A new device capable of creating perfectly-bound paperback books, has just hit the UK. The Espresso Book Machine is able to print titles in a matter of minutes, putting an end to the annoyance of bookshop customers being told that their book is 'no longer in print', or 'out of stock'. The customer simply selects a book from a network of 500,000 available titles, most of which are out of print. Then, roughly 5 minutes later, the Espresso Book Machine, prints, binds, trims and shoots out a flawless factory-quality book.
The device, which Time Magazine named Best Invention of 2007, was launched in the UK on Monday at Blackwell, Charing Cross Road in London, and is being hailed as the biggest advancement in the literary world since Gutenberg invented the printing press over 500 years ago.
Blackwell hopes to increase the number of digital titles the Espresso Book Machine will carry, to over a million titles by the end of this summer.
Information taken from http://www.alchemyworx.com/publishingnews/2009/apr_09/news.htm
30 April 2009
26 April 2009
Shadowing News
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 are posted on a special website.
There are also plans for keener readers to meet with students from other local schools, and take part in a quiz and a joint forum to nominate our ‘Abingdon’ winner of the Carnegie Medal.
Timetable for Shadowers:
Friday 24 April Shortlists available. Start reading!
Mondays, 4.15 Shadowers’ meetings in the Library. Finish 4.50 pm
Tues. 28 April 3.45 – 4.30 Carnegie ‘Tea’, at John Mason School, for initial reactions and tips on reviewing books (by minibus, max. 14 girls.)
Tues. 9 June 2.00 – 3.30 Carnegie Quiz, at Abingdon School (walk, max. 18 girls. Must have read and reviewed at least 3 books.)
Tues. 23 June 10.30 – 3.30 Abingdon Carnegie Forum at Abingdon Guildhall (walk, max. 20 girls. Must have read and reviewed at least 4 books.)
Thurs. 25 June Carnegie Medal Winner announced nationally, and revealed ‘hot off the press’ at 12.50 in the Library.
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.
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 are posted on a special website.
There are also plans for keener readers to meet with students from other local schools, and take part in a quiz and a joint forum to nominate our ‘Abingdon’ winner of the Carnegie Medal.
Timetable for Shadowers:
Friday 24 April Shortlists available. Start reading!
Mondays, 4.15 Shadowers’ meetings in the Library. Finish 4.50 pm
Tues. 28 April 3.45 – 4.30 Carnegie ‘Tea’, at John Mason School, for initial reactions and tips on reviewing books (by minibus, max. 14 girls.)
Tues. 9 June 2.00 – 3.30 Carnegie Quiz, at Abingdon School (walk, max. 18 girls. Must have read and reviewed at least 3 books.)
Tues. 23 June 10.30 – 3.30 Abingdon Carnegie Forum at Abingdon Guildhall (walk, max. 20 girls. Must have read and reviewed at least 4 books.)
Thurs. 25 June Carnegie Medal Winner announced nationally, and revealed ‘hot off the press’ at 12.50 in the Library.
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.
25 April 2009
Shadowing the Carnegie Medal
What does Shadowing the Carnegie Medal involve?
• Reading Books. Past Carnegie Medal winners have become classics. These include The Borrowers, Watership Down, Skellig, Flour Babies, and Northern Lights. You will be reading future classics!
• Meetings. There will be ‘shadowing’ meetings in the Library on Mondays, at 4.15, where you can come to change your books, chat about the books you have read, write reviews and persuade others why your favourite should win the Medal.
• Writing Reviews. You post your review on a special shadowing website, where other ‘shadowers’ around the country are doing the same
• Meeting Carnegie Shadowers from other schools and the Carnegie Forum. The six secondary schools in Abingdon have worked together over the Carnegie Medal for several years. We have three joint meetings: a 'tea' to introduce the books, a quiz a few weeks into the shadowing, and a joint Abingdon Carnegie Forum where 100 students from local schools discuss and vote for their Abingdon winner.
• Reading Books. Past Carnegie Medal winners have become classics. These include The Borrowers, Watership Down, Skellig, Flour Babies, and Northern Lights. You will be reading future classics!
• Meetings. There will be ‘shadowing’ meetings in the Library on Mondays, at 4.15, where you can come to change your books, chat about the books you have read, write reviews and persuade others why your favourite should win the Medal.
• Writing Reviews. You post your review on a special shadowing website, where other ‘shadowers’ around the country are doing the same
• Meeting Carnegie Shadowers from other schools and the Carnegie Forum. The six secondary schools in Abingdon have worked together over the Carnegie Medal for several years. We have three joint meetings: a 'tea' to introduce the books, a quiz a few weeks into the shadowing, and a joint Abingdon Carnegie Forum where 100 students from local schools discuss and vote for their Abingdon winner.
19 April 2009
St George's Day - 23 April
St George's Day is 23 April. Although it is not a public holiday, unlike some countries' national days, many official buildings will fly the flag. St George’s Day events will be taking place throughout England and it is hoped that more people will celebrate England's national day.
A new national song for England, reflecting English customs, ideas and creativity will be heard publicly for the first time on St George's Day.
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate St George's Day:
- Read some stories about St George.
- The Reluctant Dragon is a children's story by Kenneth Grahame, written in 1898. Click here for the link to an e-book and a free audio version.
- Wear a red rose for England in your jacket lapel. It is the national flower of England.
- Enjoy some fish & chips, a traditional English take away meal!
London's Mayor Boris Johnson, has said "St. George's Day has been ignored in London for far too long. We have much to be proud of in this great country, England has given so much to the world, politically, socially and artistically. St. George's Day is a time to celebrate the very best of everything English and the Cross of St George will proudly fly outside City Hall on 23rd April.” London will be celebrating St. George's Day with a week long celebration on English culture starting with traditional English events such as Morris Dancing, Maypole dancing, Punch and Judy show at the V&A Museum of Childhood.
Source
A new national song for England, reflecting English customs, ideas and creativity will be heard publicly for the first time on St George's Day.
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate St George's Day:
- Read some stories about St George.
- The Reluctant Dragon is a children's story by Kenneth Grahame, written in 1898. Click here for the link to an e-book and a free audio version.
- Wear a red rose for England in your jacket lapel. It is the national flower of England.
- Enjoy some fish & chips, a traditional English take away meal!
London's Mayor Boris Johnson, has said "St. George's Day has been ignored in London for far too long. We have much to be proud of in this great country, England has given so much to the world, politically, socially and artistically. St. George's Day is a time to celebrate the very best of everything English and the Cross of St George will proudly fly outside City Hall on 23rd April.” London will be celebrating St. George's Day with a week long celebration on English culture starting with traditional English events such as Morris Dancing, Maypole dancing, Punch and Judy show at the V&A Museum of Childhood.
Source
06 April 2009
Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat
An exhibition celebrating children's poems and rhymes has opened at the British Library, and it will run until 28 June. Children's Laureate Michael Rosen was involved in the selection of the exhibits for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat" which aims to show how language can bring to life journeys, tales and rhymes for a younger generation. Poetry from the 17th century to the present day is on show, including the earliest surviving printed collection of nursery rhymes, Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song-Book (1744), as well as copies of classics, such as Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses; William Blake's Songs of Innocence; Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; Michael Rosen's Don't Put Mustard in the Custard, and Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes. Recordings of poets reading their own work are also be available at various points throughout the exhibition. What a treat, and it's free! More information
05 April 2009
2009 Galaxy British Book Awards
The winners of the Galaxy British Book Awards have been announced.
WHSmith Children's Book of the Year::
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Galaxy Book of the Year:
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale
Outstanding Achievement: Michael Palin
Richard & Judy Best Read:
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
Borders Author of the Year:
Aravind Adiga for The White Tiger
Tesco Biography of the Year:
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
Books Direct Crime Thriller of the Year:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Sainsbury's Popular Fiction Award:
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks
Play.com Popular Non-Fiction Award:
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale
Waterstone's New Writer of the Year:
Tom Rob Smith for Child 44.
Full details
WHSmith Children's Book of the Year::
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Galaxy Book of the Year:
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale
Outstanding Achievement: Michael Palin
Richard & Judy Best Read:
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
Borders Author of the Year:
Aravind Adiga for The White Tiger
Tesco Biography of the Year:
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
Books Direct Crime Thriller of the Year:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Sainsbury's Popular Fiction Award:
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks
Play.com Popular Non-Fiction Award:
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale
Waterstone's New Writer of the Year:
Tom Rob Smith for Child 44.
Full details
04 April 2009
Oxford Literary Festival
This exciting festival, still in progress, will have had over 430 writers coming to Oxford. The Young People's and Children's Events include a host of excellent and popular writers: Malorie Blackman, Michael Morpurgo, David Almond, Louise Rennison, Terry Deary , Philip Ardagh to name but a few.
The winning team of the Oxfordshire & Berkshire Kids’ Lit Quiz heat last November, as well as winning a place in the UK Final, were invited to take part in the Oxford Literary Festival on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April. After the talks by authors Malorie Blackman, Michael Morpurgo, Philip Ardagh, Penny Nolan and Helena Pielichaty, each of the winning KLQ team will start the question and answer session. What's more they are invited into the 'Green Room' before the authors' events to meet them and have their photo taken with them. They will also be on the ‘soapbox’ in the main festival marquee talking for 'Just 2 minutes' about their favourite book.
Children's events cost between £2.50 and £6.50. Throughout the festival, tickets are available from the festival box office at Christ Church. More information
The winning team of the Oxfordshire & Berkshire Kids’ Lit Quiz heat last November, as well as winning a place in the UK Final, were invited to take part in the Oxford Literary Festival on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April. After the talks by authors Malorie Blackman, Michael Morpurgo, Philip Ardagh, Penny Nolan and Helena Pielichaty, each of the winning KLQ team will start the question and answer session. What's more they are invited into the 'Green Room' before the authors' events to meet them and have their photo taken with them. They will also be on the ‘soapbox’ in the main festival marquee talking for 'Just 2 minutes' about their favourite book.
Children's events cost between £2.50 and £6.50. Throughout the festival, tickets are available from the festival box office at Christ Church. More information
02 April 2009
International Children's Book Day
Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, 2 April, International Children's Book Day is celebrated all over the world to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books.
The celebratory day is coordinated by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing children and books together. IBBY has members from over 70 countries, who work individually and together to promote and support children's literature and reading.
Each year, a different section of IBBY sponsors the worldwide event. This year, EBBY, the Egyptian section of IBBY, has chosen the theme for the celebration – “I am the World” – and the International Children’s Book Day poster for 2009 was illustrated by Egyptian artist and former Disney animator, Hani D. El-Masri.
Visit the IBBY website to read the special message EBBY have written for this year's International Children's Book Day.
The back page of Read It magazine features a list of fiction books set in different cultures - all are riveting reads, and available from the school library.
The celebratory day is coordinated by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing children and books together. IBBY has members from over 70 countries, who work individually and together to promote and support children's literature and reading.
Each year, a different section of IBBY sponsors the worldwide event. This year, EBBY, the Egyptian section of IBBY, has chosen the theme for the celebration – “I am the World” – and the International Children’s Book Day poster for 2009 was illustrated by Egyptian artist and former Disney animator, Hani D. El-Masri.
Visit the IBBY website to read the special message EBBY have written for this year's International Children's Book Day.
The back page of Read It magazine features a list of fiction books set in different cultures - all are riveting reads, and available from the school library.
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