BfK News: July 2009
AWARDS
The 2009 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals
Siobhan Dowd’s fourth and final novel, Bog Child (David Fickling Books), has been awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2009 two years after her untimely death from breast cancer at the age of 47. Bog Child is set in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles. Chair of the Judges, Joy Court, commented:
‘Set against the bleakest of backdrops, Bog Child is also profoundly heart warming. This is thanks to Dowd’s extraordinary ability to illuminate the dark corners of human existence. The reader is drawn totally into Fergus’s world; the turbulence of adolescence is vividly portrayed and equally vividly evoked is the political conflict of the time. Her story is told with great sympathy without ever descending into sentimentality, and there’s a surprising amount of humour too. A truly outstanding novel of great humanity.
Catherine Rayner has won the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for children’s book illustration for Harris Finds His Feet (Little Tiger Press). Chair of the Judges, Joy Court, commented: ‘Harris is a triumph, from the way he moves and his expressions to his velvety fur and his oversized feet. His relationship with his Granddad is beautifully evoked as are the times of day and the textures of the exquisite landscapes around him, in a book which oozes charm and glows with colour.’
2009 English 4-11: Best Children’s Illustrated Book Awards
The winning titles are:
Fiction Key Stage 1: The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett (Macmillan)
Fiction Key Stage 2: The Princess’ Blankets by Carol Ann Duffy, ill. Catherine Hyde (Templar)
Non-Fiction Key Stage 1: The Beeman by Laurie Krebs, ill. Valeria Cis (Barefoot)
Non-Fiction Key Stage 2: Ask Dr K Fisher – About Minibeasts by Claire Llewellyn, ill. Kate Sheppard (Kingfisher)
Special Award: We Are All Born Free Amnesty International, various illustrators (Frances Lincoln)
The winning books were chosen by the editorial board of English 4-11from a shortlist of 12-18 books selected by a panel of teachers.
Essex Book Award 2008
The winner, voted for by Essex Secondary school children, is The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (David Fickling Books).
EVENTS
Bath Festival of Children’s Literature, 18-27 September
Authors and illustrators participating in a lively events programme include Malorie Blackman, Andy Stanton, Julia Donaldson, Lauren Child, Judith Kerr, Jeremy Strong and Jacqueline Wilson. For tickets call 01225 463362. For further information see www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk.
NEWS
The New Children’s Laureate
Illustrator Anthony Browne has followed on from Michael Rosen to become the 6th Children’s Laureate. The winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1983 for Gorilla and in 1992 for Zoo, Browne’s surreal style is an extension of his text, often a visual comment on his characters’ inner worlds. In 2000, he became the first UK children’s author to win the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the highest international honour in children’s literature, since Eleanor Farjeon in 1956. More recently he has been illustrator in residence at the Tate.
The Children’s Laureate is an ambassador for children’s literature, with the position awarded once every two years to a children’s writer or illustrator of outstanding talent. Browne is only the second illustrator to hold the position, behind Quentin Blake, who was named the first ever laureate in 1999.
On his appointment Browne said: ‘It’s an honour to be the Children’s Laureate for 2009-11. I’m well aware of the amazing things achieved by the five previous Laureates, and I’m in awe of their commitment and hard work. Picture books are special – they’re not like anything else. Sometimes I hear parents encouraging their children to read what they call proper books (books without pictures), at an earlier and earlier age. This makes me sad, as picture books are perfect for sharing, and not just with the youngest children. As a father, I understand the importance of the bond that develops through reading picture books with your child. We have in Britain some of the best picture book makers in the world, and I want to see their books appreciated for what they are – works of art.’
Browne plans to use his two-year stint as Laureate to focus on the appreciation of picture books, and the reading of both pictures and words. ‘Picture books are for everybody at any age, not books to be left behind as we grow older. The best ones leave a tantalising gap between the pictures and the words, a gap that is filled by the reader’s imagination.’
Chaired by former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, the members of the selection panel for the Children’s Laureate were Sarah Clarke (Children’s Buying Manager, Waterstone’s), Julia Eccleshare (Children’s Book Critic, Co-Director of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education and representing the Children’s Laureate committee), Nikki Heath (SLA School Librarian of the Year 2008, librarian at Werneth School, Stockport), Jake Hope (Children’s Librarian for Lancashire Libraries and a freelance consultant), Fiona Smith (representing the Federation of Children’s Book Groups) and Charles Butler (Senior Lecturer, University of the West of England).
Free book giveaway for schools
In the UK’s biggest annual free book giveaway for schools, the charity Booktrust will be delivering more than 2 million free books to every pupil in reception and Year 7 by Christmas, through their Booktime and Booked Up programmes. The Booktime programme for reception-aged pupils (4-5 years old) and Booked Up programme for Year 7 pupils (aged 11-12), are both run by the independent national charity Booktrust, with the aim of encouraging reading for pleasure. The programmes continue to be supported in England by the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families). Both programmes are free to all participating schools.
The Booktime programme, which is run in association with education and publishing company Pearson, will this year give a copy of Puffin’s Mr Big by Ed Vere and The Booktime Book of Fantastic First Poems edited by June Crebbin. The packs will also contain guidance material for parents and carers to encourage sharing books with children. The Booked Up programme allows each child to make their own choice of book from a selection of 12 titles. The programme encourages Year 7 pupils to read independently and supports reading for pleasure as children make the sometimes difficult transition from primary to secondary education. For further information visit www.booktime.org.uk and www.bookedup.org.uk
