An Interview with Anne Fine ¦ An Interview with Gillian Cross ¦ An Interview with Jenny Nimmo ¦ An Interview with Michael Morpurgo ¦ An Interview with Michelle Magorian ¦ An Interview with Theresa Breslin

An attractive new series which packs in a great deal of information. In addition to the interview (about 30 pages) there is an overview/essay by the interviewer (figures from the children’s books world) and a bibliography – a listing of the author’s books with publishing details/awards and brief synopses. The interviews, short and with nicely gossipy insights into the writers’ lives, will interest children and follow up the National Literacy Strategy work on getting to know authors and the body of their work. The ‘overview’ sections seem to be aimed at a different audience and lack the narrative pull of the interview. The drawing together of threads and themes can be illuminating (Peter Hollindale on Anne Fine) but it works best when you have Wendy Cooling (on Jenny Nimmo) as an enthusiast-reader persuasively making you want to read every title. The interviews are variable too. There is a formula of similar questions taking in family and childhood, schooldays and career which do their job when they spark off spurts of stories. Anne Fine, interviewing herself, has the advantage of not having to waste questions as well as her talent for telling tales. Sometimes the questions are too prominent, edging open the door but no more: What was your most hated subject? – Geography. What was your worst subject? – Geography. (Strangely the same terse replies for both Michelle Magorian and Gillian Cross – is there a story here about geography?) These short books are a nice idea, just right for quick browsing which ought to be satisfying in itself as well as sending children and adults back to the books for more.