central government has cut funds to the counties who in turn are looking at ways to make savings. Here in Suffolk 29 libraries are under threat - the local council would possibly call it a volunteering opportunity - and the rural subsidised bus service may be decimated. My local library, Halesworth, is not under threat but pretty much all the ones surrounding it are. There was a good turn out today of people gathering signatures against the closures. The library was being used in a fairly typical fashion (5 lads - some with books - chatting on the sofas, some on the computers, toddlers on cushions hearing a story, all ages browsing and borrowing from the not over well stocked shelves - perhaps there has been a supportive surge in borrowing - a group of older people reading newspapers, a couple of meetings taking place upstairs; altogether a quietly pleasant, positive place to spend time). A place of value I think. Enid Stephenson ps. 200 protestors in the small town of Leiston, a large number in Bungay and at other places across Suffolk showed that people do appreciate public libraries and the professional staff.

How to find out about new authors

this I think from a terrific indep. bookshop in New England (Northshire) goes to the heart of the problem:

With the impending bankruptcy of Borders, Barnes & Noble laying off 50 of its core buying staff, and indie bookstores continuing to be challenged ,it is clear that there will be many fewer new books on shelves across the country in the coming years. This brings up an interesting question - how will books be discovered in the future? According to new research by the Codex Group, over 28% of titles are discovered in bookstores. Add in communications and advertising from bookstores and the number is much higher (browsing internet booksellers was 6%). The impact of physical bookstores on book sales is larger than one would think in this digital age.So, as the bricks & mortar bookstores disappear or shrink, the big challenge for authors and publishers is how to get noticed. And the challenge for readers will be how to discover great new books. You just can't replace the serendipity of browsing in a well stocked store with fine booksellers making recommendations.

So support your local bookshop where and when you can.

NE Teenage Book Award

Keren David has won the 2010 North East Teenage Book Award with her debut novel When I Was Joe. Receiving the award Keren David said: ‘I am completely thrilled to win, especially with such fabulous books on the shortlist.’For more information about the award see http://northeastteenagebookaward.wordpress.com/)

HayFever

Hay Festival and BBC Radio 2 launch competition to encourage children’s literacy Hay Fever – the family programme at Hay Festival – and BBC Radio 2 have teamed up and are very pleased to announce a new and exciting story competition for children aged under 13.
500 WORDS was launched this morning by Chris Evans on his Breakfast Show. Chris Evans will be joined by some of the best known and best loved names from the world of literature in picking the winners.
The judges will be:The 2010 Man Booker Prize-winner Howard JacobsonDame Jacqueline Wilson, former Children's Laureate and author of The Story of Tracy BeakerLittle Britain star and author of Billionaire Boy David WalliamsAnthony Horowitz, award-winning screenwriter and author of the Alex Rider seriesOliver Jeffers, author of global best-selling picture books including How To Catch A Star, Lost And Found and Up And Down
Chris Evans is also calling all teachers to help judge the competition – if you are a teacher and would like to be involved, get in touch here.
Children are asked to write a 500-word story based on any made-up subject they choose and submit it through the BBC Radio 2 website. The deadline for entries is 3 March 2011 – World Book Day.
Fifty chosen finalists will be invited with their families to The Telegraph Hay Festival in June as special guests, where they will watch Chris Evans live broadcast his BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show live to the nation. Five winners will receive book tokens and a wonderful range of books for their school library.

London's Southbank Children's Festival Feb 2011

IMAGINE ZOMBIES, BALLERINAS AND WILD ROCK GIGS… SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 10 INSPIRATIONAL YEARS IN 2011 Saturday 12 – Sunday 27 February 2011, Southbank Centre Readings and performances by Charlie Higson, Jeremy Strong and Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne World Exclusive Preview Screenings of The Flying Machine 3D starring Heather Graham and Lang Lang Dan Zanes’ rock gigs for kids returns to Queen Elizabeth HallArlene Phillips reads from her new book and introduces a ballroom dance class Imagine’s favourite stand-up comedian James Campbell returnsSpecial concert by 12 Cellos of the Berliner Philharmoniker Shoebox Living exhibition created by children from Kids Company Comic-themed Clore Ballroom plus free events and chances to join in Children ‘Takeover’ running the Festival for a day Imagine, Southbank Centre’s inspirational children’s festival – one of the most diverse in the UK – returns for the 10th year with an unbeatable mix of readings and storytelling by favourite children’s authors and poets and a full programme of music, dance, comedy, film and performance. Taking over Southbank Centre’s family-friendly venues and spaces during the February half-term, Imagine is designed for children aged five to 11, with some of the performances and activities also suitable for younger children.

Marsh Award 2011

LETTERS TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE Wins the Marsh Award 2011. Written by Toon Tellegen, translated from the original Dutch edition by Martin Cleaver, illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg and published by Boxer Books. The small, independent Children's book publisher based in London, celebrating their fifth year in publishing, Boxer Books is justly proud to be recognised by The Marsh award for the best children's book in translation 2011. Toon Tellegen is an extraordinary author and while a huge seller in many parts of the world from his native Netherlands to France and Russia - he is now available for the first time in English. Published by Boxer Books UK and US.

Dick King-Smith

News of the death of Dick King-Smith came in early January. Full obituaries appeared in the national press - particularly interesting ones in the Independent (Nicholas Tucker) and The Guardian (Julia Eccleshare) appeared on 6 January. We have fond memories of him at Carousel and here is an article from the autumn edition of the 1999 Carousel online

More Dickens Schools Competition

To celebrate the bi-centenary of Charles Dickens’ birth in 1812, the Dickens Fellowship and the English Association announce the More Dickens Competition.A first prize of £500 will be awarded for an extended class project based on one of Dickens’ works. The runner up will receive £250. The competition is open to classes of all ages in primary schools in the UK and can be completed at any time during 2011—the closing date for entries is January 1st, 2012.
Projects may link with regular literacy and numeracy work and include other areas of the curriculum, for example, art, geography, history, music, science. The judges will be looking for originality and lively outcomes, but are also very much interested in hearing about the teaching and learning processes that are part of everyday good practice.
Notes for Guidance and Registration Forms are available from the English Association— go to www.le.ac.uk/engassoc/prizes/moredickens.html

Booktrust, a hopeful report

Confused message...or change of heart?
Last week Booktrust was told by the Department for Education that funding for bookgifting programmes in England - Bookstart, Booktime and Booked Up - would be cut by 100% from 1 April 2011.
But Booktrust chief executive Viv Bird told BBC News that, in a conversation on Sunday morning, Education Secretary Michael Gove had "committed his support for Booktrust book-gifting programmes so that every child will continue to have access to the gift of a book".
She said that the charity would hold talks with the government in the new year about the level of continued public funding.
A joint statement from the DfE and Booktrust said the department would "continue to fund Booktrust book-gifting programmes in the future".
It said: "Although the current contract will end in April, the department are talking to Booktrust about how to develop a new programme which will ensure that every child can enjoy the gift of books at crucial moments in their lives while ensuring we develop an even more effective way of supporting the most disadvantaged families to read together."
The book-gifting schemes have previously been universal, including families that can afford to buy books, because the charity says targeted programmes struggle to reach all families most in need.
Booktrust says that, through support by publishing companies, it has been able to generate another £4 for every £1 of government money.

House of Illustration news

House of Illustration raises £59,000 at Sotheby's
(from the House of Illustrations news) We’re delighted to announce that last week’s English Literature, History and Children’s Books and Illustrations sale at Sotheby’s raised £59,000 for the House of Illustration.
Some 28 leading contemporary illustrators donated works to the auction to benefit the House of Illustration, including Eric Carle, Raymond Briggs, Oliver Jeffers, Quentin Blake, Axel Scheffler, Sara Fanelli and Peter Brookes.The works were exhibited prior to the auction in the Colonnade Gallery at Sotheby’s, alongside pieces from private collections by Beatrix Potter, E.H. Shepard, Edmund Dulac and Pauline Baynes which formed a special ‘Art of Illustration’ exhibition.
A late entry to the sale were two illustrations from 'A Christmas Carol’, drawn by Quentin Blake at the sale’s private view earlier that week. In a very special festive performance, House of Illustration Ambassador Peter Capaldi read excerpts from Dickens’s novel, while Quentin Blake illustrated Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present live.We’d like to thank everyone at Sotheby’s, John Jones, and all the illustrators who contributed works to the sale.

Bookstart funding crisis

Booktrust is to lose all government funding for its bookgifting programmes in England from 1st April next year.
The book charity's bookgifting programmes, Bookstart, Booktime and Booked Up, received £13m from the Department for Education last year. This sum was used to generate a further £56m-worth of sponsorship from publishing partners and corporate sponsors.Booktrust chief executive Viv Bird said: "We are immensely surprised and disappointed by this decision and know that families, teachers, librarians, health visitors, our publishing partners and many others up and down the country will be sharing these feelings." She added: "We passionately believe in these programmes and the proven extraordinary transformative power of reading for pleasure. We will be consulting with our partners and exploring alternative funding opportunities to do our utmost to make sure that every child continues to be given the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of books."Bookstart is a national programme that gives a free pack of books to babies, and guidance materials to parents and carers. Booktime promotes reading aloud with children, and Booked Up aims to give a free book to every child starting secondary school in England.
Booktrust stressed that the cut applies to England only.

The former children's laureate Michael Rosen has expressed his utter dismay at the news.

The Guardian has covered it in its third leader today, 23 December.

Old Possum's Children's Poetry Competition

“A delight to witness very young writers discovering the power and the joy of language.”*
The judges of the Old Possum’s Children’s Poetry Competition, led by Chair Roger McGough, have selected twelve children as winners of the Competition, with a further eight receiving high commendations. The judges awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes to children in two age groups (7-8 and 9-11).
This international Poetry Competition, now in its fifth year, is run by the Children’s Poetry Bookshelf, a poetry book club for young people run by the Poetry Book Society. To link with National Poetry Day on Thursday 7 October, children aged 7-11 were invited to submit poems on the theme of ‘Home’.
The partnership with the British Council boosted entries to the ‘International Learners’ category for children based outside the UK who are learning English as a foreign or second language. In total, well over 3,000 entries were received from schools and individual children worldwide, nearly a quarter of which were from 31 countries other than the UK.
*Roger McGough said:
“’Home' proved to be a fruitful subject for this year's crop of young poets and the judges relished those poems in which the child's imagination was let loose. More than attention to domestic detail, the sounds and smells, the furnishings, the judges relished those poems in which the child's imagination was let loose. Above all, it was a delight to witness very young writers discovering the power and the joy of language.”
The CPB held a wonderful gala celebration and prize-giving on Friday 10 December at the Drill Hall theatre in London, hosted by poets Roger McGough and James Carter, both of whom were also judges of the competition. The winning young poets were presented with their cash and book prizes and read their poems to an enthralled audience of friends, family, teachers and children from local schools. A booklet containing the children’s winning poems was given to every audience member. The winning poems are featured on the Children’s Poetry Bookshelf website at http://www.childrenspoetrybookshelf.co.uk/ and on the British Council’s website at http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/your-turn.
The Old Possum’s Children’s Poetry Competition is generously supported by Old Possum’s Practical Trust.

from Public Libraries News

Saturday, 11 December 2010

800 to 1000 libraries may be under threat.
311 libraries plus 20 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed. Being the list below of individual authorities represents around one-third of those in the UK, that could mean perhaps 800 to 1000 libraries could be under threat when all budget proposals are announced*. Tim Coates today announced he was in "despair" at this news. CILIP have been active behind the scenes and have promised action in the next week to publicise the plight of public libraries. Ed Vaizey, the minister responsible for libraries has written this week to each council to remind them that libraries are a statutory service. Most councils decide their budgets for 2011/12 in February so, if you too are concerned by a proposed cut in funding for libraries in your authority, there is not much time left to let your councillor/MP/Minister know.*Thanks to Desmond Clarke for pointing this out.
Birmingham - Tower Hill library may close, protests begin - Walsall Advertiser
Doncaster - reaction to the cuts - Save Doncaster Libraries
Dorset - Public consultation on closure of 20 (out of 34) libraries - Dorset Echo
Gloucestershire - campaign to save Matson Library - This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire - local council meetings fail to sell the message of closures - Friends of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire - deathblow to libraries? - Ruscombe Green
Gloucestershire - messages of support for libraries, inc. video - Friends of Gloucestershire
Highland - Wick Library to close, new one in school outside of town centre - John O'Groats Journal
Leicestershire - privatisation for libraries and/or co-location - Lutterworth Mail
Leicestershire - Concern at cuts - BBC
North Yorkshire - Gargrave and Grassington could be community-run, only big towns to have a library - Craven Herald and Pioneer
Oxfordshire - the news on libraries is awful so how bad will cuts be for other services? - Oxford Mail
Oxfordshire - more cuts to be announced (goodbye Oxford Literary Festival?) - BBC
Oxfordshire - Campaigners, including MP and Phllip Pullman, protest at cuts - Oxford Mail
Sandwell - doing well - Halesownen News (yippee!)
Wandsworth - your chance to take part in consultation - Wandsworth Council
Warrington - Phone Box as Library - Warrington GuardianWest Sussex - Cuts to libraries to be discussed next week - Argus.
This article suggests at least some libraries will be either closed or given to volunteers - Chichester Observer.
Wigan - did you know our library is in danger of closing? - Standish Talk
MLA "It's not the libraries that matter" Future Libraries Programme Newsletter - MLA
Tim Coates despairs - Good Library Blog
Reading Agency shows power of youth volunteering in libraries - Alan Gibbons
Arts Council (soon to be responsible for libraries) under fire - London Evening Standard
Plea for councillors not to cave into "middle class lobbyists" in favour of libraries - Public Finance
Councils to be told how much their funding will be cut early next week - Daily Telegraph - libraries mentioned several times in article as amongst those services most likely to close.
Eric Pickles seems more concerned about Winterval than the cuts - Guardian
Localism Bill - closed library? community groups may get first right of refusal on the building - BBCChoose a library for the Guardian to look at and, possibly, save - Guardian - A significant proportion of the comments after the article are in favour of closing libraries.
Kate Mosse in defence of libraries - Guardian
Aberdeenshire - some
Angus - 4 libraries closed this year (April) to be possibly replaced by a mobile
Argyll and Bute - 3 libraries and mobile library.Barking and Dagenham - 5
Barnet - some - public consultation hereBarnsley - up to 8Bedfordshire - 1 mobile to go Birmingham - 40
Bolton - Up to 8
Brent - 6 (out of 12)
Bristol - some may be staffed by volunteers
Buckinghamshire - up to 14 to close or be staffed by volunteers
Cambridgeshire - some
Camden - several plus one mobile library
(£2 million cut)Central Bedfordshire - one mobile library to go
Cornwall - up to 23
Croydon - 1 (local studies)
Devon - (mobile stops cut)
Doncaster - 13,
(may also be taken out of council control)Dorset - up to 20 (out of 34) to close or be given to community groups
Dumfries - 7
Flintshire - 5
and at least one mobileGloucestershire - Up to 25 and 6 mobiles - 11 to close or go to volunteers. 7 to close if they don't find a partner. A further 11 reduced to 3.5 hours a week (this is just a small figure I include them under "closed"), 6 mobile libraries to go. Hampshire - (58 FTE jobs to go)
(and mobile library review)
(libraries merged with IT/property etc)Harrow - (34 FTE to go)
Hartlepool - 1 confirmed to close (another to merge with community centre, all library's hours cut)
Hertfordshire - (opening hours to be cut by one third - from 2236 hours down to 1575) - At least one library (Borehamwood) faces a 40% cut
Highland - (Wick Library to close and merge with school library)
Hounslow - (12 FTE to go, 1 IT skills suite closed)
Isle of Wight - up to 10 (out of 11)http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4018469601482369709
Kirklees - at least 1
Leeds - Up to 20 (out of 52)
Leicestershire - all libraries could be privatised, put to trust or shared
(merge of lending/reference- 14 FTE jobs lost)
Lewisham - 5
Milton Keynes - 2
Newport - 7
Northumberland - some
North Norfolk - some (c. £1m reduction)
North Somerset - 1 closed, 2 proposed.
Weston Mercury updateNorth Yorkshire - 24 to close or be staffed by volunteers, 9 mobiles to go off road.
Nottingham - (80 FTE jobs to go, 75% off bookfund,
30 libraries have less opening hours)
Oldham - (increase in volunteers, merging, cuts)
Oxfordshire - 20 - list of those under threat
hereRedbridge - 5 out of 12 may close, another may relocate.
Renfrewshire - (2 libraries to move into smaller sites in community centres)
Richmond - 1
Rochdale - (some library managers to to go in first phase of cuts)
Sefton - 3
Sheffield - (30% cut expected)
Shropshire - 1 (reference library to merge with central library)
Somerset - several. 7 libraries have reduced opening hours until decision made/jobs freeze.
Stoke - 2 and 1 mobile library,
(ends RNIB service)
Suffolk - up to 2
Tower Hamlets - (staff made to reapply for their own jobs -23 library staff replaced)
Wakefield - "several"
Walsall - at least 8 (30 FTE).
More details here Wandsworth - 1 plus reduction in hours in others
Warrington - 2 and 1 mobile library
West Sussex - Some (5 FTE lost, some librarians pay reduced to library assistant)
Wigan - Up to 15 out of 17
(£1.1m cut off £4m budget)Wiltshire - (26 FTE posts to go inc. 9 out of 13 community librarians)
Posted 11 Dec ...www.publiclibrariesnews.blogspot.com

The Blue Peter Book Awards 2011 shortlist

Best Book with Facts:
Do Igloos Have Loos? by Mitchell Symons (Doubleday)
How the World Works by Christiane Dorion, illustrated by Beverley Young, pop-ups designed by Andy Mansfield (Templar Publishing)
What You Need To Know Now: The World in Facts, Stats, and Graphics by Joe Fullman, Ian Graham, Sally Regan and Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Sheila Collins, Mik Gates, Jim Green, Katie Knutton, Phillip Letsu and Hoa Luc (Dorling Kindersley)
Most Fun Story with Pictures:
Alienography by Chris Riddell (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman (Egmont)
Lunatics and Luck (The Raven Mysteries) by Marcus Sedgwick, illustrated by Pete Williamson (Orion Children’s Books)
Favourite Stories:
Dead Man's Cove (A Laura Marlin Mystery) by Lauren St John (Orion Children’s Books)
A Web of Air (Mortal Engines) by Philip Reeve (Scholastic Children’s Books)
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay (David Fickling Books)
The final nine books will now be judged by a selection of young Blue Peter viewers. They will decide the winners in each category and the overall winner of Blue Peter Book of the Year 2011 which will be announced in March 2011.

Campaign for the Book : open letter

(Contact Alan Gibbons: mygibbo@gmail.com
Mobile: 07889981739)
Open letter to Jeremy Hunt MP and Ed Vaizey MP,
Ministers at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport
Dear Jeremy Hunt and Ed Vaizey,
Library users and staff across the country are increasingly concerned at the implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Over 250 library closures have been announced. Some, for example those in Oxfordshire and Lewisham, are in areas involved in the pilot of the Future Libraries Programme which promised: “A strong library service, based around the needs of local people, can play a key role in our ambitions to build the Big Society by providing safe and inclusive spaces for people to read, learn and access a range of community services.”When the then Secretary of State Andy Burnham hesitated over halting Wirral’s attempted closure of half its libraries just over a year ago, Ed Vaizey said: "If Andy Burnham is not prepared to intervene
when library provision is slashed in a local authority such as the Wirral, it is clear that he is gnoring his responsibilities as secretary of state.” Andy Burnham did, of course, change his mind under pressure after several months. Now cuts approaching the scale of those in the Wirral are
being repeated across the country, not only in Oxfordshire and Lewisham, but Buckinghamshire, Nottinghamshire, Leeds, Brent, Gloucestershire and many, many more. Ed Vaizey has written to councils reminding them of their duty under the 1964 Libraries and Museums Act to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service. It is becoming commonplace for councils to close up to half their library branch networks. It would be inconsistent if the DCMS did not superintend councils acting as unjustifiably as Wirral, preventing the slashing of services. We call on the DCMS not to ignore its responsibilities. We ask you to act in the spirit of the 1964 Act and prevent councils inflicting cuts which amount to cultural vandalism.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Gibbons
Organiser, the Campaign for the Book
The following authors, illustrators, poets, publishers, librarians, teachers, journalists, agents, screenwriters, translators, film producers and general readers have signed the petition:
Philip Pullman, Kate Mosse, Michael Holroyd, Peter Dickinson, Barry Cryer, Carol Ann Duffy,
Bonnie Greer, Kathy Lette
“Closing our libraries will make us a nation of numbskulls – theIlliterati.” Kathy Lette.
Julia Donaldson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Michael Rosen, Jackie Kay, Kwei Armah, Malorie Blackman, Beverley Naidoo, Joan Bakewell, Terry Jones, Lisa Appignanesi, President English PEN, Mark Le Fanu, Society of Authors, Simon Brett, Anne Chisholm, Chair, Royal Society of Literature, Tricia Adams, Director, School Library Association, Biddy Fisher, Cilip President,
Duncan Wright, School Librarian of the Year, 2010, Gillian Cross, Kevin Crossley-Holland, Nicola Morgan,Tim Bowler, Christine Blower, General Secretary, National Union of Teachers, Tony Bradman, David Nicholls, Celia Rees, Jeremy Strong, Korky Paul, Bali Rai, Bernard Ashley
AND MANY HUNDREDS MORE including the Carousel team.

Ramion Children's Story Collection Competition

The Ramion competition which was run Carousel is now closed. Congratulations to Lisa Backhouse, who has won the 14 Ramion stories, signed and dedicated to her by Frank Hinks.

KIDS LIT QUIZ

There was fun and excitement at the Kids Lit Quiz Finals™, held in Oxford Town Hall on 30 November, when the cream of our young readers came together from 13 regions around the country (extreme weather conditions prevented 2 teams from joining in) to compete for the Kids' Lit Quiz™ coveted cup.
Children’s author, actor and comedian Charlie Higson, creator of the Young Bond series and new zombie thriller series The Enemy, led almost 30 children’s authors to congratulate the winners from the regions and to support them as they answered questions on children's literature put to them by KLQ's dynamic quizmaster, Wayne Mills.
The atmosphere at a Kids’ Lit Quiz™ heat has been compared to “a pub quiz without the beer”, marked by high stakes – the teams knew that the UK winners will travel to New Zealand next July for a 20th BIRTHDAY INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION QUIZ. Half way through the quiz, Wayne Mills announced that to mark the special anniversary the runners-up would also win the chance to compete in New Zealand. This was fortunate because two teams achieved exactly the same score. They then had to take part in ‘a sudden death’ competition – getting the best of three challenging questions correct – to win the finals. Two other teams also had to battle for third and fourth place because they had clocked up the same number of points.
In the end the results were:First – Cockermouth School (UK champions) (photograph of the four team members with Wayne Mills (in top hat) and Charlie Higson and holding cup) Second – Bristol Grammar School (English champions) (photograph of the four team members with Wayne Mills (in top hat) and Charlie Higson) . (For some reason the pics have Bristol as the first pic and Cockermouth as the second...they were meant to be the other way round!)
(Both teams have won a place to compete in the 20th Birthday International Celebration Quiz in New Zealand)

Literature Ability Media International Award

Laura Summers has won the Literature Ability Media International Award run by Leonard Cheshire Disability and supported by Orange for her book, Desperate Measures.
The AMI Awards identify creativity that encourages a more inclusive world for disabled andmarginalised groups of people. Covering every aspect of the arts, the winners have beenchosen for producing work that positively represents, involves or assists people facing majorphysical, mental, emotional or social challenges.
Laura Summers who was chosen by the judges for her creative excellence received theaward at a ceremony held at London Studios on 21 November.
Laura Summers produced this critically acclaimed first novel so readers could understand andhopefully be more tolerant towards those seemingly “different” from themselves. Regarded bymany as "affecting, honest, and totally gripping" this tale of a pair of twins – one of whom wasbrain-damaged at birth – which follows their lives after they are told their foster parents can'tcope and the family will have to be split up, is both moving and totally life-affirming.
Laura Summers said: “It is an absolute honour to have won this amazing award, althoughcreating a fictional heroine with a learning disability didn't seem an unusual thing for me tochoose to do. I wanted to show what I have learnt over the years - that we're all individualsand whatever our abilities or disabilities, we all want and need the same things - family,friends, to be treated decently and to reach our potential - a life basically.”
Wayne Drew, Chairman of the Ability Media Creative Board, said: “Today’s winnersdemonstrate outstanding creativity and are all socially and culturally of the highest importanceand Laura Summers is a perfect example of this. Desperate Measures is destined to promotea more fair, just and inclusive society, for the benefit of us all.”
Jane Jutsum, Leonard Cheshire Disability Innovative Projects Director, said: “It is a particularhonour to recognise Laura Summers as a worthy winner. Desperate Measures is an inspiringtestament to how disabled people make the world a more inclusive and better place. We hopeto ensure that disabled people will be better represented in the media industry and have moreinfluence on society as a result.”
This award, designed to identify outstanding achievement is one of 25 categories who rewardexcellence across the creative industries. The Ability Media Centre, run by Leonard CheshireDisability is a state of the art facility in London providing courses in production and postproduction, animation, graphic design, music technology and interactive media.
Visit: www.amiawards.org, www.abilitymedia.org, Facebook; the Ability Media Centre and
Twitter; @AbilityMediaLCD

yet more on the library cuts

Last week saw news break of widespread proposed cuts to the nation’s library services – from Buckinghamshire’s reported plans to close Great Missenden library, beloved by Roald Dahl and credited as providing inspiration for Matilda, through to the privatisation of Wakefield’s entire library service.
There is so much news on this subject it would be difficult to list, so click here to visit Alan Gibbons’ Blog, and scroll down to Nov. 13th for his Campaign for the Book newsletter, which lists some examples.

Costa Book Prize

Costa Children's Book Award Shortlist
Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
Annexed by Sharon Dogar
Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace

The winner of this category will be announced on 5 January 11 and the overall category winner (chosen from fiction, biography, first novel, poetry and childrens) will be announced on 25 Jan.

Quentin Blake and Francois Place drawing duel

(photograph by Rosa Bianca)

The Children’s Book Show 2010 (http://www.childrensbookshow/) came to a triumphant end last night (17 November) with a sell out event at L'Institut Français, London. The popular event was also part of the Youth Festival.
Quentin Blake, the inaugural Children’s Laureate who has also been referred to as a ‘national institution’ and one of France’s most highly acclaimed illustrators illustrator Francois Place (best known in the UK for his illustrations for Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse) talked about their work, showing exquisite examples, and then treated an enthusiastic audience to an amazing drawing duel.
The artists took it in turns to transform each other’s drawings, keeping the audience guessing what would happen next. Much laughter later a splendid wordless story had been created on one sheet of paper. At the end of the show there was a round of applause when one young person asked the artists to do another drawing. The artists took up the challenge and picked up their pins, giving the audience another chance to see two masters of their craft at work.

Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010

Louise Yates is the winner of the Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under with Dog Loves Books (Jonathan Cape). Louise Rennison is the winner of the Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen with Withering Tights (HarperCollins Children’s Books).

The shortlists for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010 were:

The Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under
Angelica Sprocket's Pockets by Quentin Blake (Jonathan Cape)Dogs Don’t Do Ballet by Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Simon & Schuster)Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates (Jonathan Cape)The Nanny Goat's Kid by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross (Andersen Press)One Smart Fish by Chris Wormell (Jonathan Cape)The Scariest Monster in the World by Lee Weatherly, illustrated by Algy Craig Hall (Boxer Books)The Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen The Clumsies Make a Mess by Sorrel Anderson, illustrated by Nicola Slater (HarperCollins Children’s Books)Einstein's Underpants and How They Saved the World by Anthony McGowan (Yearling)The Incredible Luck of Alfie Pluck by Jamie Rix, illustrated by Craig Shuttlewood (Orion Children's Books)Mr Stink by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake (HarperCollins Children’s Books)The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson (Macmillan Children’s Books)Withering Tights by Louise Rennison (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Workshop for Writers

Legend Press are delighted to announce a unique workshop event, including the opportunity to meet some of publishing's top commissioning editors, agents and marketers, and will include discussion of writing and editing, how to getrepresentation, submitting to publishers, the publishing process, how to market your book, and general tips for writers.
The event will be on Saturday 29th January 2011 at the Phoenix Artists Club, CharingCross Road, London from 12-4pm.
- Tom Chalmers, Managing Director, Legend Press and Paperbooks Publishing- Kate Lyall-Grant, former Commissioning Editor, Hodder & Stoughton and Simon &Schuster UK, freelance editor- Hannah Sheppard, Commissioning Editor, Teenage Fiction, Headline Publishing Group- Darin Jewell, Author and Managing Director of The Inspira Group, literary agency- Gareth Howard, Managing Director, Authoright, UK leading book-marketing company
Cost: £59.99 (plus VAT) – Early Bird Rate if you book before 4th December of £49.99(plus VAT). Places will be allocated on a first to book basis and so those wishing tobook their place just need to email conference@legend-paperbooks.co.uk
Lucy Boguslawski, Publicity Director of Legend Press, commented, “Legend Press hasan excellent reputation for being approachable, and with a fantastic panel we think this event is the perfect opportunity for new writers to gain a valuable insight into the publication process.”

Chance to win an original Jackie Morris drawing

On November 27th, from 5pm, Solva Woollen Mill, Middlemill, Pembrokeshire will be having a book launch for The Ice Bear (published by Janetta Ottter Barry Books at Frances Lincoln)
Jackie Morris will be there signing books. During the evening each book bought will have a raffle ticket with it and at the end of the evening a ticket will be pulled out of a box or a hat and the winner will get an original drawing by Jackie Morris (see the drawing on her website - http://drawingalineintime.blogspot.com/ The drawing is an original sketch in pencil of the Ice Bear Mother, on board. To make this fair for people who live a long long way from Pembrokeshire this will also apply to all books bought from the mill's online shop - http://www.solvawoollenmill.co.uk/estore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=38.

Booktrust Teenage Prize 2010

The winner of the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2010 is Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes.
This debut novel tells the story of two Canadian orphans on an eventful road trip to New York in search of their long-lost uncle. The Prize, which celebrates the best contemporary writing for young adults, is in its eighth year. Chair of Judges Tony Bradman comments:
‘The standard of entries for this year’s Teenage Book Prize was very high, and we judges felt spoilt for choice – our shortlist is a reflection of this quality. But all of us felt that Unhooking the Moon stood out from the beginning of our discussions. As a writer Gregory Hughes has a genuinely unique voice. Unhooking the Moon is original, poignant and funny and full of terrific characters and gripping storytelling, while also managing to explore the kind of themes teenagers will find engaging. It’s also a first novel, so Gregory’s achievement is all the more astonishing. I have no doubt that this debut marks the beginning of a great career.’