31 December 2008

National Year of Reading

As 2008 National Year of Reading draws to a close there is much to celebrate. Its main achievements have been to raise the profile of reading and gain recognition for the value of and pleasure in reading for millions. Here are just a few of the highlights, arranged by number, for the National Year of Reading as listed on the NYR website:
*400 million opportunities to view NYR messages in regional or national press
*2 million new library members
*250,000 picture books distributed via The Sun
*30,000 Quick Reads distributed via News of the World
*23,000 more boys taking part in The Summer Reading Challenge
*Over 1,250 articles on Wikireadia, the good practice guide to reading
*Nearly 6,000 reading events registered on the NYR website
*150 NYR coordinators (one in each upper tier local authority) across England leading partnerships and delivering activities for their communities.
2009 will see on-going commitment and a campaign Reading for Life.
Happy Reading!

07 December 2008

Author visit: Chris Bradford

Carnegie nominated author Chris Bradford will be visiting Our Lady's Abingdon on Monday 8 December to talk about his book The Way of the Warrior, an historical adventure in the first of a gripping series called Young Samurai. As an expert in eight martial arts he will also treat Year 7 and Year 6 to a spectacular demonstration with a samurai sword and bokken, and sign copies of his book.
From the back cover:
August 1611. Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan – his beloved father and the crew lie slaughtered by ninja pirates. Rescued by the legendary sword master Masamoto Takeshi, Jack's only hope is to become a samurai warrior. And so his training begins. But life at the samurai school is a constant fight for survival. Even with his friend Akiko by his side, Jack is singled out by bullies and treated as an outcast. With courage in his heart and his sword held high, can Jack prove himself and face his deadliest rival yet?
I couldn't put it down!
More information: http://www.youngsamurai.com and http://www.chrisbradford.co.uk

01 December 2008

Write the Future

The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for November is Write the Future. Use the opportunity to explore the diversity of reading and writing on this theme. Here is a selection available from the school Library.
Man on the Moon: a day in the life of Bob by Simon Bartram in Visual Treats
This picture book is about life out in space. Bob’s work is to look after the Moon, entertaining visitors and selling them souvenirs. He has to check that the visitors have left at four-thirty each day and tidy up after them. Little does he realise that there are Aliens! This is an amusing introduction to the world of science fiction and a ‘must’ for reading aloud, with wonderful illustrations.
George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy and Stephen Hawking at JUN FIC HAW
Take a rollercoaster ride through the vastness of space and, in the midst of an exciting adventure, discover the mysteries of physics, science and the universe with George, his new friends next door - the scientist Eric and his daughter, Annie - and a super-intelligent computer called Cosmos, which can take them to the edge of a black hole and back again. Or can it? And who else would like to get their hands on Cosmos? This title is a funny and hugely informative romp through space, time and the universe. It can be read aloud to younger children who love to imagine other worlds and what the future brings, but can also be enjoyed by older readers.
Exodus by Julie Bertagna at MOV FIC BER
It is 2099 - and the world is gradually drowning, as mighty Arctic ice floes melt, the seas rise, and land disappears forever beneath storm-tossed waves. For 15-year-old Mara, her family and community, huddled on the fast-disappearing island of Wing, the new century brings flight. Packed into tiny boats, a terrifying journey begins to a bizarre city that rises into the sky, built on the drowned remains of the ancient city of Glasgow. But even here there is no safety and, shut out of the city, Mara realizes they are asylum-seekers in a world torn between high-tech wizardry and the most primitive injustice. To save her people, Mara must not only find a way into the city but also search for a new land and a new home.
The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer at JUN FIC COL
Set in Satellite City, in the not-too-distant future. Thirteen-year-old Cosmo Hill is unfortunate enough to come into the world unwanted by his parents. And so, as are all orphaned boys his age, Cosmo is dipped in a vaccine vat and sent - freight class - to the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. His attempt to escape goes badly wrong and he is only saved through the help of some ragamuffins. This is a pacy page-turner which is full of futuristic gizmos and high-tech gadgets. It takes a cleverly disguised sideswipe at multinationals and man’s effect on nature.
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve at JUN FIC REE
Tom and Hester have been thrown out of a city on wheels (while it hares off after its prey) and left in the middle of a post-nuclear landscape. Hester is desperate for revenge, and Tom is only desperate to get back on board his beloved London. This is a stunning literary debut from Philip Reeve. A novel that defies easy categorisation, it is a gripping adventure story set in an inspired fantasy world, where moving cities trawl the globe. Peopled with convincing and utterly likeable characters, this story is a magical and unique read and a worthy winner of the Smarties Book Prize 9-11 Category 2002 and Smarties Book Prize Gold Award 2002. Sequels are Predator’s Gold, Infernal Devices and A Darkling Plain.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells at JUN FIC WEL
In the late 1900s, a Victorian scientist shows his disbelieving dinner guests a device he claims is a Time Machine. Respectable London scarcely has the imagination to cope with him. A week later they reconvene to find him ragged, exhausted and garrulous. The tale he tells is of the year 802,701 after he has visited the future of the human race.
Other titles include: The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man.
3001: the Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke at SEN FIC CLA
Arthur C. Clarke is arguably one of the greatest and most prophetic science fiction writers. Having written 2001: a space odyssey when landing on the moon was still a dream, it was made into one of the most influential films of the 20th century. The story tackles the enduring theme of man's place in the universe. After drifting to an icy death in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the body of astronaut Frank Poole is recovered in the outer reaches of the Solar System. Preserved at near absolute zero, it is a simple task for medical science a millennium hence to restore Poole to life, and the first half is devoted to Poole's integration into the society of the future. If anything he adjusts with far too little grief or culture shock: apart from mourning his dog, and learning how the new technology works, he faces no major difficulties. Still, the world of the future is drawn with broad, imaginative strokes and apart from a persistent continuity error which makes Poole 6 years old in 2001. The plot kicks into gear with the revelation that the famous black monoliths may ultimately not have humanity's interests at heart, leading to a perfunctorily presented struggle for survival. 3001: the Final Odyssey does provide the satisfaction of closure to Clarke's epic Odyssey Quartet.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld at MOV FIC WES
Tally lives in a world where your sixteenth birthday brings an operation which transforms you from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'. As well as guaranteeing supermodel looks, life as a Pretty seems to revolve around having a good time. But then she meets Shay, who is also fifteen - but with a very different outlook on life. Shay plans to escape to a community in the forest - the Rusty Ruins - where Uglies go to escape ' turning'. Tally is not prepared to sacrifice everything she's ever wanted for a lot of uncertainty but finds herself sent to the Ruins anyway on an undercover mission; if she refuses to go she will forfeit her birthday operation. What she discovers in the Ruins reveals that there is nothing 'pretty' about the transformations.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley at SEN FIC HUX
Far in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs, all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx seems alone harbouring an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations where the old, imperfect life still continues may be the cure for his distress... Huxley has created a novel which decades after its first edition (1932) is still essential reading and current; it tackles issues of genetic modification, cloning and totalitarianism, while managing to avoid the pitfall of being too scientific or political. A classic, and frighteningly prophetic, look at what the future may bring.
1984 by George Orwell at SEN FIC ORW
Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party. Yet he inwardly rebels against the totalitarian world he lives in, which demands absolute obedience and controls him through the all-seeing telescreens and the watchful eye of Big Brother, symbolic head of the Party. In his longing for truth and liberty, Smith begins a secret love affair with fellow worker Julia, but soon discovers the true price of freedom is betrayal.
Hello H20 by John Agard at 821 AGA
Full of wonder and excitement at the discoveries of science, this is another highly original collection of poems from one of Britain's leading poets, uniquely complemented by witty and entertaining illustrations. Certain to be enjoyed by all who have an interest in science and the natural world, this collection is poetry of the highest order. Providing numerous links between literacy and science, subjects range from water vapour to the wind, from robots to outer space, from physics to chemistry and biology. Always entertaining, often thought-provoking and sometimes deeply moving, this is a collection to treasure and return to time and again.
The Science of Doctor Who by Paul Parsons at 500.22 PAR
This book covers everything from how Daleks climb stairs to regenerating like the Time Lord. You can discover: why time travel isn't ruled out by the laws of physics; the real K-9 - the robot assistant for space travellers built by NASA; how Dalek-like designer lifeforms are being bred by genetic engineering; why before long we could all be regenerating like a Time Lord; and the medical truth about the Doctor's two hearts, and the real creature with five. A must for all Doctor Who fans of any age.
An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming by Al Gore at 333.7 GOR
The truth about the climate crisis means we are going to have to change the way we live our lives - and this affects young people above all. Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, writes about the urgent need to solve the problems of climate change, presenting facts and information on all aspects of global warming in a direct, thoughtful and compelling way, using explanatory diagrams and dramatic photos to clarify and highlight key issues. For this young adult edition, the text has been edited down from 320 to 192 pages, with younger readership in mind, so sections aimed specifically at adults (e.g. insurance implications, investing in energy and political material) have been omitted in favour of clear text, appropriate photographs and easily understandable graphs. The overall aim is to gear the content to the people who will in fact be dealing with global warming for the rest of their lives.

30 November 2008

2008 Costa Book Awards

2008 Costa Children’s Book Award shortlist
Keith Gray for Ostrich Boys
Saci Lloyd for The Carbon Diaries 2015
Michelle Magorian for Just Henry
Jenny Valentine for Broken Soup
The shortlists for the other categories of the award are below.
Costa First Novel Award:
The Behaviour of Moths by Poppy Adams
The Outcast by Sadie Jones
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Inside the Whale by Jennie Rooney
Costa Biography Award:
Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athill
Bloomsbury Ballerina by Judith Mackrell
If You Don't Know Me By Now: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton by Sathnam Sanghera
Chagall by Jackie Wullschlager
Costa Novel Award:
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
A Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernieres
Trauma by Patrick McGrath
Costa Poetry Award:
For All We Know by Ciaran Carson
The Broken Word by Adam Foulds)
Sunday at the Skin Launderette by Kathryn Simmonds
Salvation Jane by Greta Stoddart
More information

2008 Eleanor Farjeon Award

The winner of the Eleanor Farjeon Award for 2008 is Chris Brown, a former Head Teacher and the Reviews Editor of the School Librarian magazine. The Eleanor Farjeon Award is made for distinguished service to the world of children's books and is given to someone whose commitment and contribution is deemed to be outstanding. The spirit of the award is to recognise the unsung heroes who contribute so much to every aspect of children's books. The shortlist also includded Michael Morpurgo, Elizabeth Hammill and Mary Briggs, joint founders of Seven Stories, the Children's Book History Society and David Wood the dramatist whose adaptations include 'Babe, the Sheep Pig' as well as 'The Tiger who Came to Tea'. Last year's winner of the award was Jane Nissen, the founder of Jane Nissen Books, which has been successful in bringing some of the best-loved children's books of the 20th century back into print. More information

New Famous Five book

Enid Blyton is the UK's best-loved writer, according to a survey conducted earlier this year for the Costa Book Awards. After several decades when Enid Blyton's books went out of fashion, her work is enjoying a comeback. Recently The Case Of The Missing Brooch has been turned into a limited edition book and podcast. This story is by a nine-year-old girl who won a competition to write a Famous Five book.

Success of graphic novels

Earlier this year the graphic novel Henry V from British company Classical Comics was been awarded a Silver Medal at the 2008 Independent Publishers Awards in America. Out of 3175 entries Henry V: Original Text, which was the first title from Classical Comics, won runner-up in the Graphic Novel/Drawn Book category. Since then the company has adapted Frankenstein and Jane Eyre, and a number of Shakespeare plays. The different format can introduce classics of literature to new readers. Look for these books in the Visual Treats section of the Library.

Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness has won the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The author wins Patrick received a cheque for £2,500 and a trophy. Launched in 2003 to recognise and celebrate contemporary fiction written for teenagers, the prize is judged by a mixed panel of adults and teenagers. The chair of the panel comments on violence in teenage fiction. Ness's book beat the following shortlisted titles:
Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson
The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony McGowan
Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner
Apache by Tanya Landman.
Previous winners are Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Sarah Singleton's Century, Anne Cassidy's Looking for JJ and Anthony McGowan's Henry Tumour.

2008 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize

The winner of the 2008 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize is The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English by Henry Hitchings. The book traces the routes of modern English, and beat Booker prizewinner Aravind Adiga, who was also on the shortlist.
This important prize is awarded in honour of the writer John Llewellyn Rhys, who was killed in action in the Second World War. It was founded 65 years by John Llewellyn Rhys's young wife, also a writer, who began the award to honour and celebrate his life.
Past winners include Margaret Drabble (1966), William Boyd (1982), Jeanette Winterson (1987), Ray Monk (1990), Matthew Kneale (1992) and David Mitchell (1999). Last year’s winner was Sarah Hall for The Carhullan Army. More information
An A-Z of surprising words by Henry Hitchins.

World's Richest Sportsbook Prize

Former England batsman, Marcus Trescothick's autobiography, 'Coming Back To Me', has won the world's most valuable sportswriting prize, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, winning Marcus Trescothick, and his co-writer, Peter Hayter £20,000. More information and a review of the prize since it started 20 years ago.

Old treasures become new books

Thanks in part to Oxford's Bodleain Library and to old books in publishers' archives lost treasures are being made available by new printing technology and print on demand. Read more in a fascinating feature article in The Bookseller.

The end of misery memoirs?

An article in The Times considers Misery memoirs: the final chapter?

George Orwell archive

To inspire interest in Orwell and political writing in general, entries from George Orwell's domestic and political diaries can be read online, 70 years since they were written. The domestic diaries cover his diverse interests, including nature, woodwork and cookery, while the political diaries carry his thoughts on the Spanish Civil War, his time in Morocco, British politics and the descent of Europe into world war. They start on 9th August 1938 and run until 1942. More information

Google developments: historic photo archive available

Google have signed a deal with Life Magazine to put the magazine's entire archive online. The Life archive contains photos and films dating back to 1880s. The archive includes approximately 10 million images, 97% of which have never been seen before. Initially 20% of the archive was available as the images are being scanned and made available on Google Image Search. More information
Google is also launching SearchWiki, a tool for users to annotate search results and share with others. More information

18 November 2008

Taste: The Story of Britain Through Its Cooking

Our Lady's Abingdon enjoyed a visit by author Kate Colquhoun whose book Taste: the story of Britain through its cooking came out last year. Two hugely entertaining and knowledgeable illustrated talks brought history to life by examining food and cooking.
Year 9's talk focussed on changes after World War 1 for the rich, poor and middle income families: food availability, its preparation and cooking, and the development of technology surrounding food.
Year 8 were fascinated by the topic of food in Tudor times. We found out why Henry VIII changed British fish eating habits and Elizabeth I's favourite food. After the talk questions flowed, fuelled by the fact that Year 8 will be designing their own Tudor dessert in a Cook's Apprentice competition to be judged by our own Alan Sugar.
Kate encouraged us to think of history not just in a text book but through the lives of people. We can find out about their life in their letters and diaries but it is also recorded in paintings, and seen in historical houses, gardens and kitchens. It has certainly left many of us with taste to revisit the largest kitchens of Tudor England at Hampton Court. Our thanks to Kate Colquhoun for coming.

13 November 2008

Roald Dahl Funny Prize

The winners of the first Roald Dahl Funny Prize have been announced.
For children aged 7-14:
Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton
For children aged six and under:
The Witch's Children Go to School by Ursula Jones.
The judging panel were author Sophie Dahl, comedian Dara O'Briain, author Kaye Umansky and illustrator Chris Riddell. The panel was chaired by the Children's Laureate Michael Rosen.
The winners receive a cheque for £2,500.

Blue Peter Book Awards Shortlists

Best Book With Facts:
Archaeology Detectives by Simon Adams
100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet by Anna Claybourne
Horrible Geography Handbooks: Planet in Peril by Anita Ganeri, illustrated by Mike Phillips.
Book I Couldn't Put Down:
Abela by Berlie Doherty
Shadow Forest by Matt Haig
Foul Play by Tom Palmer.
Most Fun Story with Pictures:
Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman
Fleabag by Helen Stephens
Lost! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong.
The winner of the Blue Peter Book Awards will be announced in the spring of 2009.

05 November 2008

Kids' Lit Quiz Oxfordshire and Berkshire Heat


Our two school teams have been selected, and are ready to take part in the sixth Oxfordshire and Berkshire Regional Heat of the international Kids' Lit Quiz on Tuesday 11 November. The heat will be taking place at Our Lady's Abingdon, 4.30 - 7.30 pm. Spectators are welcome! Because of numbers please be prepared to park the nearby public car park.

Over 30 teams from 20 schools will be taking part in the in the ten-round quiz, which is sponsored by Serco and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Oxford University Press is sponsoring the local heat book prizes. Subject questions on books and reading could include animals, Harry Potter, fantasy, nursery rhymes and authors but the topics will not be revealed until the quiz itself.

The winning team will receive the Kids' Lit Quiz Regional Cup, book tokens, books, and win a place in the Kids' Lit Quiz National Final alongside the 15 other regional winners. They will also receive an invitation to participate in next March's Oxford Literary Festival.

The spectators at Our Lady's will include several well-known local children's authors: Dennis Hamley, Linda Newbery, Meg Harper, Mark Robson, MG Harris, Susie Day and Rachael Wing. Rachael had her second book published in July, and is still at school! Abingdon Mayor Pat Lonergan, Deputy Mayor Patricia Hobby and representatives from Oxford University Press and Scholastic publishers will also attend. Music played by students from Our Lady's will welcome the visitors.

The top three teams will be given book tokens and in between rounds Quizmaster Wayne Mills will ask adult audience members a question for the chance to win a book token themselves. Children watching will also have the opportunity to win £1 coins, by answering further questions.

Bookstore (Abingdon) Ltd will be selling books written by the invited authors and other favourite titles. Refreshments will be available during the interval, which will include Fairtrade items.
http://www.kidslitquiz.com/

01 November 2008

Screen Reads

The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for November is Screen Reads. Use the opportunity to explore the diversity of reading and writing; scripts, television and films. Why not read the book before the film is released! Here are a selection of screen reads available from the school Library.
Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo
Beowulf's terrifying quest to destroy Grendel, the foul fiend, a hideous sea-hag and a monstrous fire-dragon is the oldest surviving epic in British literature. This edition is artfully retold and magnificently illustrated by Michael Foreman, making this epic tale instantly accessible to children.
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
The Borrowers are a tiny race of people who live hidden away in houses or other safe, convenient places, and own nothing except what they borrow from 'human beans'. The last family to live in the old house, Pod, Homily and Arriety have made a comfortable home beneath the kitchen floor. But their lives become threatened when Pod is seen while on a borrowing expedition...
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
If you love a good story, then look no further... When a cyclone hits Kansas, Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, are whisked away to the magical land of Oz. All alone in this strange world, they wonder how they'll ever get home...
Northern Lights (film: The Golden Compass)by Philip Pullman
When Lyra is given the strange and secret alethiometer, she begins an extraordinary journey that will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight.
Prince Caspian by C S Lewis
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are mysteriously transported back to Narnia where they discover that it has been hundreds of years since their reign as Kings and Queens of the land ended. Along with their old friend Prince Caspian they race to overthrow the King, calling on the help of Aslan and his trusty follower, Reepicheep the mouse.
Read the book before the film is released:
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Meggie loves books. So does her father, Mo, a bookbinder, although he has never read aloud to her since her mother mysteriously disappeared. They live quietly until the night a stranger knocks at their door...
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
The tale of three unlikely heroes - a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears - whose fates are intertwined with that of the castle's princess.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Shortly after moving into an old house with strange tenants above and below, Coraline discovers a big, carved, brown wooden door at the far corner of the drawing room. And it is locked...
Marley & Me by John Grogan
A family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog.
For older readers:
The Road by Cormac McCarthy

An extraordinary, compelling and frightening novel examining the relationship between a father and son wandering a post-apocalyptic world in search of sanctuary.
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Eric Schlosser's disturbing and timely exploration of one of the world's most controversial industries.

21 October 2008

Half-term reading


Make sure you visit the Library to stock up on your half-term reading! If you're not a big reader then it's all the more important you read every day of the holiday. When we come back I'll be making a list of all the different kinds of reading we'll have done during the break, and I'll have some prizes for anything that impresses me, not just because it's long! Use the holiday to try and finish off the books with 'Dalmatians'. There are over 70 slips on the board. Once we have 101 slips we'll hold the first draw. Should I find a well behaved dalmatian to sniff out the winner? Then the remaining Dalmatian slips will be collected until the end of term, when we'll hold a second draw.

20 October 2008

Book news

Julie Bertagna has won the Catalyst Award for her latest book Zenith, the sequel to Exodus. These are epic stories set in a flooded future - a Savage Earth saga. Published for young adults her books are read by a wide 'crossover' audience. Click here for her website.

Aravind Adiga has been named the winner of the £50,000 Man Booker Prize for his novel The White Tiger. Announced on 14 October at an awards ceremony at Guildhall, London, Adiga became the fourth debut novelist to win the coveted prize. Shortlisted runners-up Steve Toltz, Linda Grant, Philip Hensher, Amitav Ghosh and Sebastian Barry each received £2,500 with all authors, including Adiga, also receiving a designer-bound edition of their book. Click here for more information.

London is hosting the 2012 Olympic Games but just as important for worldwide reading promotion and literacy it will also host the IBBY World Congress, a biennial conference for publishers, authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, booksellers, cultural institutes and reading organisations. Attracting 1000 delegates from over 70 countries, this congress will provide professional and academic
opportunities and cultural exchange for those working to develop children's reading and access to books. An eBay benefit auction will be held between the 8th and 22nd November. Bidders will be given the opportunity to own an original Emily Gravett illustration, a rare first edition set of a Darren Shan novel or appear as a character in the next Cliff McNish book. These are just a few of the long list of pledges that children's writers and illustrators have generously donated for the IBBY World Congress Benefit auction. For more information click here.

07 October 2008

Kids' Lit Quiz - selecting OLA teams for the Oxford Heat

All this week the preliminary rounds to select OLA's two Kids' Lit Quiz teams will be taking place during Year 7's and Year 8's Library lessons. Higher scorers will be invited to a second round taking place in their own time, and they will need to confirm their availability to take part.

This year the Oxford Heat will be taking place at Our Lady's Abingdon on Tuesday 11 November, 4.30 - 7.30 p.m. It’s a great spectator event and super entertainment: put the date in your diary now!

01 October 2008

Word of Mouth

The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for October is Word of Mouth. It's a great opportunity to celebrate oral storytelling traditions.
Have fun storytelling!
Enjoy reading out loud!
Spend some time reading together!
Explore poetry!
Entrance an audience by reading aloud!
Suggestions for the month can be seen at: http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-october08.php. These include the following, all in the Library:
The Iron Man by Ted Hughes Age 6+
One of the greatest modern fairy tales raising questions about good and evil…
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dave Pilkey Age 6+
George and Harold create the greatest super-hero in their school's history. Meet Captain Underpants. His identity is so secret, even he doesn't know who he is. Great to read out loud with lots of sound effects!
The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer Age 8+
Will and Marty are packed off to the library during the school holidays. Can they escape the clutches of the legendary librarian Spud Murphy and her gas-powered spud gun? How did Ugly Frank got his nickname? Who gets tattooed with the pink Barbie stamp? Read on to discover how Will and Marty find out that libraries and books aren’t so bad after all...
Holes by Louis Sachar Age 10+
‘If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy.’ When he is sent to Camp Green Lake Detention Centre Stanley Yelnats has to dig a hole five foot wide by five foot deep each day and report if he finds anything. Digging holes has got nothing to do with turning a bad boy into a good boy and Stanley eventually digs up the truth...
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz Age 10+
Alex Rider’s world is turned upside down when his guardian is killed. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex trains with the SAS and armed with special gadgets is sent off on his first mission. Why would he need to investigate Herod Sayle who is giving free computers to every school in the country?
Witch Child by Celia Rees Age 12+
After her grandmother is hanged for witchcraft Mary escapes to a new life in America but soon realises that the atmosphere of superstition and suspicion have followed her. Mary uses all her wits and skill to survive the corruption of those around her.

Teen novel wins 2008 Guardian children's fiction prize

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Age 13+) has won the 2008 Guardian children's fiction prize. Todd is the last boy left in Prentisstown, a place where only men live; they exist in a world of noise, as their every thought can be heard. As Todd approaches his 13th birthday, he finds himself in great danger. Accompanied by his dog and guided by nothing but his own good sense, Todd must flee from Prentisstown and make his own way in a bleak and desolate world.
The Guardian children's fiction prize is the only children's book award in which writers are judged by their peers. This year's judges were Jenny Valentine, who won last year with Finding Violet Park, Mary Hoffman, author of The Falconer's Knot and Mal Peet, author of Keeper. The author receives a cheque for £1,500.
Report http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/sep/25/guardianchildrensfictionprize.booksforchildrenandteenagers
Longlist http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/may/24/guardianchildrensfictionprize.booksforchildrenandteenagers
More about the prize http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/guardianchildrensfictionprize

26 September 2008

Book Swap - Tuesday 30 September

Next week there will be a Book Swap in the Library all day Tuesday from 10.30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
How does it work?
- Bring in a book in reasonably good condition that you no longer want, which is suitable for your age group
- Receive a token in exchange
- Exchange that token for another book.
No money changes hands.
All day there will be different books, depending on what people bring, so it's worth coming at morning break, lunch time and after school. You can also keep your token for the next term's Book Swap (or I can keep it for you).

24 September 2008

The richest children's book prize

Seven UK authors have been shortlisted for the £400,000 Astrid Lindgren Memorial award: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the creators of the Gruffalo, illustrators Quentin Blake and Anthony Browne, as well as novelists David Almond, Michael Morpurgo and Eva Ibbotson.
The award was established by the Swedish government following the death of Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren in 2002, aged 94. Last year's winner was Australian writer Sonya Hartnett, and other recipients include Philip Pullman and Maurice Sendak.
This year nominations were received from 60 countries, and also include book projects as well as writers. The winner, picked by a panel of judges, will be announced in March 2009.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/sep/19/astrid.lindgren.award.childrens.books

23 September 2008

Booked Up

This autumn every 11-year-old in England will be able to choose a free book from a list of specially selected titles. This is a national programme called Booked Up, supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. All Year 7 pupils have received a magazine with details of all the books, and the Library has a set of the books to help students make their choice by browsing through them and chatting about them to their friends. In addition we have been watching a short DVD where all the Booked Up authors talk about their book, which is then reviewed by a reader. I will be asking Year 7s to make their choice later this week so I can place the order.
Last year over 637,000 children received a free Booked Up book with 5,400 secondary schools taking part in the programme. If the timing is similar then we might expect the books to arrive in early December. There is more information at http://www.bookedup.org.uk.

18 September 2008

Can you 'spot' a good read?

101 Reasons to Read a Book!

101 books in the Junior Fiction Library have been secretly chosen. If a reader borrows one of the mystery books they will find a slip with a picture of a Dalmatian puppy. Once the book is read, the slip is completed, and handed in with the book.

The slips are being pinned around the Dalmatians display in the Library. Once all 101 Dalmatians have been found, the slips will be been entered in to a draw for a prize - a book, of course, plus loan of the toy puppies for the classroom for 2 weeks.

Younger readers in the Library have been excitedly hunting the 101 mystery books. It's been so successful we may end up with another 101! My thanks to my Library helpers and holders of the Gold Reading Olympics, who helped select the mystery books.

15 September 2008

You Are What You Read

The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for September is You Are What You Read. It's a great opportunity to explore a whole range of books. As well as factual books about origins and identities, families and communities, the genre of historical fiction can be an introduction to the past, and a way to gain an understanding and develop empathy for people who came before. Suggestions for the month can be seen at: http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-september08.php.
Some suggestions:
Websites
For researching family history:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/
Annotated list of historical fiction:
http://www.marysmoffat.co.uk/bibliography/cont.htm
Books in the Library
All about Malorie Blackman by Shaun McCarthy
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
Coming to England by Floella Benjamin
How the World came to Oxford: Refugee Stories Past and Present by Nikki van der Gaag
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah.

10 September 2008

The ‘Jamie Oliver for reading’ launches Campaign for the Book

Alan Gibbons, the children's writer, has launched a nationwide campaign to promote the central place in society of reading for pleasure, a recognition of school libraries as key engines of learning, and the defence of public libraries and librarians from attempts to cut spending.

Launched only last weekend Campaign for the Book, has over 300 writers and professionals pledging their support, among them Michael Rosen, Philip Pullman, Anne Fine, David Almond, Anthony Browne, Malorie Blackman and Beverley Naidoo.

Libraries Charter
We, the signatories of this charter commit ourselves to campaigning for the following:
1. The central place of reading for pleasure in society
2. A proper balance of book provision and information technology in public and school libraries
3. The defence of public libraries and librarians from attempts to cut spending in a "soft" area
4. An extension of the role of the school librarian and a recognition of the school library as a key engine of learning
5. The recruitment of more school librarians. It is a national scandal that less than a third of secondary schools has a trained librarian
6. The defence of the professional status of the public and school librarian. Opposition to downgrading. In some places this has reduced librarians' salaries by up to half
7. The promotion of reading whole books in school, rather than excerpts
8. A higher profile for reading for pleasure in schools, including shadowing book awards, inviting authors and illustrators to visit, and developing school creative writing magazines

http://alangibbons.net/
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/66369-author-launches-libraries-campaign.html
http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/66479-page.html

The Man Booker Prize Shortlist

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2008 shortlist has been announced:

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant
The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz

The winner will be announced on 14 October 2008
More information

02 September 2008

What did you read over summer?

Welcome back! What have you read during the last two or three months? OLA needs your family summer reading recommendations to make into a booklet and share with other families in this National Year of Reading.

Over the holiday I hope many of you will have taken part in the OLA Family Summer Reading Group, by sharing books with one another, and then listing what you read, with a brief comment, on the form sent to you in the July mailing. Now is the time to return it, but if it's lost then please write your family's favourite summer reads on a piece of paper and ask your daughter to bring it to the Library.

Later in the term we plan to hold a special book-themed social evening, with surprises, in the Library and reveal the favourites of each year group.

This term in the school library will also feature the start of the Reading Olympics and reading buddies, book chains, a book swap, 'poetree', Kids' Lit Quiz heats, and 101 dalmatians....

01 September 2008

Read the Game

The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for August, Read the Game, produced a list of suggestions covering the real and the virtual, from football to mountaineering, cycling to swimming. Why not borrow one of these from the library?

MacB by Neil Arksey
Football can be deadly... In this highly original reworking of the Macbeth story, MacB is driven to do whatever is necessary to fulfil his ambition to captain the school team.
Divided City by Theresa Breslin
In Glasgow, with its religious, sporting and political divisions, football unites people as nothing else. Joe and Graham, from opposite religious camps, are a brilliant team on the pitch - and as they work together to get a place in the Glasgow team, and to help the young asylum seeker Kyoul, a new tolerance and understanding is forged.
Fat Boy Swim by Catherine Forde
Jimmy is obese, useless at football, and the constant target of the school’s most unpleasant bullies. However he's a talented cook, and at night he is haunted by dreams of being a powerful and graceful swimmer. A hugely satisfying read in which dreams come true, wrongs are righted and family secrets uncovered.
A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird
Living in the occupied Palestinian city of Ramallah, 12 year Karim wants more than anything to be 'champion footballer of the entire world'. Despite the curfews and the dangers of living under Israeli occupation he and his friends make a football pitch out of a patch of waste ground. The preoccupations of an ordinary boy sit movingly alongside a tragic and terrifying modern conflict.
The Penalty by Mal Peet
Sports journalist Paul Faustino is unwillingly drawn into a hunt for a missing young football prodigy. A story of corruption, murder, slavery and the power of the occult, and a thrilling read.
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson (on the non-fiction shelves at 796.52 SIM)
A mountaineering classic, this is the true story of two men's near fatal ascent of the 21,000 foot Siula Grande peak in the Peruvian Andes. An extraordinary and controversial tale of survival, and a page-turning read.
Tennis Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
A 1937 classic about four children who set out to follow in the footsteps of their father, once a top class tennis player. Competition between them appears gentle and good-natured by today's standards, and the emphasis is on making the most of the talents you have.
See the full list at http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-august08.php.

22 July 2008

Family Summer Book Group


Every family in the school is invited to take part in OLA’s Family Summer Book Group, where all members of the family read the same books. Later, during the Michaelmas term, with the help of some of the Senior School Association, we’ll meet up for a social evening centred around the books you have read in the summer holidays.

2008 is National Year of Reading so what better way than to enjoy books together. Parents often ask how they can help their children. Reading, and then talking about books, is an excellent way of doing this; being part of a family book group promotes the pleasures of reading.

In the school mailing you will have a received a card on which to record your choices, with a few comments. In September the Library will collect in your reading choices and collate them to produce a booklet of OLA Family Favourite Reads.

Please enjoy choosing your own books, but, if you want some ideas each card has a selection of recommendations made by your year group to be.

Happy Reading!

P.S.
Reading Olympics
The Library runs a Reading Olympics, for Years 7 & 8, to gain Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. Books read over the summer, and/or in the Family Summer Book Group will give a head start for the Bronze award. For this you will need to have read 7 books, so your selection could include:
- 5 Fiction books - including a favourite writer, an author you have never tried before, a mixture of genres, and including one classic,
- 1 non-fiction book,
- 1 biography or autobiography.
We also write a book review, usually in a session in the library, although keen readers sometimes do one in their own time.

Reading Diploma
For those who have completed their Gold Reading Olympics. See details by clicking on the 'Reading Diary' link in the side menu.

12 July 2008

UK team win World Final of Kids' Lit Quiz

The winners of the 2008 World Final were UK National Winners, Arnold House School, London. Truro School, representing England, came second. Whitchurch High School from Wales came third, and Cathedral Grammar School, Christchurch, New Zealand came fourth. This was a nail-biting competition, tense until the very end.
http://www.kidslitquiz.com/World/2008.html

09 July 2008

The Kids' Lit Quiz World Final 2008

The 2008 World Final will be held in Oxford, UK on 10 July 2008 with KLQ National Champions from China, New Zealand, South Africa and UK, plus regional winners Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

The Oxford Playhouse will host the KLQ World Final. Over 25 well-known children's writers will be there and 500 school children from local Oxfordshire schools, with teachers, librarians, family and friends in the audience to watch the action unfold. Tickets are free and available directly from the Oxford Playhouse - there are still a few seats left, so do ring and reserve a seat.

The finalists are the same children who took part in their local regional heats, and then went on to win their National Finals. They are also enjoying a week of cultural events in and around Oxford as part of their prize for reaching the World Final.

http://www.kidslitquiz.com/World/2008.html


UK heats begin again in the autumn, with the 2009 KLQ World Final planned for South Africa.

02 July 2008

Rhythm and Rhyme

Rhythm and Rhyme
The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for July is Rhythm and Rhyme. It's a great opportunity to explore a whole range of poetry, and a suggestion of books for the month can be seen at: http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-july08.php.
These include:

Heard it in the Playground
Allan Ahlberg
Heard it in the Playground is a collection of poems that are particularly enjoyed by children aged between 7 and 10, but can also be a trigger to reminiscences by older readers. As a former teacher, Ahlberg clearly draws on his classroom experiences, has great insight into the school environment and reveals many humorous aspects of school life. Most of the poems are quite short (although the final chapter consists of four longer poems) and they appeal and trigger the imagination of children who find they can easily relate to each and every verse. This book will help develop a child's interest in poetry and is a great addition to any bookshelf.

Not Just a Game Not Just a Game
Eds. Andy Croft and Sue Dymoke
Not Just a Game is a unique archive of modern British sporting life - angling, boxing, canoeing, cricket, darts, golf, motorcycling, netball, polo, rugby, rowing, running, skating, snooker, swimming and tennis - as recorded by almost 100 poets including W H Auden, Wendy Cope, Seamus Heaney, John Betjeman, Tony Harrison, P G Wodehouse, Carol Ann Duffy, Ted Hughes, Andrew Motion, Douglas Dunn, Philip Larkin, Roger McGough... and John Arlott. It's not just a book for sports fans. It's not just a book for poetry lovers. It's not just a game...

By Heart: 101 Poems to Remember By Heart
Edited and with an introduction by Ted Hughes
This is an anthology of poems to remember. In his foreword, Hughes gives a short introduction to the topic and his view on the importance of memorising poems. He follows this with 101 of his personal favourites. Spanning four centuries, the anthology offers the reader a 'mental gymnasium' as well as a treasury of some of our most enduringly popular poetry.

29 June 2008

Carnegie Medal

The winner of the Carnegie Medal and also the Kate Greenaway Medal have been announced.
Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve won the Carnegie Medal.
Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears by Emily Gravett won the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Read more.

18 June 2008

Linzi Glass at Our Lady's Abingdon and Carnegie Forum

Over 20 girls from years 7 & 8 will be joining with other local students, who have been shadowing the Carnegie Medal, to enjoy a day sharing their views of the Carnegie Medal shortlisted books. The Abingdon Carnegie Forum is an annual event organised by the Librarians of the six secondary schools in Abingdon, and is an opportunity to share the love of reading and meet old friends, and make new ones. It will be taking place on Wednesday 25 June.

This year we are delighted to welcome one of the shortlisted authors Linzi Glass, author of Ruby Red, who will talk to the shadowers at the start of the Forum. In the afternoon Linzi Glass will come to our Lady's Abingdon to talk to Year 10 girls. The winner of the Carnegie Medal will be announced the following day.

At the Forum the groups of shadowers will discuss the criteria the judges will be using - plot, characters and style. There will be no shortage of opinions: over 300 reviews have already been posted by the students from the schools. Guest judges will circulate, listening to the groups, then retire for the hard task of selecting the best reviews for each book.

After lunch the discussion groups, which are lead by their librarians and English teachers, give a short presentation about why their book should win the Carnegie Medal, and voting slips will be completed. Whilst the results are being counted we will enjoy a musical interlude by a school ensemble. Prizes of book tokens and books will be awarded to the review winners, the 'Best Group Presentation' , and 'Best Contributor' in each group. An Abingdon Carnegie Forum cake will also no doubt feature!

12 June 2008

Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2008

Rose Tremain has won the 2008 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction or The Road Home.

Joanna Kavenna won the Award for New Writers 2008 for Inglorious.
The other shortlisted authors were Charlotte Mendelson for When We Were Bad; Sadie Jones for The Outcast; Nancy Huston for Fault Lines; Heather O'Neill for Lullabies for Little Criminals; and Patricia Wood for Lottery.

The Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction is awarded to the woman who, in the opinion of the judges, has written the best, eligible full-length novel in English. As well as winning the prize Rose Tremain was awarded a £30,000 cheque.

02 June 2008

Reading Escapes

The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for June is Reading Escapes. A suggestion of books for the month can be seen at: http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-june08.php.

I recommend The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by OLA visitor illustrator Mini Grey. Ever wondered what really did happen when the dish of the nursery rhyme ran away with the spoon? They escaped to New York of course and this is their hair-raising story as told by the Spoon, a story packed full of gangsters, high-flying acrobats, bank robbers… and true love. This stylishly illustrated story won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal last year and is full of witty detail.
The DFC. An exciting brand new full colour weekly comic for children featuring stories from some of the greatest artists and writers in the world including Philip Pullman, Chris Riddell and Nick Sharatt. Weekly episodes of stories in all genres for boys and girls. http://www.thedfc.co.uk/
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. One of the most celebrated works of classic literature for children, following Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger from one adventure to the next - in gipsy caravans, stolen sports cars, to prison and back to the Wild Wood. A story of animal cunning and human camaraderie, this remains a timeless tale nearly 100 years after its publication. It hasn't dated and remains a tale children can relate to, whether reading themselves or listening to it told.
Escape from Shangri-la by Michael Morpurgo
Once by Morris Gleitzman
The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson
The Defender by Alan Gibbons

The rest of the year’s themes for National Year of Reading:
July: Rhythm and Rhyme
August: Read the Game
September: You Are What You Read
October: Word of Mouth
November: Screen Reads
December: Write the Future

Red House Children's Book Winners for 2008

The 2008 winners were announced at the award ceremony at the Guardian Hay Festival.

Overall Winner
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Category:Older Readers

Category Winners
Younger Children: Penguin by Polly Dunbar
Younger Readers: Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell

Click here for full details and other nominated books.

24 May 2008

Half-term listening

Big Toe Books on BBC Radio 7 have a feast of books on offer over half-term. You can also listen again online for 7 days after they have been broadcast on the radio.
Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/kids/bigtoe/
Saturday and Sunday - The Thieves of Ostia
By Caroline Lawrence, read by Emily Raymond
Monday - The Snow Spider
By Jenny Nimmo, read by Dylan Williams
Tuesday - Invisible Stanley
By Jeff Brown, read by Andrew Dunn
Deadly Famous
By Richard Kidd, read by James Phelps
Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls - Part 3
Written and read by Chris Milne
Kingdom of the Golden Dragon
By Isabel Allende, read by Anne-Marie Duff and Chris Pavlo.

2008 Bisto Book of the Year Awards

The 2008 Bisto Book of the Year Awards winners were announced on 22 May in Dublin. The awards are presented annually in recognition of excellence in writing and illustration, and are administered by Children's Books Ireland.

Bisto Book of the Year:
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.
Eilis Dillon Award:
The Thing With Finn by Tom Kelly.
Honour Award:
The Black Book of Secrets by FE Higgins.
Honour Award:
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers (Picture book).
Honour Award:
Wilderness by Roddy Doyle.

Book summaries and full shortlist for the 2007/2008 Awards at http://www.childrensbooksireland.com/content/view/132/192/

13 May 2008

The DFC - a new children's comic

The DFC - a new children's comic will be popping through letter boxes on 30 May. It will come out weekly and is not available in the shops, only by subscription. There will be some super stories and illustrations by well known writers, artists and storytellers, including Philip Pullmann. The website is counting down to the launch, but there are a few sneak previews, and subscription offers including a free trial of four issues.
http://www.thedfc.co.uk/
Interview with the man behind the comic.

01 May 2008

Mind and Body

The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for May is Mind and Body. A suggestion of books for the month can be seen at: http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-may08.php .
I recommend The Philosophy Files by Stephen Law, who visited our school shortly after his book came out. This book is an introduction to philosophy for teenagers. Attractively illustrated, and in a very accessible format, the big questions are asked: Does God exist? Where did we come from? Should I eat meat? How real is virtual reality? There are several of his books available for loan from the school library. His The Philopsophy Gym is recommended reading for the new AS in Religious Studies starting in September 2008.

The rest of the year’s themes for National Year of Reading:
June: Reading Escapes
July: Rhythm and Rhyme
August: Read the Game
September: You Are What You Read
October: Word of Mouth
November: Screen Reads
December: Write the Future

21 April 2008

Shadowing the Carnegie Medal

The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people. Shadowing involves school students reading the books, assessing them using the same criteria that the judges will use, and writing a review.

Many schools have, like us at Our Lady's Abingdon, set up a shadowing book group, and meet regularly to change books, exchange views and opinions, and write reviews. The reviews will be posted on a special website.

There are also plans for keener readers to meet with students from other local schools, and those who contribute most reviews will also be able to take part in a joint forum to nominate our ‘Abingdon’ winner of the Carnegie Medal.

Timetable for Shadowers:
18 April Shortlists announced. Start reading!
Weekly shadowers’ meetings: Mondays after school
24 April 3.00 – 4.45 Carnegie ‘Tea’, St Helen and St Katharine School, for initial reactions and tips on reviewing books.
15 May 1.10 - 3.30 Carnegie Quiz at John Mason School.
25 June 11.30 – 3.30 Abingdon Carnegie Forum at Abingdon School.
26 June Carnegie Medal Winner announced nationally, and revealed hot of the press in the Library at 1.15 pm

Find out more about the shadowing scheme, where you can read about the shortlist , and read student reviews. Click on ‘Shadowing Groups’, at the top, then ‘Reading Groups’ to find Our Lady's Abingdon. It may even inspire you to read some of the titles or past winners.

17 April 2008

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Win a Weekend with The Tales of Beedle the Bard, handwritten and illustrated by J.K. Rowling as a complement to the Harry Potter series.

This competition by Amazon is open to muggles 13 and older, to write in 100 words or less on one of three Harry Potter themes:
• What songs do wizards use to celebrate birthdays?
• What sports do wizards play besides Quidditch?
• What have you learned from the Harry Potter series that you use in everyday life?

Amazon.com purchased The Tales of Beedle the Bard, one of only seven copies, at auction in December 2007, with proceeds of the purchase benefitting J.K. Rowling's charity, The Children's Voice.
More details at http://www.amazon.co.uk/books

10 April 2008

JK Rowling wins Outstanding Achievement Award

At the 2008 Galaxy British Book Awards the author J.K. Rowling received the Outstanding Achievement Award. Francesca Simon won the W.H. Smith Children's Book Award for Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman, and Afghan novelist Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, won the Richard and Judy Best Read of the Year award for his follow-up novel A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Full details

09 April 2008

National Poet of Wales

The post of National Poet of Wales was established in May 2005 by Academi – the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency and Society for Writers. Gillian Clarke will succeed Professor Gwyn Thomas as National Poet of Wales next month. Born in Cardiff and now living in Talgarreg, west Wales, Gillian is a poet, playwright, editor and translator. A set-text poet for GCSE and A-level English, she is well-known to students and teachers throughout the UK.
More information

07 April 2008

Story Museum

The Story Museum was set up in 2003 to create a museum for children about children’s books and stories. The long-term aim is to build a museum in the centre of Oxford, where books and stories will be brought to life – through exhibitions and adventures, historic treasures and intriguing objects, story readings and story telling, creative workshops and holiday clubs, play spaces and reading areas as well as resources for parents, teachers and specialist researchers.

Although it may be several years before the real museum opens, a ‘virtual museum’ is available on the web, with writers, illustrators in ‘residence’ and storytellers, running Story Museum events and activities in schools, colleges, theatres, shops, tents, gardens, even in the street. And we are developing touring exhibitions.

More information at http://www.storymuseum.org.uk

04 April 2008

Book Swap Tipi, Oxford 5-6 April

As part of the Oxford Literary Festival a Book Swap Tipi will be open in the Master's Garden at Christ Church
Saturday 5 April 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
Sunday 6 April 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
Entrance free.

How does it work?
Like our school book swaps: bring along a book that you've enjoyed and finished with, leave it for someone new to enjoy and take away a different book that has been loved by someone else.

For more information click Oxford Literary Festival.

01 April 2008

Read all about it!

National Year of Reading officially starts later this month, on 25 April. There will be plenty of publicity, especially encouraging people to join and use their local public library. Monthly themes start with April’s Read all About It!

A suggestion of books for the month can be seen at: http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-april08.php
I recommend First News, a ‘weekly newspaper for kids' Available in the Library, it arrives in school on Fridays, and is also on sale in newsagents and supermarkets and by subscription.

The rest of the year’s themes for National Year of Reading:
May: Mind and Body
June: Reading Escapes
July: Rhythm and Rhyme
August: Read the Game
September: You Are What You Read
October: Word of Mouth
November: Screen Reads
December: Write the Future

29 March 2008

Reading and listening

By now parents of students in Years 7 & 8 should have received, in the school mailing, my end-of-term list of reading suggestions - look out for the coloured sheets. Do keep them as they could be useful for future gift ideas.

I am also keen to promote listening to stories and I regularly promote BBC 7, one of the BBC’s digital networks. Do tune in if you have a DAB digital radio. Stories can be heard live, but you can ‘listen again’ online for 7 days after the broadcast, with episodes appearing at 8 am. Not only is this an enjoyable pastime it also develops listening and concentration skills. Look at the schedules for BBC Radio 7 and you will see that the treats during the school holidays include:
Lizzie Dripping by Helen Cresswell
in 5 episodes, online until Friday 4 April.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
in 10 episodes, online until Friday 4 April.
The Legend of Arthur King by Dean Wilkinson
in 7 episodes, online until Friday 4 April.
Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
in 2 episodes, online until Sunday 30 March.
Unreal by Paul Jennings
Five stories, online until Monday 31 March:
Cow Dung Custard
Smart Ice Cream
Lucky Lips
Lighthouse Blues
Skeleton on the Dunny.
Death Eric by Sam Llewellyn
in 2 episodes, starting Saturday 29 March.

22 March 2008

Domesday Book Online

A new website has been set up to enable visitors to discover the history of the Domesday Book, to give an insight into life at the time of its compilation, and provide information and links on related topics.

The Domesday Book was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066. The first draft was completed in August 1086 and contained records for 13,418 settlements in the English counties south of the rivers Ribble and Tees (the border with Scotland at the time).

The original Domesday Book has survived over 900 years of English history and is currently housed in a special chest at the National Archives at Kew in London.
Source: http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/index.html

10 March 2008

Winners of the Decorate-a-Door-as-a-Book Competition



JOINT FIRST
7A - Little Misses …
7B group - Alice in Wonderland
HIGHLY COMMENDED
7C - Wind in the Willows
9A - The Hungry Caterpillar
10A - Lion, Witch & Wardrobe
COMMENDED
Cecilia 8B - Inkheart
8B - The Hungry Caterpillar
Maddy & Emily 9B - Fruits Basket
10B - The Bible
VISUALLY STRIKING
10C - Noughts and Crosses
9B - Around the World in 80 Days

Well done to everybody who took part. There were some wonderfully clever ideas and great teamwork and co-operation in the making of the decorations.

07 March 2008

World Book Day

We're celebrating World Book Day in a number of ways:
- Decorate-a-Door-as-a-Book Competition.
- Whole School Reading, 3.45 - 4.00 p.m. The three afternoon lessons are shorter by 5 minutes so everyone can stop and read. Stay with your teacher from period 8, but remember to bring something to read, or visit the Library earlier in the day.
- Assembly on the theme of World Book Day.
- Tales from around the world: a huge selection of great reads on display.
- World Book Day voucher. All students have received a £1 voucher which can be used towards book purchases in a variety of ways: in participating bookshops, orders from Cover2Cover magazine in school, and the Book Fair.

04 March 2008

Best Children’s Book of All Time

Booktrust, the independent charity, asked 4,000 people about their 'Best Children’s Book of All Time', and the winner was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle takes second place. Third place goes to Enid Blyton’s Famous Five Series, which was first written in 1942 and consists of 21 books about the fictional group of children. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne came in fourth place. The character, also known as Bear Of Very Little Brain, was first created back in 1926. Fifth place goes to The BFG (the Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl, first published in 1982.

The 'Best Loved Author' in the survey is Roald Dahl, who has six books listed in the top 50 best, whilst Enid Blyton has five books in the top 50. For all details of the survey results, visit www.booktrust.org.uk

26 February 2008

Book Fair in the Library 27 Feb. - 3 March

There will be a Book Fair in the Library from Wednesday 27 February to Monday 3 March. All students will receive their £1 World Book Day voucher in advance so it can be used at the Book Fair. Reserved books must be paid for by Monday 3rd, please.

The World Book Day voucher can also be used towards orders from the March issue of Cover2Cover magazine, and in participating bookshops between 3 -30 March.

World Book Day is Thursday 6 March. More news in the next posting.

22 February 2008

Oxford Literary Festival: 31 March - 6 April 2008

It may seem early but now is the time to plan which events you want to attend at the Oxford Literary Festival next month. Tickets will sell out fast!

Philip Pullman's new book Once Upon A Time in the North, the long-awaited prequel to His Dark Materials will be launched Monday 31 March, at 7.00 pm at the Town Hall, price £10.00 for children (£15 for Adults). It will be one of the highlights of the Festival, which will feature more than 250 writers.

Other speakers at the Children’s Events this year will include David Almond, Melvyn Burgess & Kevin Brooks, Meg Rosoff, Justin Richards, Charlie Higson, Shirley Hughes, Chris Riddell & Paul Stewart, Joanne Harris, and five writers talking about how they write for Dr Who.

Children's events cost between £2.50 and £10. Tickets are available from Tickets Oxford at the Oxford Playhouse, on 0870 3431001 or online at ticketsoxford.com. From March 31 and throughout the festival, tickets will be available from the festival box office at Christ Church. More information:
http://sundaytimes-oxfordliteraryfestival.co.uk

Red House Children’s Book Award - 2008 Shortlist

These are the top ten books published in 2007, chosen by children across the country. There are three categories: Younger Children, Younger Readers, and Older Readers.

Older Readers
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Teacher's Dead by Benjamin Zephaniah
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Younger Readers
The Perfumed Pirates of Perfidy by Charlie Small
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell
Mammoth Academy in Trouble by Neal Layton

Younger Children
The Tear Thief by Carol Ann Duffy and Nicoletta Ceccoli
A Dog Called Rod by Tim Hopgood
Penguin by Polly Dunbar
Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure by Kristina Stephenson

You can help choose the nation's favourite children's book! Voting closes on Monday 12 May 2008 and the winner will be announced at Hay Festival on Friday 30 May 2008. More information:
http://www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk/2008-shortlist.asp

03 February 2008

Caroline Lawrence and 1000 children

Caroline Lawrence, author of the Roman Mysteries, will be guest of Our Lady’s Abingdon Senior School on 7 February. Over 1000 local children will be listening to her talk about her books and where she finds her ideas.

This event, jointly organised by the Librarians from Our Lady’s Abingdon, Abingdon and St Helen & St Katharine schools, aims to invite children from local schools who may not have the opportunity to see a ‘big name’ author. Children from 20 local primary and secondary schools will hear one of the writer's three talks during this 3rd annual Joint Schools' Author Visit.

Caroline Lawrence will dress as a Roman lady and bring some artefacts to bring to life that period of ancient history. A classics scholar, her writing is historically accurate as well as hugely entertaining.

28 January 2008

Red House Children's Book Award

Nominations for the Red House Children's Book Award close on 1 February.

The Award is made annually to the best work of fiction for children. Hundreds of books are read, short-listed and voted for by children from around the country and any child in the UK can take part. All you have to do is to nominate any picture book or novel first published in the UK during 2007.

The Award is judged entirely by children from shortlist to final overall winner. There are also 3 category winners:
* Books for Younger Children
* Books for Younger Readers
* Books for Older Readers
The top 50 titles each year are published as The Pick of the Year List.

Information from http://www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk

11 January 2008

2008 - National Year of Reading

2008 is National Year of Reading, officially launched at 10 Downing Street by Gordon Brown and Education Secretary Ed Balls.

Books are at the heart of the Year's activities but all reading 'counts'. Newspapers, magazines, poetry, song lyrics, screenplays and blogs will all feature as part of the Year's activities. The aim is to help build a greater national passion for reading among children, families and adult learners alike.

January to March in the National Year of Reading is for organisations to plan their activities for the year, whilst April to December sees the public phase of the campaign, with monthly themes.

However here at OLA I am starting straightaway, with a competition to write the plot of a book in rhyme. I’d be delighted to have entries from parents too.

02 January 2008

Paperless books, 2

Can books be replaced? They are portable, simple to open and easy to hold. People love the feel and smell of them but in recent years so called e-readers have come on to the market. In Japan reading paperless books has already taken off: mobile phone users have been downloading books onto their phones for a few years. Companies such as Sony and Microsoft have launched devices, and in November 2007 Amazon launched its own ebook reader called Kindlle. It’s about the size of a thin paperback, and has no backlight, using 'electronic-paper' which mimics the experience of reading a book printed on paper, so making it more comfortable to read than traditional computer or mobile phone screens. It can hold more than 200 titles, from a current choice of over 90,000. Users can download a book in less than a minute and subscribe to magazines and newspapers. However it comes at a price, $399, and is only available through Amazon's US store.

Read more:
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article2904003.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/nov/20/amazon.news

Paperless books, 1

The Universal Digital Library, a book-scanning project backed by several major libraries across the globe, recently completed the digitisation of 1.5 million books and made them free and publicly available.

The online library http://www.ulib.org/ offers full text downloads of works that are in the public domain, or for which the copyright holder has been given permission to make available. Having the backing of prominent institutions the collection goes far beyond the widely available classics.