Carousel Calendar 2012 raises £4800!

The Carousel Calendar 2012 made £4800 for the Children's Chronic Arthritis Association - better known as Kids With Arthritis.

In Carousel issue 52 you will see a group photo taken outside their offices in Worcester.

Here we see CCAA founder Caroline Cox receiving the cheque from Carousel's David Blanch, who is holding one of the calendars.

We thank everyone involved in this project.

School Library Association Information Book Award 2012

Can We Save the Tiger by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White, (published by Walker Books ISBN 9781406319095) swept the board at the Information Book Award, winning it‟s section (7-12) in both the Children‟s Choice and the Judges Choice as well as continuing the clean sweep as the Overall Winner in Children‟s and Judges Choices.

Outside In World Website

We are delighted to announce our new-look Outside In World website.

Thanks to the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, we are proud to announce the launch of a range of new online resources for different audiences. Visit our dedicated zones for teachers and librarians; parents; publishers, writers, illustrators and translators; and children and young people.

Also New for 2012 is our Online Gallery of Children’s Book Illustrators - Windows on the World. This fun virtual exhibition aims to bring books and illustration from around the world to life for children, young people and adults.

Come and Visit us at www.outsideinworld.org.uk

Campaign for the Book Newsletter

Save Our Libraries
Build this conference
Build these lobbies

Here are three vital dates for your diary.

School Libraries lobby SCOTLAND:
All friends and supporters of school libraries and school librarians are invited to lobby the Scottish Parliament on Saturday 27th October at 11am.

School Libraries lobby ENGLAND: 

Mass Lobby of Parliament on October 29th 2012 at 2pm.
A group of school librarians are planning to lobby parliament for school libraries to be made statutory. This protest is planned for October half term.

Speak Up For Libraries conference - 10 November
The Speak Up For Libraries coalition conference for library supporters is on Saturday 10 November 2012. Time: 10am - 4.30pm
Venue: CILIP, 7 Ridgmount Street, London WC1E 7AE
Cost: £20 per person

Booking form - PDF

GRIMMS' FAIRY TALES STUDY DAY

The Children’s Books History Society is staging a Study Day on Saturday 13 October 2012 to celebrate Two Hundred Years of the Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales.  The venue is the Church Hall of the Great Crown Court Church of Scotland in London’s Covent Garden.

The speakers will be:

Brian Alderson on The Making of the Kinder–und Hausmärchen

Neil Philips on The Influence of the Grimms

Geoff Fox on “There’s Game in the Wind”

Nick Tucker on “How grim are the Grimms’ fairy-tale parents?”

David Blaimres on The Role of the Forest in Grimms’ Fairy Tales

Susan Bailes on The Illustrators of Grimms’ Fairy Tales

The cost of the day is £20, which includes all refreshments including lunch.

Further details and a booking form are available from:

Robert Kirkpatrick

6 Osterley Park View Road

Hanwell

LONDON W7 2HH

tel.  020 8567 4521       
Rkirkpatrick.molesworth@virgin.net

HANSEL AND GRETEL

Cottesloe Theatre

Previews from 7 December, press performance 13 December at 1.30pm, continuing in repertoire

Suitable for 7 – 10-year-olds

Katie Mitchell directs HANSEL AND GRETEL, written by Lucy Kirkwood and devised by Katie Mitchell and Lucy Kirkwood, based on the story by the Brothers Grimm, opening in the Cottesloe Theatre on 13 December. The cast includes Ruby Bentall. The production will be designed by Vicki Mortimer, with lighting by Jon Clark, movement by Joseph Alford, music by Paul Clark, sound by Gareth Fry and puppet design by Toby Olié.

The World United new exhibition

On show will be original published artwork by Satoshi Kitamura from Japan, Shaun Tan and Robert Ingpen from Australia, Gennady Spirin from Russia, and Anglo-Indian born Nilesh Mistry. Closer to home we feature a host of truly great talent with Jan Pieńkowski of Polish origin, and both Val Biro and Victor Ambrus from Hungary.

Other Eastern European countries, with their strong and graphic illustration traditions, include Tomislav Tomic from the Czech Republic and Iassen Ghuiselev of Bulgaria. From Italy is work by Eva Montanari, Nicoletta Ceccoli from San Marino, Axel Scheffler of Germany, as well as Brian Wildsmith, long term resident in France.

Dick Bruna’s silk screens of Miffy bring strong Dutch colour to the mix.

The USA is represented by Maurice Sendak, Anita Lobel and Bagram Ibatouilline, and also by Lord of the Rings art director, Canadian born, John Howe. The highlight of the show is Niamh Sharkey from Ireland. Niamh has recently been crowned the Laureate na nƠg, (the children’s Laureate for Ireland), and we will be displaying a selection of her stunning paintings. This diverse exploration of the international artworks for illustrated books is educational as well as entertaining, and will appeal to a younger audience with an interactive display of the new e-book and

APP recently launched at the gallery by England’s Joseph Theobald.

First edition signed books from £5.99

Entrance is free and families are welcome.

Exhibition open from 26 July to 11 August at 22 Bury Street (just off Piccadilly), London SW1

Online preview: www.illustrationcupboard.com

Margaret Mahy

Children's book author Margaret Mahy, one of New Zealand's most acclaimed literary figures, has died at the age of 76 after a brief illness.

Ms Mahy, who wrote her first story when she was 7, has won numerous awards and honours for her contribution to New Zealand and children's literature.

She has written more than 120 books which have been translated into 15 languages. She has also won many of the world's premier children's book awards, including the Carnegie Medal (twice) for The Haunting and The Changeover and the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award.

Annabel Pitcher and Fiona Kennedy take home Award for their Mantelpiece

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher, edited by Fiona Kennedy and published by Orion Children’s Books has won the 2012 Branford Boase Award, given annually to the author and editor of the most outstanding debut novel for children.

They were awarded the prize at a ceremony at Walker Books last night, Thursday 5 July, by former children’s Laureate and long time supporter of the Branford Boase Award Jacqueline Wilson and last year’s winner, Jason Wallace.

Queen of Teen: Maureen Johnson clinches the title as thousands vote!

Queen of Teen is royally delighted to announce the winner for the fiction world’s most glamorous award. Author of the Name of the Star and 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Maureen Johnson rallied her fans and followers to vote her in as Queen of Teen 2012!

Maureen will be officially sworn in as Queen at a glittering award ceremony on Friday 6th July 2012 surrounded by fans, invited journalists and not to forget the marvellous nine other shortlisted authors, Cathy Cassidy, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Webb, Joanna Nadin, Cathy Hopkins, Samantha Mackintosh, Chris Higgins, Hayley Long, S.C. Ransom and our first ever male, James Dawson.

New York based Maureen has, like the other shortlisted authors, enlisted the help of twitter to gain support for the title. Noted as “one to follow”, Maureen has campaigned for the title with series of hilarious award and Queen related tweets. James Dawson’s twitter campaign also raised a few smiles with his adaptations of film and music posters.

On receiving her crown Maureen said “I am thrilled to be crowned Queen of Teen UK. I look forward to bringing some American blood to your royal line.   It is true we rebelled against the very idea of a crown, but I am prepared to put that aside and rule with a fair and temperate hand, and not to fire a few triumphant rounds in the air during the ceremony. And as my first official words as Queen, I would like to say, YEEEEEHAAAAW! ”

The ceremony is to be held at Queen of Teen HQ in leafy Surrey and will be superbly pink and sparkly – a truly majestic celebration of this thriving and important genre!

Brian Wildsmith Exhibition: Paintings, Graphic Artwork and Costume Designs

This summer sees Illustrationcupboard's third single artist exhibition for Brian Wilde Smith, and a further celebration of this artist's fascinating oeuvre. Regarded as one of the great 20th century book illustrators, Brian's superb draughtsmanship and exquisite use of colour heralded a revolutionary change in picture books in the early 1960s when he was first published by innovative editor Mabel George at Oxford University Press.

As well as exhibiting a selection of stunning original paintings, we will be showcasing the black ink graphic artwork from this period. Never exhibited before this incisive artwork shows Brian Wildsmith at his most inventive and skilful. Technical mastery of pain and ink produces strong confident line of unparalleled expressive quality, providing further insight into the foundation and structure behind many of his more complex and often monumental paintings. Alongside, there will also be a first showing of Brian's superb, original, theatrical costume designs for the Hollywood film The Blue Bird directed by Charles Cukor and which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardener

Artwork will be available for purchase from £250 upwards, as well as a selection of artists' editions and rare out of print signed books. Preview on our website at www.illustrationcupboard.com

Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 6 pm
Saturday 11 am to 5 pm

Entry is free. Families are welcome.

22 Berry Street,
St James's,
London,
SW1Y 6AL

The Tear Thief

A Little Angel Theatre Production in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre
Adapted from the book written by Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy

Each night, in the hours between supper and bedtime, the Tear Thief carries her waterproof, silvery sack as she steals the tears of every child who cries. But what does she do with all those tears?

“Your tears are the most precious tears of all. They are worth more than diamonds.”

A heart-warming modern fairy tale of a magical world perfectly brought to life by Little Angel’s stunning puppetry. Directed by Little Angel Theatre’s Artistic Director, Peter Glanville.

Suitable for minimum age 3.

Performance Dates and Times:
Wednesdays to Sundays, 22 September to 4 November 2012
Weds & Thurs 10am & 1pm (11am & 2pm in half term)

Fridays 1pm & 5pm (11am & 2pm in half term)

Saturday & Sunday 11am & 2pm

*Baby Friendly Performances are at 11am on Sundays

Tickets: £5 to £12 (£12 adult/£10 children and concessions; £5 Friday Fives at 5 pm shows)

Family Gala performance: Sunday 14 October, 3pm

 Running Time: Approx 45 mins
Public booking opens 28 August

Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture

The fifth Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture will be held at Homerton College, Cambridge on 6th September, 2012.  Malorie Blackman will deliver the lecture and has chosen to speak about
21st Century Storytelling: Will the advent of new technology create a paradigm shift in the writing and reading of children's literature?

Free 'tickets' become available in July 2012. (Kevin Crossley Holland will give the lecture on September 5 in 2013.) For further information and to read or view Philip Pullman's 2011 lecture, please see www.pearcelecture.com

PHILIPPA PEARCE died in 2006, but respect and affection for her writing is as strong as ever. In her memory, a series of lectures is now underway, each intended to celebrate excellence in writing for children and to emphasize its continuing vital importance.

Authors call for a library in every school legislation

A host of award-winning authors including Sarah Waters, David Almond, Philip Reeve and Malorie Blackman are calling on the government to make it a legal obligation for every school to have a library.

Kevin Crossley-Holland who is the new president of the School Library Association and who has won both the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Carnegie Medal says "If only the government would full-bloodedly espouse and implement this mission, they will be making a profound statement about their commitment to educational standards, an to what it actually means for a scoiety to be civilised.  Here's a common cause, and an investment in the future, if ever there was one"

See full report

Winnie the Witch celebrates her 25th birthday this summer

BOOKING OPEN FOR
THE TELEGRAPH BATH FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
IN ITS 6TH SPECTACULAR YEAR
28 SEPTEMBER – 7 OCTOBER 2012

Booking has opened for the UK’s largest dedicated children’s book festival, taking place in Bath from 28 September to 7 October.

Best-selling authors and inspiring illustrators will once again make their way to this historic city for ten late summer days of top class events, interactive talks and creative workshops for children of all ages and their families.

Horrible Histories’ Martin Brown is this year’s Illustrator in Residence and heads a stellar line up of the UK’s favourite children’s illustrators including Axel Scheffler, Anthony Browne, Tony Ross, Laurence Anholt and Korky Paul, whose inimitable creation Winnie The Witch celebrates her 25th birthday this summer.

CALLING ALL WALLY FANS

The festival opens on Friday 28 September with a free, city-wide parade to celebrate an amazing 25 years of Where’s Wally: anyone can join in, the only requirements are red and white stripes, glasses and bobble hats.

The parade is followed by a special opening night gala in Bath’s central venue The Guildhall with Waterstones Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and the ever-popular Axel Scheffler.  The best-selling picture book duo will talk about their much-loved characters, including their new hero Superworm.

THE BIGGEST NAMES COME TO BATH

The magnificent Georgian buildings of Bath will then play host to the biggest names in children’s literature today including Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo, Helen Dunmore, Lauren Child, Andy Stanton, Michael Rosen, and Cathy Cassidy.  With over 100 events programmed, the festival will also make use of some exciting new venues, including the Paragon School’s yurt.

We take a walk on the wild side with Michaela Strachan (BBC Springwatch), Benjamin Mee (We Bought A Zoo) Steve Bloom (Big Cats) and with intrepid explorer Matt Dickinson.    We step back in time with James Holland (Duty Calls: Battle of Britain) and Michelle Paver (Gods and Warriors) and in a KidsLit exclusive performance we witness the epic tale of Achilles, as told by master storytellers Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden.

BBC Radio 2’s Simon Mayo will talk about his first novel Itch and best-selling author Frank Cottrell Boyce tells how he has given fiction’s best-loved car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang a makeover and a new set of magical adventures.

We celebrate 80 years of Babar and 100 years of Tarzan and we welcome back Peter Rabbit, Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam, Mr Men, Maisy, Moshi Monsters and all the other family favourites.

KLF: NEW TEEN PROGRAMME

KLF is a new feature of the festival this year, designed specifically for teens and devised by a collaborative group of teens from Bath. The authors appearing in this special series of events include the award-winning Norwegian Johan Harstad (172 Hours on the Moon) as well as Sophie Crockett (After the Snow), Gemma Malley (The Killables) and Jeff Norton (Metawars) who talk about life after The Hunger Games. Darren Shan, Sally Gardner, Sophie McKenzie, and dystopian debutante Moira Young also come to Bath as part of KLF to talk about their new books.

The festival also features a series of in-depth workshops and master classes, which reinforce the author-led events and offer a range of activities from cartoon illustration to crime writing.

As part of Bath Festivals’ commitment to year-round learning and participation, there is an extensive schools programme involving visiting authors, reaching out to and engaging children of all ages, from a wide area around the city.

The full programme is available to view at www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk.
Booking line: 01225 463362

For all press information: Tamsin Treverton Jones 07980 585664/01225 462231
Tamsin.treverton-jones@bathfestivals.org.uk
Images available on request

About Bath Festivals

Bath Festivals brings leading international performers, writers and thinkers to Bath every year to inspire, entertain and challenge audiences of all ages and artistic tastes.  The festivals champion diversity and collaboration, open people's minds, and showcase the work of both established and up-and-coming performers  - all in the special setting that is Bath, a World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Bath Festivals is the charitable organisation responsible for the internationally acclaimed Bath International Music Festival, the thought-provoking Independent Bath Literature Festival and the inspirational Telegraph Bath Festival of Children's Literature.  Bath Festivals provides year-round learning and participation opportunities for children, young people and adults through creative workshops, gigs, and master classes.

Bath Festivals acts as a central hub for the arts in Bath and North East Somerset, serving over 90 festivals, events and local arts organisations through the Bath Box Office, and supporting the Bath Area Cultural Forum.  Bath Festivals earns a significant part of its income from box office sales and sponsorship, and, since the creation of the music festival in 1948, has also relied on grants, donations, and charitable giving in order to secure its national and international reputation and the contribution it brings to Bath's creative and cultural life.    Bath Festivals is funded by Arts Council England through its National Portfolio programme and also receives support from Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Carousel is pleased to be sponsoring Polly Dunbar on September 29th

Scheffler & Schwarz - new work!

Viviane Schwarz was at the CILIP Carnegie Greenaway award ceremony last week with her shortlisted book, There are no cats in this book. As she said, she was in great company, and you've no doubt already heard that Patrick Ness (writer) and Jim Kay (illustrator) uniquely scooped both awards for their book A Monster Calls, based on an idea by the late Siobhan Dowd. However, Viv did extremely well to get on the shortlist as the competition is so fierce, so she deserves to be hugely congratulated! Luckily for us, she gave me the artwork for this book earlier in the year and there are still a few wonderful pieces remaining.

 Linda Owen-Lloyd

For further details of the pictures please email Linda or visit her website. 

London 2012 Festival - Cultural Olympics

Here are just a few of the many events from 21 June to 9 September which are suitable for children.  To see the full list and booking details  go to www.london2012.com/festival

The Caucus Race: Join Alice and other Wonderland characters in the famous race where everybody wins!  Free.  8 July Merton Fields, Oxford.

aMAZEme Marcos Saboya creates an installation featuring a maze made up of thousands of books, taking inspiration from Jose Luis Borges.  free. 31 July-24 August.  Southbank Centre, London

Alan Ayckbourn - The Boy Who Fell Into A Book.  An out of this world detective adventure in which avid reader Kevin chases Rockfast Slim though every book on the shelf.  18 July - 28 July Soho Theatre, London

Bee Detective - Tin Bath Theatre Company.  A spectacle with animation, vibrations and waggle dancing for young audiences.  As part of Unlimited.  23-24 June, Cardiff; 13 -15 July Alnwick Garden Northumberland, 31 August - 2 September Southbank Centre London

CROW - Handspring UK.  Award-winning Handspring Puppet Company UK gives Ted Hughes' CROW poems new life, co-commissioned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, as part of Greenwich/Docklands International Festival.  18June - 7 July.  The Borough Hall at Greenwich Dance, Greenwich

KidsWeek in the West End.  Events, prizes, super theatre workshops and free tickets to London's best shows.  Whole of August (so unsure why it is called a week!).  West End Theatres, London www.kidsweek.co.uk

In a Pickle - Oily Cart.  A journey for children aged 2-4 through Shakespeare's landscapes.  19-23 June Stratford Circus, London 27 -30 June, Northern Stage, Newcastle

Betty Trask Awards

(for first novels, traditional or romantic, by writers under 35)

The three winners included Annabel Pitcher for My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece (Orion/Indigo), which was also short listed for the Carnegie.

Judges: Frances Fyfield, Mike Gayle, Fay Weldon.

Summer Holiday Puppet Making Days

Please note, these days are taking place at Islington Museum, 245 Saint John Street, London EC1V 4NB

Bring your favourite cartoon character to life by making it into a puppet. We will work with you for the day to make your own Bart Simpson, Disney Princess, Superhero, or Manga star puppet. Bring a picture of your favourite one with you or we’ll be prepared with ideas to get you started on the day if you can’t decide. 

Working with our expert puppet makers we’ll help you make your puppet and teach you how to use it finishing the day with a short performance using the puppets you have made for your friends and family! Take your puppet home with you at the end of the day.

Tuesday 24th & Thursday 26th July, 10.00am – 4.00pm daily
Cost per Day: £35 / £30 (concession)
Cost to attend both Days: £65 / £55 (concession)
For: 5-11 years (Year 1 to Year 6)

Kevin Crossley-Holland - School Library Association President for 2012

The School Library Association (SLA) is delighted to announce that from June 10^th 2012 the distinguished and award winning author Kevin Crossley-Holland will take up his role as President of the SLA.

Anthony Browne IBBY card

Following on from the success of our IBBY Christmas card (featuring illustrations by Jan Pienkowski, Michael Foreman, Jane Ray and Shirley Hughes) and in response to requests for a notelet card, we are pleased to announce a new card by Anthony Browne.

The illustration is specially designed and donated to support the international IBBY Congress which takes place in London from August 23-26. Anthony Browne will be taking part in the Congress along with Patsy Aldana, Aidan Chambers, Julia Donaldson, Bart Moeyaert, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen, and Shaun Tan. More details are available on the website

The illustration on the front of the card features Anthony Browne’s well-known Willy character flying over the world surrounded by open books. The inside of the card is blank to write your own message.

Cards are available in packs of 10 at £6 (including postage and packing). Full details are available on the order form.

North East Book Award

Congratulations to Chris Westwood on winning  the North East Book Award 2011 with  Ministry of Pandemonium and to Tom Avery for being shortlisted with Too Much Trouble.  Both books published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books.

The North East Book Award is one of the longest running regional book awards.  Students from 50 schools in the region judge the awards each year with the winner of the teenage category being announced in January and the junior category in May.

Despite the very wet  weather 250 eleven and twelve  year olds gathered excitedly in the Centre for Life, Newcastle  last night (31 May)  with their parents, librarians and teachers to hear the winner of this year’s North East Book Award announced.  Since the release of the shortlist in early March students have been enthusiastically reading, discussing, debating and reviewing the relative merits of all 5 shortlisted titles before casting their votes to decide their winner.   This year’s award was made to Chris Westwood for Ministry of Pandemonium, a powerfully written supernatural thriller.  Barbara Mitchelhill was Highly Commended for her war time story of evacuation, Run Rabbit Run

A FRIEND OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS...

Bev Mathias
(1939-2012)

In the kindly but competitive world of children's books, Bev was a quiet colossus rather than a star.

Not that she missed out on the limelight. The redoubtable Eileen Colwell was an early admirer of her storytelling, her talents as a broadcaster led to a six year reviewing stint on BBC Radio 1, and the sheer spread of her publications for both children and adults - on view at the Quaker Memorial Meeting in Wigtown on May 19th - puts many more pushy kid-lit contenders to shame. Somehow, with Bev, the limelight was always refined into the glow of a good job jobbed.

It was the same when she became Children's Officer at the National Book League (later Book Trust) and with her founding directorship of REACH (the National Advice Centre for Children with Reading Difficulties) which received the Eleanor Farjeon Award in 1986. Even after 'retiring' to her beloved Wigtown - Scotland's National Book Town - Bev's commitment didn't flag. She completed an overhaul of the local festival's data-base just before she died. Unlike McCavity, when there was hard but vital work to be done, Bev was always there.      

Not bad going, you may think, for someone who didn't move to Britain till she was forty. She was born and raised in Australia. This was the source, no doubt, of her drive, her grounded-ness, and her wonderful gift for friendship.        

Good on you, Bev. 

From Chris Powling  

In this photo, she is entertaining (mid 1980s) a group of children from
Clare School, Norwich at the Hungate Bookshop.

The Children’s Bookshow

This year The Children’s Bookshow is 10 with a lot to celebrate!  The  Children's Bookshow  now reaches over 6000 children every year, bringing them the very best writers and illustrators from all over the world.

2012 sees is a thrilling line up of artists -  11 authors and illustrators performing in 12 venues across the country and a programme of free workshops in schools – starting in Bexhill on 28  September and finishing in Coventry on 8th November.

From internationally acclaimed artists such as Ulf Stark (Sweden) and Carll Cneut (Belgium), to household favourites Michael Rosen and Alexis Deacon, The Children’s Bookshow is set to inspire and delight children with great poems, beautiful illustrations and fabulous stories.

For details see The Children’s Bookshow website

Dates and Venues:

• Friday 28 September 10.30 a.m -  Carll Cneut at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea
• Monday 1st October 1.30 pm  - Patrick Benson at King's Hall, Ilkley
• Monday 1st October  10.30 am  - Daniel Morden at People's Theatre, Newcastle
• Tuesday 2nd October  11 am  – Alexis Deacon at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
• Tuesday 2nd October 10.30 am – Ulf Stark at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
• Friday 5th October 11.00 am – Daniel Morden at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
• Monday 8th October 11.00 am  - Patrick Benson at The Courtyard, Hereford
• Wednesday 17th October 10.30 am -  Alexis Deacon at Theatre Royal, Plymouth
• Monday 22nd October 1.30 pm – Jessica Souhami at Kings Lynn Arts Centre, Kings Lynn
• Wednesday 24th October 1.30 pm – Kit Wright and Posy Simmonds at Oxford Playhouse
• Wednesday 7th November 10.30 am – Valerie Bloom at Arnolfini, Bristol
• Thursday 8th November 11.00 am – Michael Rosen at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

Dickens and Childhood Conference and Symposium  Monday 18 June 

 It is not too late to book  in for the one-day conference, which  will include walks, lectures, readings, and parallel sessions on topics that will appeal to students, teachers, Dickens experts, and the ‘interested reader’. The event will include an evening symposium of contemporary children’s authors speaking on how reading Dickens has influenced their work. The venue is V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, London. 

For more information or to book, visit: www.le.ac.uk/engassoc/conferences/D2012.html

Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak (red scarf) is seen here with Norton Juster (left) at an exhibition opening of his work - November 2002.

Maurice Sendak has died aged 83.  His long-time editor, Michael de Capua, told The New York Times that the author died in Danbury, Connecticut, USA, after complications from a recent stroke.  He wrote some 17 books and was a prolific illustrator perhaps best known for his 1963 tale of Max - Where the Wild Things Are.

The Aldeburgh Festival is staging two performances of Where the Wild Things Are and Higglety Pigglety Pop with music by Oliver Knussen played by the Britten Sinfonia.  Details on the festival website or bookings for the two performances (8 June at 7.30pm or 10 June at 2.30pm) ring 01728 687110.  No more fitting tribute to a great artist.

Branford Boase shortlist 2012

just to keep you all up to date...

Seven authors including three Carnegie Medal contenders on Branford Boase Award shortlist in record year for debuts The Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children. Uniquely, it also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent. In a year which has seen a record number of books submitted for the award there are seven books on the shortlist:

 Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough, edited by Annie Eaton and Natalie Doherty (Bodley Head)
Being Billy by Phil Earle, edited by Shannon Park (Puffin)
 Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans, edited by Annie Eaton and Ruth Knowles (Bodley Head) Everybody Jam by Ali Lewis, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press)
Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis, edited by Liz Cross (OUP) A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master, edited by Emma Matthewson (Bloomsbury)
 My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher, edited by Fiona Kennedy (Orion)

Of this year’s shortlist, Lissa Evans, Ali Lewis and Annabel Pitcher are all shortlisted for 2012 Carnegie Medal, the UK’s most prestigious children’s book award.

This year’s judges are independent bookseller Kate Agnew, of The Children’s Bookshop Muswell Hill; Carol Webb, 2011 School Librarian of the Year; Fiona Lafferty, editorial director of the Good Book Guide and Jason Wallace, author of Out of Shadows, 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: “In 1999, the year of the first award, only 20 titles were submitted. This year 61 submissions were made, many of those extremely impressive. Our shortlist is varied in setting, themes and voice but each book succeeds brilliantly in what it sets out to do.” The winner of the Award will be announced on Thursday July 5th 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.

Norton Juster in the UK

I thought I had written my last blog on this site but as the new team have not yet taken over thought I couldn't pass up mentioning the excellent evening at Foyles where Norton Juster talked to Nicolette Jones.

A near capacity audience rocked with laughter and learnt a little more about this fine American author. Daniel Hahn interviewed him the following morning and this will appear in the Independent on Sunday sometime during the next few weeks. An interview by Michelle Pauli will also appear on the Guardian website. And there will be an article by David Blanch in the next issue of Carousel - they met for lunch at the extremely pleasant Portrait Restaurant at the top of the National Portrait Gallery (wonderful views across Trafalgar Square).

see also http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/473585.html

New Team

As you have probably read in Carousel there are changes to the Editorial Team. I and husband Chris Stephenson felt that the 50th issue was a good point to stop. A new team will be taking over - though David, Pat and Val remain. And new people will be handling the website - the website itself will be undergoing a design change which we hope you enjoy.

If you are a writer, actual or potential or illustrator again actual or potential you might be interested to look at the schedule for the next Society of Authors Children's Writers and Illustrators Group Conference which takes place this September. Just visit www.cwigconference.com to see the programme. Non-members are welcome. Email me if you have any queries enid.stephenson@gmail.com

Salvatore Rubbino

Salvatore Rubbino's work has often received compliments in Carousel, most recently in the article looking at books about London. Now you can buy original artwork from his latest book "Just Ducks!" written by Nicola Davies and published by Walker this month.
You can see a range of them at www.childrensbookillustration.com . The top picture shown is original published artwork "They're STILL eating when I cross the bridge to go to school" Watercolour, gouache and white acrylic paint. 590mmx420mm £595. The second "Just Ducks!" is original unpublished artwork. Watercolour and gouache. 310mmx360mm £345. Any queries please contact Linda Owen-Lloyd at linda@childrensbookillustration.com

In 2011 Salvatore was judged one of the country's top ten new illustrators in the Booktrust Best New Illustrators Award.

Chinese Children's and Picture Book Art Exhibition

London hosts the first exhibition in Britain of Chinese Children's and Picture Book Illustration. The exhibition coincides with this year's focus on China at the London Book Fair and will be launched at an opening ceremony and discussion forum - The Era of Picture Reading - at the London Book Fair on Monday 16 April where British illustrators including Michael Foreman, John Burningham and Carol Thompson will meet visiting Chinese illustrators Liam Peilong, Xiong Liang and Jiang Jianwen.

The exhibition is at the Bhavan Centre, Institute of Indian Art and Culture, 4a Castletown Road, London W14 9HE 16-22 April open frm 11am to 7pm. The gallery is just round the corner from the Earls Court Exhibition Centre the site of the London Book Fair. The discussion is at the London Book Fair on 16 April at 2.30-3.30.

Campaign for the Book

Alan Gibbons says:
Schools Minister Nick Gibb has said: “I passionately believe that every school should have a school library.” I have written to him pointing out that I submitted a petition calling for statutory school libraries and it was rejected. I would urge everyone to email him on gibbn@parliament.uk asking him to move towards a position where school libraries become statutory.

Michael Morpurgo: Libraries and the NHS

The Evening Standard on 27.3.12 reporting on their Get London Reading Literacy Campaign quoted Michael Morpurgo as saying "A reading life leads to a wider understanding of the world around you and your place in it. It is something you can do all your life and free, as long as there are libraries" Keeping libraries free is as important as keeping the NHS free, he added "In this country we all believe that health care should be free at the point of delivery. Literature, stories and poems are the same. It is not something just for rich, educated and privileged people, it is for all of us."

Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2012

DEBUTS SHINE ON YOUNGEST CARNEGIE SHORTLIST FOR YEARS

No less than four debut novels feature on the eight-strong shortlist for this year's CILIP Carnegie Medal; the UK's most prestigious children's book award which has a long track record of spotting new writing talent ahead of the game.

First children's novels by Lissa Evans, Ali Lewis, Annabel Pitcher and Ruta Sepetys go head to head with books by former CILIP Carnegie Medal winner, David Almond; Sonya Harnett; Andy Mulligan, and Patrick Ness, the 2011 CILIP Carnegie winner.

The eight books on this year's shortlist are variously suitable for readers of 12 years, or younger, bucking the trend of recent shortlists which have majored on teenage and young adult fiction. Against diverse settings ranging from contemporary England, outback Australia and wartime Siberia; to places imagined but with strong echoes of our turbulent world today; the shortlisted novels take young readers into the lives and minds of a diverse cast of characters as they contend with everything from bereavement; poverty, corruption and tyranny, to a recalcitrant young camel, and the difficulty of finding the right words.

CILIP Carnegie shortlist 2012

David Almond
MY NAME IS MINA
Hodder (9+)
ISBN: 9780340997253

Lissa Evans
SMALL CHANGE FOR STUART
>Doubleday (8+)
ISBN: 9780385618007

Sonya Hartnett
THE MIDNIGHT ZOO
Walker (9+)
ISBN: 9781406331493

Ali Lewis
EVERYBODY JAM
Andersen (12+)
ISBN: 9781849392488

Andy Mulligan
TRASH
David Fickling (12+)
ISBN: 9780385619011

Patrick Ness
A MONSTER CALLS
Walker (9+)
ISBN: 9781406311525

Annabel Pitcher
MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE
Orion (10+)
ISBN: 9781444001839

Ruta Sepetys
BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY
Puffin (12+)
ISBN: 9780141335889

Kate Greenaway Medal Shortlist 2012

GREENAWAY SHORTLIST CELEBRATES THE ILLUSTRATORS' ART, FOR READERS OF ALL AGES

Ink and photoshop, watercolours and wax crayons, papercuts, and even beetles and breadboards: an enormous variety of techniques and art styles are celebrated on the eight-strong shortlist for this year's CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal; the UK's most prestigious prize for children's book illustration, and the only one to consider illustration exclusively.

Previous winners Catherine Rayner and Emily Gravett have again impressed the judges with their skilful command of paint, layout and narrative; 2010 nominee Viviane Schwarz is back, her bold cats literally exploding from the pages; Petr Horacek and Vicky White both illustrate animals too, vividly, but in very contrasting styles: his puffin is rendered in bright, bright acrylics and wax, while she uses charcoal, paint and pastel to equally stunning effect. Meanwhile Rob Ryan's exquisite papercut illustrations perfectly match Carol Ann Duffy's text in The Gift.

This year the shortlist highlights the importance of illustration in books for older readers: Dave McKean's extraordinary piece of graphic storytelling is integral to David Almond's Slog's Dad; Jim Kay's atmospheric and textured images are an organic and vital element of A Monster Calls (also shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal).

CILIP Kate Greenaway shortlist 2012

Emily Gravett
WOLF WON'T BITE
Macmillan (4+)
ISBN: 9780230704251

Petr Horáček
PUFFIN PETER
Walker Books (4+)
ISBN: 9781406324600

Jim Kay (text by Patrick Ness)
A MONSTER CALLS
Walker Books (9+)
ISBN: 9781406311525

Dave McKean (Text by David Almond)
SLOG'S DAD
Walker Books (8+)
ISBN: 9781406322903

Catherine Rayner
SOLOMON CROCODILE
Macmillan (4+)
ISBN: 9780230529229

Rob Ryan (Text by Carol Anne Duffy)
THE GIFT
Barefoot Books (6+)
ISBN: 9781846863547

Viviane Schwarz
THERE ARE NO CATS IN THIS BOOK
Walker Books (4+)
ISBN: 9781406316896

Vicky White (Text by Martin Jenkins)
CAN WE SAVE THE TIGER?
Walker Books (6+)
ISBN: 9781406319095

Norton Juster in conversation - London

Norton Juster in conversation with Nicolette Jones
26th April 2012 6:30pm - 7:30pm Charing Cross Road Literary Event, Children's Event, Free Event

On the 50th anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth's arrival on British soil, its author Norton Juster makes a rare visit to the UK. Juster will be discussing his life, work and inspiration, plus his much-awaited new book Alberic the Wise with writer, journalist and broadcaster Nicolette Jones.

Venue: The Gallery at Foyles,Third Floor, Charing Cross Road
Tickets: Free, but need to be reserved by adding the required number to the basket below or by emailing events@foyles.co.uk. No physical tickets will be issued: the order confirmation you will receive after adding ticket/s to your basket is your proof of reservation.

Little Angel Theatre May - July

Box Office: 020 7226 1787

Little Angel Theatre,14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN

www.littleangeltheatre.com

The Ugly Duckling
A Little Angel Theatre Production for ages 3+

A Little Angel classic keeping close to the spirit of Hans Anderson’s perceptive story. Accompanied by live music and voices, beautifully made puppets tell the story of the little Duckling who grows up feeling “different”. Meet Mother Duck and her charming family, the wise Blackbird, the friendly Bug-Eyed Toad and the pompous Great Gobble-Gobble Turkey. An adventure is waiting to be had ending in cheers aplenty with this classic tale.
Running Time: Approx 1 hour 10 mins including interval
Performance Dates and Times:
Sat 19 May – Sun 8 Jul 2012
Wed / Thu: 10am and 1pm (11am and 2pm during Easter holidays)
Friday: 1pm and 5pm (11am and 2pm during Easter holidays)
Sat / Sun: 11am and 2pm
Suitable for ages 3+

Baby friendly performances on Sundays at 11am. Extra baby friendly performance on Thu 7 Jun 11am.
Relaxed performance on 16 June, 2pm
Designed for adults or children who might find it difficult to sit quietly and still for an entire performance, or who are uncomfortable with sudden lighting changes or loud noises.

Workshops etc - details on the theatre website

David McKee: Mr Benn, Elmer and Me

This informative and utterly delightful short film, under 4 minutes, can be accessed from the Guardian web site
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/audioslideshow/2012/mar/15/david-mckee-elmer

Dundee Children's Festival

This lively Children's Festival takes place at Dundee Rep from 2-12 April. Full details on www.dundeerep.co.uk

Hurry to Leith Gallery

Artist, Marie Louise Wrightson is having a solo exhibition at the Leith Gallery, 65 The Shore, Edinburgh EH6 6RA from 3rd to 31st March.

Marie when asked about her inspiration said,

"Like many people, I have been influenced and inspired by fairy tales, cartoons, films and children’s books; especially the Alice in Wonderland stories. With cautionary messages and wonderful worlds in which to escape, little Alice, the Mad Hatter and The Queen of Hearts have always created an endless fascination and curiosity of wonder for me."

Marie is joined by sculptors Robert Ellis and James Coplestone of Robert James Workshop with their sculptures of various characters from the book.
Local stained glass artist, Emma Butler-Cole Aitken has produced some Mimsy Borogoves and a Cheshire Cat especially for the exhibition.


Cheshire Cat by Emma Butler-Cole Aitken
Hatter's Tea Party by Marie Louise Wrightson

Big Book Challenge

With recent reading initiatives to encourage children to read, including World Book Day in March, The Children’s Trust is re-launching its Big Book Challenge. Children of all ages are invited to take part in this special challenge to read as many books as possible over the next few months and, through sponsorship from family and friends, raise money for children with disabilities. Every penny raised will help to enhance the lives of some very special children at The Children’s Trust, who receive care, education and therapy, including children with an acquired brain injury.

Every child, who takes part in the Big Book Challenge, will receive a special certificate. In addition, each child who raises over £50, will receive a copy of ‘The Bestest Ever Bear’ poetry book, a delightful collection of bear poems. For more information visit: www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/bigbookchallenge or call Sherene on 01737 365017.

Blue Peter Awards

The nation’s children have voted Diary of a Wimpy Kid by American author Jeff Kinney as Blue Peter’s Best Children’s Book of the Last 10 Years, beating J K Rowling’s boy wizard to the top spot in a special online vote.

South London author Gareth P Jones will also be howling with excitement to learn that his werewolf mystery The Considine Curse has triumphed to win the accolade of Blue Peter Book of the Year.

Blue Peter Editor Tim Levell comments on the winners:
‘I am delighted with our two winning books. They are very different in terms of subject matter: one about school life, one about a creepy family with a secret. But they're both funny, well-observed and well-written books that do exactly what Blue Peter tries to do: treat children as grown-ups. The awards even contained a bit of a shock, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid beating hot favourite and top-seller Harry Potter. The accident-prone American upstart has snatched a bit of the boy wizard's
magic.’

The shortlist for the Best Children’s Book of the Last 10 years (in title order) was:
Alex Rider Mission 3: Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz (Walker Books, 2002)
Candyfloss by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Random House Children’s
Books, 2006)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Puffin, 2008)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling (Bloomsbury, 2003)
Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony Ross (Orion
Children’s Books, 2006)
Mr Stink by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake (HarperCollins Children’s Books,
2009)
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2003)
The Series of Unfortunate Events: Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket (Egmont Books,
2002)
Theodore Boone by John Grisham (Hodder & Stoughton, 2010)
Young Bond: SilverFin ─ A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson (Puffin, 2005)

·The shortlist for the Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012 was:
Discover the Extreme World by Camilla de la Bedoyere, Clive Gifford, John Farndon,
Steve Parker, Stewart Ross and Philip Steele (Miles Kelly)
The Official Countdown to the London 2012 Games by Simon Hart (Carlton Books)
The Considine Curse by Gareth P Jones (Bloomsbury)
A Year without Autumn by Liz Kessler (Orion Children’s Books)

·
·booktrust.org.uk/bluepeter
·

Foyles Young Poets of the Year

The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award opens for entries
Open for Submissions: 12 March
Deadline: 31st July 2012
Judges: Helen Mort and Christopher Reid
www.foyleyoungpoets.org

Campaign for the Book: Lobby 13 March

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey is giving evidence to the Culture, Sport and Media Select Committee on the same day, March 13th as the Speak Up for Libraries coalition, supported by the Campaign for the Book, holds a rally and lobby of parliament in support of the public library service.

We need your support to highlight the threat to our libraries.

Hundreds face the withdrawal of local authority funding. Full time library staff are being made redundant at a worrying rate. Annie Mauger, chief executive of CILIP, put the figure of jobs lost at 20% of the total.
*Attend the march and lobby. So that we have an idea of numbers please leave a comment confirming you can attend on the Speak Up for Libraries Facebook page. (See below).

*Among the speakers confirmed are Kate Mosse, author, Dan Jarvis MP, Shadow Culture Minister, Ruth Bond (National Federation of Women’s Institutes), Dave Prentis (Unison), Mar Dixon, Andrew Coburn and Laura Swaffield (The Library Campaign), Alan
Gibbons (Campaign for the Book). Further speakers including those from CILIP and Voices for the Library will be announced soon.

Lobby your MP on 13 March

During the lobby of Parliament, on 13 March, we want local library users, campaigners and staff to help us highlight the importance of libraries in providing access to learning and as a vital lifeline for many communities.

Library services have borne the considerable brunt of public spending cuts since the Coalition government took office in 2010. Of the 4,612 libraries in the UK, an estimated 10% are currently either closed or under threat of closure.

The number of paid staff in libraries has fallen by 4% over the past year, whilst the number of volunteers has increased by 22%.

Local campaigns are happening all over the UK to counter threats to library services, but at the lobby we will join together to send a clear message to MPs.

Public libraries and staff have a long and proud tradition of providing open access to information and promoting literacy, and during times of recession they are more vital than ever.

We are calling on MPs to take action to ensure library services are sustained and developed into the 21st century.

Join the rally and lobby

1. Come and attend the rally and hear high profile speakers entertainment and films all telling the same story - libraries are a valued and vital resource.

2. Visit the 'pop up' library and see for yourself the many faces a modern library.

3. Arrange to meet with your MP and tell them now is the time to act to protect libraries. Email your MP to arrange to meet them.

4. Support the campaign, and let us know if you are coming to the lobby.

The rally will take place from 11.30am at Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate, Westminster, London SW1H 9NH. The lobby of Parliament will start at 2.30pm.

More here:

http://www.speakupforlibraries.org

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/

346716692029129

Scottish Children's Book Awards

Ross Collins, Ross MacKenzie and Nicola Morgan have been named as this year’s winners of the 2011 SCOTTISH CHILDREN’S BOOK 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 yesterday during a special ceremony at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre, attended by 600 young people from all over
Scotland.

Originally set up by the Scottish Arts Council in 1999, the Scottish Children’s Book Awards are now run by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Creative Scotland.
Record numbers of children took part in the awards in 2011, with over 23,000 children from all over Scotland voting for their favourite books – a staggering 40% more than last year - and over a quarter of all Scottish schools registering to take part. Votes were cast from every single Scottish education authority, from Dumfries
and Galloway to Shetland, in schools, libraries and nurseries.

Award-winning author Ross Collins won the Bookbug Readers Category (0-7 Years) for his picture book Dear Vampa (published by Hodder). Ross said:
“I am delighted and honoured to win the Bookbug Category of the Scottish Children’s Book Awards 2011 for ‘Dear Vampa’. I’d like to thank all the schools and children who participated this year. I only wish that I could bite each one of them personally.”

Debut young-fiction author Ross MacKenzie won the Younger Readers Category (8-11 Years) for his first novel, Zac and the Dream Pirates (published by Chicken House). He said: “I'm delighted (and stunned!) to hear that ‘Zac and the Dream Pirates’ has won the Younger Readers category of the Scottish Children's Book Awards 2011. Knowing that thousands of children across Scotland have enjoyed my book enough to vote for it is incredible. Perhaps it's fitting that the story is about dreams – I can't help thinking I'm going to wake from this one at any minute!”

Popular teenage fiction author Nicola Morgan won the Older Readers Category (12-16 Years) for Wasted (published by Walker). Nicola commented:
“I am overwhelmed and still can't quite believe it. ‘Wasted’ was a risky book to write, because it's unusual - well, ok, weird - and that meant it was really hard to predict whether readers would respond well. But the risk paid off and I'm utterly thrilled and incredibly grateful to all the readers who voted and the adults who worked so hard toorganise the awards.”

The total prize fund is £12,000, with the shortlisted authors and illustrators receiving £500 per book, and the winning authors and illustrators winning £3,000 per book at the award ceremony. Last year’s winning Bookbug Readers Category title, What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson, was also gifted to all primary 1 children in
Scotland in November 2011.

Essex Book Festival

Those living in Essex are spoilt for choice during March with a goodly array of authors appearing across the county, both for adults and children. Check out the details on their website www.essexbookfestival.org.uk. Children's events just ring the Just Imagine Story Centre open Monday to Friday 9.30-5pm 01245 267748...but check the programme first!

Red House Children's Book Award 2012

The overall award has been won by Patrick Ness for "A Monster Calls" from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd. "Scruffy Bear and the Six White Mice" by Chris Wormell has won the Younger Children's section with Younger Readers going to Liz Pichon for "The Brilliant World of Tom Gates".

Manchester Children's Book Festival

You can see the early line-up for this Festival at www.mcbf.org.uk/programme which takes place 28 June - 8 July.

Sebastian Walker Award

The Inaugural Sebastian Walker Award for the Most Promising Student 2012 was awarded at a private view of the MA Children’s Book Illustration Graduation Exhibition at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, London. The award, run in collaboration with the MA course in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art at Anglia Ruskin University, was hotly contested with the £500 prize being jointly awarded to
graduates Heidi Deedman and Becky Palmer. Both will also have their MA project considered on a first option basis by Walker Books.

Deirdre McDermott, Walker Books Picture Book Publisher comments:

“The high standard of illustration from the Cambridge MA students is recognised worldwide, and the students' work this year is no exception. Walker Books are so pleased to be collaborating with Cambridge School of Art’s MA and extend admiration to Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration and Pam Smy along with their band of tutors - Alexis Deacon, James Mayhew, Salvatore Rubbino and David Hughes - for enabling the exceptional standard of work on view at this year’s exhibition. Heidi Deedman is a joint prize winner because we think that her art is very original and her characters are amusingly expressive. Heidi also has a unique colour sense but, most importantly for a budding picture book maker, she draws funny pictures! We also chose Becky Palmer as a prize winner because we think that her draughtsmanship is simply extraordinary – it's so refreshing for us to see a student who can really, really DRAW! Becky also writes very well; her storytelling is witty and the keen observation and characterisation of people in her art is perfect for picture book publishing.”

The Sebastian Walker Award was established in 2011 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sebastian Walker’s Death.

Campaign for the Book: Meeting the Minister

Alan Gibbons reports: Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson, Gloucestershire Library
Campaigner John Holland, Voices for the Library Representative Gary Green and I met Culture Minister Ed Vaizey at the palace of Westminster on Wednesday, 1st February to discuss the future of libraries. The meeting was arranged by Jo Swinson MP and comes at a crucial time.

National Libraries Day is this Saturday, 4th February with events taking place all over the UK, the Select Committee for Culture Media and Sport starts taking evidence next week and a coalition of library campaign groups has called a lobby of parliament for Tuesday, 13th March. There is a good reason for all this activity. The future of a coherent, national library service hangs in the balance. The Campaign for the Book has consistently pointed to the ‘hollowing out’ of the service through:
*library branch closure
*the handing over of libraries to community volunteers
*opening hour reductions
*book fund cuts
*the sacking of library staff

I have endeavoured to give as honest a report of our discussions with Mr Vaizey as possible. I am happy to make amendments if anyone thinks the account is inaccurate.

JULIA DONALDSON argued that libraries are vital and where possible branches should be within walking distance of users. She argued that children’s reading is fundamental. Initiatives such as Bookstart, the Summer Reading Challenge and well-attended literary events are needed to instill a love of reading and a feeling for language. She insisted that we do not just need a plush city centre library that does not fit the needs of the community. A library should be local, a place where youngsters can do homework and people can access a full range of services. She voiced concerns that volunteers were replacing full time staff.

ALAN GIBBONS continued by stressing the importance of reading for pleasure, pointing to the evidence in the World Literacy Foundation report that illiteracy costs the UK £81 billion a year. He stressed that libraries were an important vehicle in combating illiteracy especially for people from less privileged backgrounds. He quoted Mr Vaizey’s words in March, 2009 when he was Shadow Minister for Culture. Mr Vaizey lambasted the then Minister Andy Burnham for not intervening in the Wirral situation (Burnham later changed his mind and commissioned the Charteris Report and stopped the library closure programme):
"Andy Burnham's refusal to take action in the Wirral effectively renders the 1964 Public Libraries Act meaningless. While it is local authorities' responsibility to provide libraries, the Act very clearly lays responsibility for ensuring a good service at the culture secretary's door. It 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 ignoring his responsibilities as secretary of state, which in the process renders any sense of libraries being a statutory requirement for local authorities meaningless."

Alan asked under what conditions the Secretary of State would intervene when there were many situations, highlighted by recent legal challenges as serious as Wirral. He mentioned Gloucestershire, Somerset, Lewisham, Bolton and Surrey.

JOHN HOLLAND reported that Gloucestershire County Council had tried to make 43% cuts in its library service on the basis of a one-dimensional review. This was on top of a 25% cut the previous year. In addition the book fund was being slashed and mobile libraries stopped. It was as if Gloucestershire had taken everything Wirral had done wrong as an example of how to proceed. There was no local needs assessment and no focus on children. Gloucestershire ignored two of Ed Vaizey’s own recommendations made in a letter to local councils. He reported on the campaigners’ successful Judicial Review and the judge’s government that the County Council was guilty of bad government and had acted unlawfully. The judge effectively agreed with the Charteris Report into the Wirral closures. John pointed out that the judge had said the real duty of superintendence was the responsibility of the Secretary of State.

GARY GREEN argued that the councils making cuts did not understand the value of what libraries do. He attacked the myths that everyone can buy their books in commercial outlets and that librarianship was not a professional job. He argued that public libraries are a social equalizer. Not everyone has ICT skills. Librarians promote social cohesion through a series of events and informal learning. He attacked the notion that there had to be a commercial outcome from the work of libraries. Everything seemed to be about saving money rather than properly trained staff providing a vital service.

In reply ED VAIZEY said he was optimistic about the future of libraries and argued that the vast majority of libraries were doing well. He said the library service was not in crisis and argued that it was sometimes appropriate to close libraries. He was in favour of intervention in Wirral because there was no proper libraries review. He was glad when Andy Burnham called Wirral in. He argued that the library service should be configured to the interests of local councils and that the provision of a comprehensive and efficient service should remain. He said he could not intervene ‘on a political whim’ and would only act on the advice of his officials. He argued that there was a clear division of responsibilities between the judiciary and the Secretary of State and they should not be confused.

He said that Wirral was the only case of intervention in the history of the 1964 Act and that the other example, Derbyshire, was a threatened intervention which resulted in action. The Secretary of State could not intervene over every situation.

IN DISCUSSION the campaigners argued the series of legal actions indicated that the Secretary of State should have intervened and a number of areas were acting in a manner comparable to Wirral. They argued that there should be more up to date advice to councils within the framework set by Charteris. They also argued that there should be a reinstatement of public library standards.

Mr Vaizey said he had no plans for any of these measures but was prepared to listen if campaigners made representations. The campaigners stressed the need for a strong core of salaried, trained librarians. Mr Vaizey said these were important but put more stress on some libraries being run by volunteers to sustain small branches.

There was clear disagreement over many issues, but it was a blunt, purposeful exchange of views. The campaign to save the public library service will continue.

Alan Gibbons

1.2.2012

Island a play for children at the National Theatre, London

Island

National Theatre Learning presents Nicky Singer's absorbing new play for young audiences. 15-25 February

In the middle of the Arctic Ocean lies an island where it is always day. The ice groans and cracks, the ground shifts under your feet, and skies flash with ice storms that freeze flesh in thirty seconds flat. Little wonder Cameron is reluctant to spend a week of his school holidays there.

Cut off from the rest of the world on this deserted island, he has no computer or phone and his iPod is fast running out of battery. Armed with dustbin lids to ward off any danger, he sets out to see if the island is, indeed, uninhabited.

Suitable for 8yrs+ | Tickets: Adults £12, under-18yrs £8

Blue Peter: best children's book of the last ten years

Blue Peter commences its search to find the best children’s book of the last decade, with the launch of an online vote in which its young viewers will be able to choose from a shortlist of 10 iconic titles.

From a young James Bond to a reluctant teenage superspy, an infamous boy wizard and an underage First World War soldier, miniature action heroes abound in the list which features the bestselling children’s fiction books published in the last 10 years, with only one book per author included.

The 10 books competing for the accolade (in title order) are:

· Alex Rider Mission 3: Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz (Walker Books, 2002)

· Candyfloss by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Random House Children’s Books, 2006)

· Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Puffin, 2008)

· Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling (Bloomsbury, 2003)

· Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony Ross (Orion Children’s Books, 2006)

· Mr Stink by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2009)

· Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2003)

· The Series of Unfortunate Events: Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket (Egmont Books, 2002)

· Theodore Boone by John Grisham (Hodder & Stoughton, 2010)

· Young Bond: SilverFin ─ A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson (Puffin, 2005)

The shortlist for the vote is made up of the 10 bestselling (by volume) fiction books of the last 10 years for 5─11 year olds with a first publication date between January 2002 and December 2011. Only the top-selling book per individual, named author is included. (Source: Nielsen BookScan TCM Top 5000 Children’s Fiction (Y2) from 200101 to 201152 filtered by CMBC Interest Level 5─11 years.)

Tim Levell, Editor of Blue Peter and Chair of Judges for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2012 comments:
‘Children care as much about books as adults do ─ if not more so. We wanted to capture that by creating a vote to find out which book from the last ten years they love the most. This is a fantastic list: every single book on the shortlist is a corker. Normally I'm all for playground harmony, but if on this occasion there is the odd playground argument about which book is better, then bring it on!’

The shortlist will be featured on Blue Peter’s website bbc.co.uk/bluepeter for three weeks, during which time children under the age of 16 can log on with their BBC iD and vote for their favourite. The vote will close at 4pm on Thursday 23 February.
The winning book will be announced on Blue Peter on 1 March (5.45pm, CBBC), alongside the winner of the annual Blue Peter Book of the Year Award on a special show dedicated to books to tie-in with World Book Day. Blue Peter will invite the winning author to collect a ‘Best Children’s Book of the Last 10 Years’ trophy on the show.

Imagine Festival, South Bank, London 10-26 February

A cornucopia of events for children with music, storytelling, book swops, drama taking place at various venues in and around the Royal Festival Hall. Authors include Cressida Cowell, Morris Gleitzman, Francesca Simon, Jeremy Strong, Jacqueline Wilson, Mackenzie Crook and a poetry platform with Roger McGough, Jackie Kay and Lemn Sissay. Drama includes "Private Peaceful" and the glorious sounding "Trial of Dennis the Menace".

This year for the first time the Red House Children's Book Award takes place in February and tickets can be bought on the Imagine website. Alas as far as I can see there is no mention of any link with the Federation of Children's Books who run the award but perhaps they will be present on the day or throughout the festival. Seems the perfect opportunity to raise the profile and get new members.

Half Term at National Portrait Gallery

Activities all week of which the two below are merely examples.

Tour & Draw

Family

13 February 2012, 11:00-11:45
Meet at the Welcome Desk
Free
Discover the hidden stories behind portraits in the Collections with our team of artist and storytellers
Suitable for ages 3+ and their carers. No ticket required. The session will last approximately 45 minutes.

Family Art Workshops: Ruffs and Cuffs
Family Art Workshops: Ruffs and Cuffs

Family||Workshop

13 February 2012, 11:30-13:00
Meet at the Welcome Desk
Free
Join costume and set designer Georgia Lowe from the Royal Shakespeare Company to create an amazing accessory, and weave your own story into your creation about one of the portraits from the Imagined Lives display.
Suitable for ages 5+ and their carers. Free ticket required and available on the day one hour before the event starts from the Welcome Desk. The session will last approximately 90 minutes. Places are limited to 20 per session, maximum 4 tickets per adult.

Quentin Blake at The Foundling Museum

"As Large as Life" is a joy...I especially liked the percussion wheelchair (see a detail from the Welcome to Planet Zog pic).

The Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square, London WC1 is a short (well ten to fifteen minutes walk) from the main line stations of Euston, St Pancras and Kings Cross. There is a cafe. The moving story of Coram's Children together with Britain's first public art collection (includes a wonderful portait of Captain Coram by Hogarth) and a collection of Handel scores. Regular temporary exhibitions are held - the Quentin Blake exhibiton is there until 15 April 2012. The first Saturday in the month sees Family Fun days - for details about these and more information go to www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk

Print Workshops, Oxford Story Museum

Leave the computer behind! The Bodleian Hand Printing Workshop at The Story Museum is launching a spring programme of hands-on sessions for both families and adults, starting in February. Visitors will learn about the history and techniques of letterpress printing, hand set a short text and print it as a keepsake.

They’ll be able to use original printing presses, metal type and techniques that have a direct link back to Gutenberg (the father of modern book printing) and the early days of European printing in the fifteenth century.

The Bodleian Library’s printing presses have found a new home at The Story Museum’s premises in Pembroke Street, Oxford, where they will stay for the next couple of years. The workshops are led by Dr Paul W. Nash, the Bodleian’s chief tutor and specialist in historical printing techniques and machinery. He also runs his own letterpress printing studio, The Strawberry Press. Dr Nash said: “Computer-generated texts are two-dimensional. But traditional metal type, printed on mould-made paper using a hand-press and thick, odorous ink makes words in three dimensions, in a process that moves directly from the hand, through the type, to the page. Anyone who is bored with computer-generated text will enjoy getting to grips with the physicality of hand printing.”

Family print workshops
2-4 pm Saturday 25 February
2-4 pm Saturday 24 March
2-4 pm Saturday 28 April
2-4 pm Saturday 26 May
Cost: £8 per person. All ages 8 plus. Children up to 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Adult print workshop
7-9 pm Tuesday 27 March
Cost: £15 per person. Age 16 plus

Hand printing course
7-9 pm Tuesdays: six sessions, from April 10. An exciting workshop for beginners or those with some knowledge of printing and graphic design. Learn techniques, print and bind a small book. Cost £120 per person for six sessions. Age 16 plus.

Booking: Eka Morgan, The Story Museum: 01865 790050 eka@storymuseum.org.uk
Information: Paul Nash paul@strawberrypress.co.uk
The Story Museum, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP
www.storymuseum.org.uk/print

Award News: Newbery and Caldecott Medals

The American Library Association's Newbery Medal for a children's book has gone to "Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. The Caldecott Medal for an illustrated book went to "A Ball for Daisy" by Chris Raschka.

As far as I am aware both books are not available in the UK - though American books can be bought through Amazon. Both authors, though, may well be familiar as other titles are in print in the UK.

Illustation Cupboard, 22 Bury Street, London SW1

Celebrating Asylum: A Group Exhibition
2nd - 14th February 2012

Illustrationcupboard is proud to present a unique exhibition and sale of original illustration artwork in support of St Mary Magdalene Centre for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. This small London-based charity offers some of the capital’s most vulnerable people a safe place in which to meet and study, working with refugees from countries as far apart as Eritrea and Turkey, Albania and Congo,Kosovo, Afghanistan and Syria.

Many of the refugees and asylum seekers living in London have severe health problems, feel isolated, receive no benefits and are challenged on a daily basis by things we take for granted. St Mary Magdalene Centre offers them a warm welcome and a chance to develop their own skills and talents, helping them to help one another. A small team of dedicated teachers and over 30 volunteers provide daily English classes (working towards accredited qualifications), clothes,food parcels, advice and help – and perhaps most importantly of all, friendship.

Unfortunately the Centre now faces cuts which threaten its future, so some of the greatest illustrative talents working today have generously donated their original
artwork for sale, to raise money for this worthy cause. This unique exhibition offers
the collector a real opportunity to acquire world-class artwork, whilst helping some
of London’s most isolated people to feel a sense of belonging. Highlights include
artwork by Shirley Hughes, Chris Riddell, Jane Ray (whose illustration is at the top of this blog) and Axel Scheffler. Website preview available from 28th January at www.illustrationcupboard.com
Monday - Friday 9:30am – 6:00pm Saturday 11:00am – 5:00pm
Entry is free. Families welcome.

www.illustrationcupboard.com
gallery@illustrationcupboard.com

Julia Donaldson Exhibition at Seven Stories

A Squash and a Squeeze: Sharing Stories with Julia Donaldson
17 March 2012 until March 2013
Seven Stories, the national centre for children’s books, Newcastle upon Tyne

Seven Stories announces a brand new exhibition with Julia Donaldson, current Children's Laureate,best known as the creator of the Gruffalo, which brings her captivating story worlds to life.

Visitors can find out how she wrote modern classics such as The Gruffalo, Princess Mirror-Belle,The Troll and most recently The Highway Rat and explore original artwork by her many illustrators– most famously Axel Scheffler, but also Lydia Monks, David Roberts, Nick Sharratt, Karen Georgeand Emily Gravett.

Julia Donaldson said:
“I am thrilled that my work, and that of my illustrators, is to be presented in such a stimulating and child-friendly way, with so many mini-words and activities. Because of my love of drama and song, I am particularly excited about the theatre and the juke box!”

The exhibition will follow her journey from song writer for children’s television programmes to current Children’s Laureate and show how she inspires her readers with story, rhyme and rhythm.
Visitors can join in with stories and songs in the exhibition named after Julia’s very first book, A Squash and A Squeeze which originally sprang from a song.

Children and their families can share stories and explore sensory environments based on Julia’s books. They can follow in Toddle Waddle’s footsteps, climb into the cave with the Cave Baby and meet The Gruffalo. Sing-a-long to her songs on Julia’ Jukebox or perform a play on our stage.

Seven Stories will explore the impact sharing stories has on child development through learning projects in partnership with Action for Children and children with hearing impairments.

Julia Donaldson will visit Seven Stories on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 April 2012 to run two exclusive events. Join Julia for an hour of storytelling, songs and fun in The Gruffalo and Friends with Julia Donaldson on Thursday 12 April at 11am and 2.30pm. Princesses big and small can join Julia for a fun filled event based around Princess Mirror-Belle on Friday 13 April at 11am. All three events will be followed by public book signings, have very limited capacity and can be booked
online at www.sevenstories.org.uk or by calling Seven Stories on 0845 271 0777 ext 715.

This exhibition is supported by Scholastic, Macmillan Children’s Books and Alison Green Books.

Picture This Exhibition, Oldham

Picture This! Illustrating Children’s Books
26th November 2011 – 11th March 2012
Gallery Oldham
Oldham Cultural Centre, Greaves Street, Oldham OL1 1AL

A family friendly exhibition featuring works from household names Shirley Hughes, Anthony Browne, Jez Alborough and Helen Stephens are displayed alongside new work from emerging illustrators. Sketchbooks and working drawings are also on show and there is a free family event on Saturday 28th January.

Gallery Oldham is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm & on Sundays 10am – 4 pm. Admission is free.