Editorial 70: September 1991

Do you know of a school or schools who’d welcome the chance to win £2,500-worth of brand new hardbacks and paperbacks while meeting a whole clutch of National Curriculum attainment targets in English? If so, turn instantly to page 23 of this issue. There we announce Books for Keeps for Children, our autumn competition.

The idea first came from our sponsors, Books For Children, and was pondered for several months till – quite by chance – we were approached by Teresa Grainger, Director of the Literacy Unit at Christ Church College, Canterbury, suggesting an article about classroom activities uncannily similar to those we had in mind. Who says there’s no such thing as Zeitgeist? We ran Teresa’s piece in July, BfK 69, dropping heavy hints about what was to come. Now, with the details spelled out in full, over to you … please see that we’re overwhelmed with entries! Could there be a better activity for Children’s Book Week?

The rest of this issue covers every age and stage of reading, we hope. The subject of our Authorgraph (centre-spread) is Val Biro, doyen of the school visit, whose lifetime of illustration has done so much to persuade youngsters that books can be fun. Anyone who’s appeared on the same bookweek bill as Val knows what a hard act he is to follow. I’ve never forgotten the notice I encountered a few years ago draped across one infant school lobby. ‘Goody-Goody-Gumdrop’ was all it said. I didn’t have to ask about favourite picture books in that establishment.

It’s the next step, though, that many young readers find difficult. One solution comes from A & C Black whose `Jets’ series – ingeniously combining word and image in a way now much imitated – is discussed by its originator, Fiona Kenshole, on pages 24-25. She’s assisted by Scoular Anderson, a popular contributor to the series. The question of accessibility in the context of non-fiction is raised by Mary Worrall, who describes the new Oxford Children’s Encyclopedia on pages 28-29, and John Fines, on pages 20-21, who recommends approaches and texts for the teaching of history. Both make it clear that there’s no easy answer. Quality in children’s books, as in every other human endeavour, is hard won. No one knows this better than Kaye Webb, legendary former editor of Puffin Books now in their fiftieth birthday year, who is interviewed by Stephanie Nettell on page 27.

What kind of readers, then, do we envisage when we strive to bring children and books together? It’s this fundamental issue which is addressed overleaf in Jack Ousbey’s leading article, `Reading and the Imagination’. Jack backs up sharp, powerful argument with a not-so-secret weapon we book enthusiasts should deploy more often: rich, well-chosen quotation. Of course, some people may find such fare a little too rich. Along with his article, Jack sent BfK a poem which makes his own position clear. Now, I’m not saying you should hide what follows when you encounter your next Government Minister on a literacy fact-finding mission . . . but you’d be advised to make it available tactfully.

Building a House of Fiction

Last night I finished The Mousehole Cat,

Today it’s The Iron Man,

Tomorrow I start on The Shrinking of

Treehorn –

I’m reading as fast as I can.

I started on Miffy before I was one,

And Gumpy was one of my friends.

I went out with Rosie on her famous Walk –

I just love it, how that story ends.

And I love Russell Hoban, the Ahlbergs

as well,

Anno, Frank Asch, Shirley Hughes,

The Toucan and Elmer by David McKee –

And the magic of Lavender Shoes.

Last week I read Bridget and William,

And poems by Ted Hughes and Kit Wright,

Some hilarious tales by Mike Rosen –

And, Where Does the Sun Go at Night?

So now I have finished The Mousehole Cat,

And completed The Iron Man,

I hope I’ll soon start on The Shrinking of

Treehorn –

I’m reading as fast as I can.

Yes, I’m reading as fast as I possible can,

I’m reading as fast as I can.

I want the absorption, the fun, the delight,

The fears, the sorrows, the tonics.

I want all the things that a real story brings –

‘Cos tomorrow I start on the phonics.

Thanks, Jack.

Enjoy the issue!

* Building a House of Fiction is an account of real teachers, teaching real children to read real books, with the approval and support of real parents. It is published by The National Association for the Teaching of English (0 9515803 0 2, £3.10 members, £3.50 non-members, inc. p&p).

Subscription price increase to Books for Keeps

As from 1st September 1991, we are raising the annual subscription to BfK as follows:

• • UK and Ireland: £11.40
  • Overseas surface: £16.80
  • Airmail: because there are two rates (depending where you are in the world) you will have to ask us which one is applicable to you. They are either £21.30 or £22.50.

These new prices will remain in effect until 31st August 1992.