Armadillo Blog

Sara Grant on Best Friends

2012-01-28T18:12:00.006Z

Guest post by Sara Grant, author of Dark Parties

BFFs 4 Evva

Dark Parties is a love story. Sure there’s a sexy, mysterious leading man and forbidden romance. But in many ways the central love story is between two best friends – Neva and Sanna. If you are lucky enough to have a best friend, you know the importance of this relationship and that they save your life in big and small ways all the time.

When I was Neva’s age, boyfriends came and went but girlfriends endured. I wanted to write a story with friendship at its heart. Maybe that’s strange for a book titled Dark Parties. But this feminine camaraderie is the underlying pulse of the book. Neva and Sanna complete each other. They finish each other’s sentences. Neva grounds Sanna and serves as her surrogate family. Sanna provides Neva with a spark and an energy.

When the novel opens, Neva and Sanna have decided to rebel against the government. Each has different objectives. Sanna wants to make a splash. Neva wants to make a difference. Sanna has the ideas. Neva has the connections. They host a dark party – a party in the pitch black. Their hope is to entice their friends to join them in a secret rebellion. But when the lights go out, Neva accidently kisses someone. When the lights come back on, she realizes she’s kissed Sanna’s boyfriend. Now she’s falling for her best friend’s boyfriend and discovering secrets and lies that threaten her friendship, her family and her country. Ultimately Neva must risk everything to save her best friend.

Sanna reminds me of two of my best friends. She’s part my oldest and dearest friend Courtney. We met in college. She’s the one who understands me like no other – and likes me anyway. We have been friends for more than twenty years. We have grown up and weathered many trials and tribulations together. We are separated by a big ocean but no matter how long between our phone calls, it’s like we were never apart. She knows the right thing to say no matter what my conundrum.

Sanna is also part my newest and dearest friend. From the moment we met in 2005, we had an instant connection. We are both Americans named Sara who married Brits and now live in the UK – and have a deep love for Mexican food. She has boundless enthusiasm and is never at a loss for big ideas. She never ceases to amaze me. I can always count on her.

What’s the saying? A friend helps you move, your best friend helps you move a body. If one of my friends called with an emergency – no matter what the time, no matter where I was – I’d drop everything to help.

What would you do to save your best friend?

Have you been to a Dark Party?

2012-01-28T18:02:00.002Z

Guest Post by Sara Grant, author of Dark Parties

Why Dystopian?

When I finished the first draft of Dark Parties in 2009, I had an agent tell me that she didn’t think dystopian novels would sell. How times and tastes have changed. I recently heard someone call ‘dystopia’ the new ‘paranormal romance’ of young adult fiction.

Hunger Games, Delirium, Matched, Divergent, Blood Red Road, XVI, Bumped, The Declaration. There’s definitely something in the zeitgeist. I’m sure someone out there with a Ph.D. can hypothesize about the current social and political climate that predisposes writers and readers to dystopian fiction. And maybe there’s another doctor-type who can explain something about a teenager’s brain chemistry that makes them particularly susceptible to dark, futuristic tales.

I read an article in The New Yorker where Scott Westerfeld compared the high school experience (secondary school/Sixth Form in the UK) to a dystopia. Maybe teens intuitively understand and appreciate this genre because they are living it?

But the reason I write dystopian fiction for young adults is far less lofty and scientific. I love the freedom – not only the freedom to imagine the future and make the rules, but also the freedom that I can afford my teen protagonist. Teenagers can save the world.

Dystopian stories offer a complete escape from everyday life. Practically it allows writers to rid teen protagonist of pesky parents, mobile phones and the internet, which make answers and rescue come far too swiftly – and boringly. A story void of competent parents and efficient technology allows for greater adventure and risks.

And dystopian novels allow readers and writers the freedom to explore themes in a way most contemporary teen fiction can’t. You can illuminate a particular aspect of society or human nature and whittle away the parts of the real world that don’t serve your story.

The idea for Dark Parties came shortly after I moved from Indianapolis, Indiana, to London, England. Debates on immigration were raging on both sides of the Atlantic – and still are. What does it mean to be American or British? How ‘open’ should countries’ borders be? I wanted to explore issues of national and personal identity so I created a country that had literally closed itself off from the rest of the world.

Another benefit of writing dystopian fiction is the ease with which it can cross borders and appeal to readers around the world. I intentionally didn’t identify the country in Dark Parties. In my mind, it’s a mixture of my two homelands – the US and UK, but it could also easily represent other countries. Dark Parties has sold to the US, UK, Germany, Poland, Turkey, China and Taiwan.

Now I’m completely hooked on dystopian fiction. I not only read every dystopian novel I can get my hands on but I’m already neck deep in writing another dark futurist tale – which will be published in 2013. So stay tuned for Half Lives – a race against time and a battle to save future generations. It’s about the nature of faith and power of miscommunication – and above all the strength of the human spirit to adapt and survive.

Authors Electric

2012-01-22T13:42:00.005Z

Despite all the talk at the end of last year about the way in which the Kindle was set to overtake publishing and reduce the sales of paper books it seems that children's books continue to go from strength to strength in all formats.

However we at Armadillo have nothing against the Kindle, after all it has its own uses and so if your children are pestering you for a Kindle or other such device then here is an exciting new offering to consider...

Introducing Authors Electric: professional authors with decades of publishing experience, now producing fresh new books via a brand new blog,

Do Authors Dream of Electric Books? http://authorselectric.blogspot.com

bringing together a variety of published UK-based authors of fiction and non-fiction for adults, teens and children. Many of these writers are now bringing back their much-missed out-of-print books as ebooks, with others publishing new titles at affordable prices.

Susan Price, whose Carnegie-winner The Ghost Drum is now out for Kindle, says: “The Kindle has set authors free to publish independently and sell in a world-wide market. We want our blog to become a site that people will bookmark, and where they can go to find quality writing at great prices.”

Among the other authors for children and teenagers contributing to Authors Electric include Katherine Roberts, the first recipient of the Branford-Boase Award, Pauline Fisk, winner of the Smarties Prize, and Armadillo's very own Linda Newbery, winner of the Costa Children’s Prize.

The new site, which is already attracting numerous hits, not only has a great selection of ebooks for all the family but also brings you a daily blog by this team of professional authors, talking openly about all things to do with writing and what it is like to be an author in this digital age. Each month, the blog also hosts a guest author talking about their work.

Their website Do Authors Dream of Electric Books? can be visited at: www.authorselectric.co.uk

Launch yourself into the exciting world of electronic books and don't forget to keep us updated as to what you discover when you are there!

A New Year Diet with a Difference!

2012-01-08T17:58:00.002Z

Everywhere you look this last week there has been talk of diets and detox so it must be the year! I have a diet with a difference to offer you, a diet of books and for my first offering I would like to set you up with the books on the short list for the Red House Children's Book Award which from now on will be referred to as RHCBA.

In the school in which I work as a librarian, Downsend, in Leatherhead, we have set up a reading group or three for the different age groups, all these groups have been reading and sharing the books on the short list, discussing their relative merits and being candidly open and honest about how they feel.

The younger children have been enjoying the picture books, we read them together and they love exploring them in detail, something they don't always get the chance to do as they are pushed into chapter books too soon, I meet with one group again tomorrow so will report back on their progress. In the meantime however on Friday we met with the older group of children from Years 6 & 7 who have read a number of the books now between them and had some interesting thoughts to share. Today I'll start with the Tom Gates title which they enjoyed but felt that it was trying too ha to be an English Wimpy Kid. The book, they said was funny but coming after so many other books in a similar style they were slightly bored of the format and didn't find that giving it an English rather than American setting really made any difference, after all, they id, they are so exposed to American culture that the setting of a book makes little difference.

Another interesting comment was that the main character, Tom, is too good, there is too much focus on him and it takes away from the humour of the story.

For the adult members of the group, myself and an English teacher, the book is perhaps a 21st century version of The Secret Diary of Adrain Mole with which we grew up and have find memories of laughing at. It appears that this format is successful with every generation but it is how the characters are portrayed that really makes the difference between enjoyment and tedium as experienced by our group.

There ends our first instalment. The awards are voted for on 20th January and the winners announced on 11th February, a celebration we hope to attend so between now and then remember to check back here regularly for our updates.

It's Chritsmas ...

2011-12-23T15:15:00.007Z

What is it that springs to mind at Christmas – well yes there is the obvious, tree, food, presents, family time and so on. But then come the thoughts of nativity, animals, activities, snow, classic stories and this is where the collection of books to follow fit in.

Starting with the classic nativity story in a novel format I have the pleasure of telling you about Rod Campbell’s Book and Nativity Set – My First Nativity, (Macmillan, 9780230756106). Packaged in a hardback, tied up with a ribbon and with a charming cut-out window featuring the stable scene this is a lovely book for the youngest reader, a great way of introducing them to the nativity story. There is a very simple story book and a set of nativity pieces to assemble (complete with instructions). Bright colours, bold pictures of cute animals and a sturdy scene, this is the perfect set for young children.

If it is the story of a time before the baby Jesus was born that is of interest then The Animals’ Christmas by Elena Pasquali and illustrated by Giuliano Feri (Lion, 9780745962498) may be of interest. This is a retelling of the Bible prophecy that there would come a time when the lion and the lamb would lie together in peace. It has been woven with the nativity and combined with charming illustration for a simple story for younger readers with an important message.

The Shepherd Girl of Bethlehem by Carey Morning and illustrated by Alan Marks (Lion, 9780745962320) invites its reader into the stable in Bethlehem to share with the daughter of one of the shepherds her version of the nativity.

My Carry-Along Christmas with crafts by Jocelyn Miller (Lion

Children’s, 9780745962597) is a book that, thanks to its carry handle, can be taken wherever its owner wants to go over Christmas which is perfect if they are craft loving children. It has puzzles, stickers and crafts to enjoy. Try making a fan, a card or even a garland this Christmas. This is a book certain to keep little ones, and probably a few adults too, nicely busy.

Last but certainly not least there is Muddle Mountain by Ag Jastkowska (Campbell Books, 9780230753938). This magnetic play book with 16 magnetic characters allows the reader to join in the fun of the story taking the skiers and skaters out of their mountain chalet and moving them around the magical scene, creating their own story or following the simple text in the book. A lovely interactive, entertaining and fun book for Christmas enjoyment. Lets hope for some snow of our own now!

Have a Happy Christmas with whichever books you choose …

Sally Gardner Teaser

2011-11-08T20:22:00.006Z

We are lucky to have the brilliance of the author Sally Gardner in a guest spot today.

Perhaps not so in person, but fittingly, here is a sample of Sally Gardner, a sample of the first chapter of 'The Double Shadow' her haunting, moving and compelling new novel.

Sally will feature in the winter edition of Armadillo, coming to a web page near you in a matter of weeks. For now enjoy this sample of her brilliance and then go on out and get the book for yourself and be enthralled ...

WASTELAND

Once there was a girl who asked of her reflection, ‘If all I have is fragments of memories and none of them fit together, tell me then, do I exist?’

There was no answer, only the silence of the room and the hum of the green light that oozed from the television in the corner. She had no idea how long she had been standing there, maybe an eternity. Her name, her age, beyond recall. All she knew was there would be no tomorrow if she couldn’t work out the riddle of yesterday. She wondered often if she was going crazy, but it was hard to remember what crazy looked like. In the apartment, on the windowsill before her, lay a dead butterfly. Its wings and its beauty disturbed her. It was familiar, it had an echo of another time.

Softly, she sang a few words, her breath misty on the cold night-time glass, her reflection the only silent proof of her existence.

If you go down in the woods today

You’re sure of a big surprise.

If you go down in the woods today

You’d better go in disguise.

She was certain there were more verses but, like so much, they twinkled on the brink of things lost.

High up in a dark tenement block, the girl looked out of the window to a wasteland. In the middle stood one building. A picture palace. She imagined that once it must have been fabulous, with its mirrored facade built of thousands of reflective squares. How it came to fall into such decay was a mystery. As so much here was. The girl could see that the movie house had three grand silvered steps leading up to diamond-paned glass doors. Now all smeared with the grime of neglect. The place looked haunted, having scared away every other building that might have kept it company, leaving

it isolated. There, at the very edge of the world, the other buildings formed a protective circle, shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, joining with rows of tall houses and one black tower to make an impenetrable wall, a mix of apartment buildings and tenement blocks whose fronts were laced with a spider’s web of fire escapes, water tanks and balconies. Behind this barricade she could see skyscrapers turning their Venetianblinded eyes away. There was no way out. This was landscape with no colour, no trees to break the endless monotony of grainy black and white, just the ever-present eerie hum of the green light. It was this light that, in the darkness, filled her

nightmares. Perhaps it was the sound of crazy, perhaps it was the end. How was she to know?

Murderous Envy

2011-11-03T19:36:00.003Z

At last – a proper murder story for YA readers – no vampires, no werewolves, but just a little bit of something slightly spooky! I’m a long-standing murder story fan, and I was gripped from the first page to the last.

The book is Envy, the first in a series of thrillers about Port Gamble, or Empty Coffin, as its original name translates. The author is Gregg Olsen, an American writer with several novels for adults as well as real-life crime books to his name, who sets his books in an area he knows well, the Pacific north-west, and one probably little known to British readers. Here he makes full use of the rather British weather to create a damp, cool, dark environment in which dark deeds somehow seem so much more chilling!

Hayley and Taylor Ryan are twins with a special gift, which provides them with that little bit extra when they search out the real story behind crimes. We are promised that they will appear in more Empty Coffin stories, and the first chapter of the next instalment is tantalizingly added as a postscript to Envy. As five-year-olds they suffered the trauma of a coach accident on the bridge nearby their town, an accident from which killed some of their classmates, and which has scarred the community ever since. Ten years on, it appears that another survivor, Katelyn, has taken her own life, but the twins’ determination to find the truth uncovers some deeply disturbing incidents, and some even more deeply disturbed inhabitants of this sleepy town.

This is really good stuff, with a thrilling story and convincing characterisation, and it also has some serious messages underlying the narrative, about envy, about friendship, about revenge, about mental health and bullying, especially particular type of bullying which is on the increase among young readers: cyberbullying. The invasive nature of this, often totally unexpected, and preying on the hopes and fears of the recipients, makes it particularly vicious and private, and it eats away at the self-image of anyone who falls victim to it.

Knowing that his readership will spend much of their time glued to their computer and their smartphone, Olsen has a website devoted to Empty Coffin, and to Envy with additional material. There’s also a link to advice, discussion and resources about cyberbullying. He also outlines the real-life cases behind Envy, and links to find out more about those. I can’t wait for the next book, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a well-written mystery with a twist in the tale!

Envy is published in the UK by Splinter, ISBN 978-1402789571

With huge thanks to Bridget Carrington, Armadillo Reviewer, for this Blog contribution -ed

2011-10-29T15:43:00.012+01:00

Halloween just happens to fall at one of the darkest times of year when it is also beginning to get cold and thoughts turn to warm crackling fires as well as fun and games around them, so what better way to entertain yourself this Halloween than with a selection of great books which can be read in the warm and in the light (if you so desire)!

To begin with we must cater for the youngest children who will be going to bed the soonest and will need a story to send them off happy into dreamland. The best book for this, in my opinion at least, is Mouldy Monsters (Campbell Books, 9780230753954) by AnnaLaura Cantone. This book takes the fear out of monsters, after all some of them are afraid too, and shows that most of them are also very silly! In addition to a funny story there are touch-and-feel elements on every spread - I love the ‘Mello Jello’s’ with their pink tutus and the ’Fuzzy McWuzzies’ with their blue fur, though by far the most popular with children is the green bogies from the ‘Booger Beloogas’!

Then comes the wonderful Debi Gliori who has provided us with just the title for sharing with toddlers. The Scariest Thing of All (Bloomsbury, 9780747599692) from its cover of purple hues and red spiky writing, with the exception of the cute bunny, one gets a sense of mystery before opening up to a bright and colourful meadow of long grass … Lots of larger than life scary things BIG spiders among them, are counterbalanced by a vibrancy and cute factor that is very reassuring. This book is the perfect read for little ones afraid of the dark and just a little scared this Halloween.

If you are story telling to a party of little ones then Elizabeth Baguley and Marion Lindsay’s Ready Steady Ghost (Oxford University Press, 9780192792648) is a good choice with its rhythmical text, swirly ghosts floating across blue pages and a very funny story about a ghost who isn’t actually much good at haunting!

Next come the younger readers who will adore the latest Horrid Henry and not only for its 3D moulded cover allowing curious fingers to prod the torch in awe! If you can believe it Horrid Henry has reached the grand old age of 20, he has a film, a TV series and now a very special book too. Horrid Henry and the Zombie Vampire by Francesca Simon (Orion Children’s Books, 9781842551356) finds Henry up to his usual tricks, scaring everyone, including himself, with some monstrously funny results. Read this one if you dare, for Halloween!

More advanced and older readers will love the second Bansi O’Hara title. Bansi O’Hara and the Edges of Halloween by author and Armadillo reviewer John Dougherty, (Random House, 9780440867920) may have been published back in April but is the perfect read this Halloween for its fast paced and frightening adventure story. Bansi is longing for a quiet life but life has other ideas and this adventure finds Bansi back in Faerie to rescue her mum from the Dead Cruach whilst trying to cope with Granny and Nora Mullarkey. One wonders which will be more difficult! A great adventure with lots of humour, the perfect cheering read for this Halloween.

So get your teeth stuck in to one of these great stories rather then a toffee apple this Halloween and you are guaranteed to have a great time!

Half Term Fun with Jacqueline Wilson

2011-10-24T14:19:00.012+01:00

Fancy a good day out for half term then look no further than Seven Stories (if you are in or near Newcastle of course). For those of you in other parts of the country the website is packed with fun and there are of course always plenty of events taking place. The Internet is a great place to hunt for children's reading activities, or try your local library. In the meantime back to Seven Stories ...

Daydreams and Diaries, the Story of Jacqueline Wilson is the first ever exhibition dedicated to this author and her work. The good news is that there is plenty of time to see it as it runs until September 2012.

In this new exhibition Jacqueline herself (though sadly not in person) guides the visitor through her favourite stories, characters and daydreams as well as proividing an insight into her working process, providing inspiration for budding writers. See how ideas become text and find out more about working with an illustrator. This is a chance to sit and daydream as well as be inspired.

These wonderful pictures will give you a taster of what to expect ...

Jacqueline Wilson with 10 young people from the North East who took part in a Creative Writing project at Seven Stories.

Jacqueline Wilson relaxes in a replica of her 1950's bedroom.

Jacqueline Wilson in front of the Dumping Ground from Tracy Beaker.

Jacqueline Wilson and Nick Sharratt meet their fans in the set of Tracy Beaker at Seven Stories.

With thanks to Lauren Regan, Marketing and Communications at Seven Stories

Party Barefoot Style

2011-10-12T19:48:00.003+01:00

Linda Newbery reports from the Barefoot Books party celebrating their move to new offices in Oxford.

Barefoot Books celebrated their move to Summertown, Oxford with a launch party on Friday (7th October), followed by a packed weekend of family activities. They've taken over a former Co-Op, architecturally mimicking the chapel next door, which in previous lives has been a bathroom showroom and an artists' shop and gallery. These are spacious premises which lend themselves well to their new role, with various nooks and corners for storytelling and activities, a cafe, and another floor upstairs with space to seat small or larger audiences. It's a bookshop with lots of face-out display combined with community and family centre, offering weekly activities including yoga for children and adults, drama, dance, crafts and of course story times.

The decor, both inside and out, is colourful, inviting and stylish - it would be hard to pass by without having at least a look inside. Lucky Summertown. See the website, www.barefootbooks, for details of books and events.

Back - Finally - Into History

2011-10-06T20:46:00.003+01:00

I am very sorry that I ahve been away for so long, I had not realised the start of a new term would be quite so nusy. I ahve however not been away from books and if you have been following me on Twitter @Armadillomag, you'll see that I;ve been busy with my daily reading diet!

So what have I found to enthrall you all with today - some wonderful new titles fromBarrington Stoke. Having been asked to cover some history lessons at school last week - two on the Tudors and one on Victorian factories - I was thrilled to find in my post two new Barrington Stoke titles set in history.

Anne Perry is busy writing a series of time-slip or time-travel, depending on your preferred phrase, stories. The series begins with Tudor Rose in which the heroine, Rosie, finds she has been given a very special time piece, one that will send her back to the court of Queen Elizabeth, find her in the Queen's court assisting her as she stands firm against the Spanish Amarda.

Rose of No-Man's Land takes our heroine to the hospitals of Flanders in the First World War where Rose meets Edith Cavell, a nurse executed for her bravery and courage in helping soldiers escape.

The reader learns some interesting historical lessons, as does Rose, who also learns how to stand up for herself at school, learns courage and meets some of history's most important women in their darkest hours.

Exciting new fiction from an award-winning publisher and something for teen girls who may be a little reluctant to read, to really get their teeth into.

Philosophical Places

2011-08-03T17:50:00.004+01:00

There has been a burgeoning of interest in philosophy for children in recent years, all part of the process of seeking to develop children’s thinking skills. Many of its advocates have argued for a fourth ‘R’ in the school curriculum in which Reasoning is taught alongside Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

Stories are an important device for engaging children, not only do they provide enjoyment they also help children to begin enquiring and exploring philosophical ideas.

As a secondary school teacher I run a philosophy club and my group of philosophers all of whom started in Year 7, aged 11, seem to have grown up very quickly. Too young for Gaarder’s brilliant Sophie’s World and too old perhaps for the philosophical stories for children, Bernard Beckett’s Genesis and August are possibly the answer to my question of what can they read?

Genesis takes the reader to Plato’s Republic -- a post-cataclysmic world isolated away from the rest of humanity -- and puts them into a Socratic dialogue between a board of examiners and a young student - Anaximander. In the claustrophobic context of the examination, Anaximander questions the official history of the Republic and the role of her long-dead hero, the philosopher-soldier Adam Forde.

August puts the reader into a different philosophical rule, that of St Augustine’s City of God in another post-cataclysmic world. This time the dialogue is between Tristan, a philosopher struggling with questions of freewill, and Grace, a street prostitute, whose life is more of a question of survival. Trapped upside down in a car wreck, alone, hours away from daybreak and the chance of a rescue, August’s dialogue tells the alternating stories of their lives.

It is tempting to brand Genesis and August as ‘Philosophy for Teenagers’, but there is a subtle difference in resisting this and identifying these books as Young Adult Philosophy. The books are written to be accessible to teenagers, with the length of story and the choice of language. The dialogical format of the books and the pace of the story however requires a more patient reader and at times, important passages need to be re-read. In fact I want to re-read Genesis and August and refresh my knowledge of Plato’s Republic and St Augustine’s City of God to fully appreciate the subtly of the books. The philosophy is the foundations upon which the story is written, shaping the story rather than it being a story with some philosophical insights. Moreover the books, particularly August, include more adult content.

Unfortunately I do not have my answer for my teenage philosophy group. Some members I can identify as having the maturity to read and fully engage with Genesis and August. Others may not. Perhaps I am missing the point. Whether you are a child, teenager, young adult or adult, the joy of philosophy is always to read a story and ponder for any amount of time, whatever philosophical musing it stirs, great or small.

Genesis and August by Bernard Beckett are both published by Quercus.

Theodore Boone, Strattenburg’s youngest lawyer ...

2011-08-03T17:11:00.005+01:00

13 year-old Theodore Boone comes from a family of lawyers. When he is not in school, and often when he should be in school, Theodore can be found in the town’s court rooms. His friends and even teachers ask him for legal advice.

The first book in the Theodore Boone series has deservedly attracted much praise. Brilliantly written both books have compelling plots and great characterisation. Taking crime fiction in a new direction, possibly even introducing a new literary genre - the legal thriller for teenagers. It is however the moral ambiguity in John Grisham’s writing which, for me, makes the stories refreshingly different from my own childhood reading material of great young sleuths like Nancy Drew and The Secret Seven.

In Theodore Boone’s self-titled debut novel for example, the perfect murder seems to have been committed in Strattenburg and a guilty man could go free. Theodore has to wrestle with his conscience, torn between keeping his promise to an illegal immigrant and ensuring justice for a murdered wife. Whereas in The Abduction, the latest novel, Theodore’s best friend April is kidnapped supposedly by a notorious criminal just escaped from prison. Theodore must find a compromise. Does he telling the police and his parents the truth in order to save April?

The moral ambiguity in the story is exemplified by Theodore’s uncle Ike. Ike had been a practising lawyer in the Boone family firm before committing a crime for which he served a prison sentence over several years. No-one will explain, to Theodore, why. Disbarred Ike makes a living as a tax accountant but likes to use his friends to keep himself in contact with the law, friends he describes as “closer to the street”. Characterised as an aging hippie, living alone and needing a caffeine fix every morning Ike is an unlikely, but fallen hero. He also seems to represent the slippery slope that Theodore himself could easily fall down: someone prepared to justify the means to satisfy the end.

Theodore Boone is a great new series, presenting young adults with a more complex and subtle understanding of the law. It is a game with rules, not necessarily to follow, but to be played.

Theodore Boone is out now, published by Hodder. Grab yourself a copy and be prepared for a thrilling read.

A further taste of history ...

2011-07-26T20:16:00.010+01:00

Wow what a challenge! Have you decided which faction to follow? If not then I urge you to read Mary's book, David. It may help your decision but above all else it is a gripping read.

How do I follow an author who is such a talent? Well I love historical novels and David put me in the mood for reading some more so here is just a taster of some of the books I have been enjoying in the last week and that, with the summer holidays upon us, you may enjoy too.

First of all there was VIII by Harriet Castor, then came Wickedness by Deborah White, Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx by James Rollins and I have just finished Emerald by Karen Wallace.

Some of these names may sound familiar, others shouldn't as they are new to children's fiction! Harriet Castor is one, her brilliant and insightful portrayal of the young Henry VIII is a real eye-opener and a great page-turner too. This is a very exiciting concept, looking at historical figures and considering how their childhoods shaped their adult lives.

In Wickedness Deborah White brilliantly weaves past with present, 400 years separate her two heroines but they have much in common not least the mysterious Doctor an Egyptian mummy and a curse. An engaging read to look forward to.

Jake Ransom is no stranger to trouble having already battled the evil Skull King he now has to battle him once again in order to gain control of the Eye of Ra, save his sister and an ancient civilization. Just in case you are thinking that I have got stuck in Ancient Egypt too (it has certrtainly felt that way the last two weeks with my MA work) ...

Emerald brings me back to the Tudors and this time Elizabeth I, a plot to kill the queen, bear baiting and some good old traditional romance. Karen Wallace is a well established and well-known author but this, her first foray into historical fiction is fascinating and a brilliant read.

So get stuck into some great historical ficition and be prepared to be swept away!

Are you a Republican or a Medicean?

2011-07-20T09:29:00.005+01:00

‘I am all in favour of a single ruler if that ruler can be a Lorenzo de’ Medici,’ he said at last. ‘But there are few men like him. Even his own son had none of his quality. So in general, yes, I’m now a republican.’

That’s what Michelangelo says to Gabriele, the hero of my book. And I think that’s what I believe too. I’m not in principle against the idea of a single unelected ruler, though it strikes me as dangerous, but democratically elected rulers can be terrible too. And it is possible to have a just and charismatic unelected ruler if you are lucky.

I must admit to having a bit of a crush on Lorenzo the Magnificent, the de’ Medici who was Michelangelo’s first patron. Yes, he was both ugly and unfaithful to his wife and he took a hideous and violent revenge on the conspirators who killed his brother and nearly killed him at High Mass in the cathedral in 1478. But he was the very personification of Renaissance Man – he could equally well write poetry as fence, ride a horse, talk to a philosopher ... How many monarchs or politicians are like that today? And he loved art and valued it and commissioned great works, like Botticelli’s Primavera and the Birth of Venus, as well as Michelangelo’s early marble reliefs.

The Republicans in my book are opposed on principle to families ruling a city just because they are the richest men around and I can sympathise with them too. For some of them – the frateschi – the great alternative to that kind of Plutocracy (= rule by the rich) was the teaching of Savonarola. He was a fiery preacher and Dominican friar, who held the city in thrall for four years with his passionate sermons and austere convictions.

I part company with him over the Bonfire of the Vanities though. All Florentines were encouraged to throw fripperies like jewellery and personal items of adornment into the flames, along with books, combs, mirrors and anything else that distracted them from the worship of God and encouraged personal vanity. But among these were what might have been great paintings and that I can’t forgive.

Just a few years afterwards, Savonarola himself was burned in the same spot, after being tortured and hanged. His followers in David are still mourning that event and it makes them dangerously fanatical. Trust Gabriele to get involved with them! When Michelangelo tells him what he thinks about politics in the passage quoted above, Gabriele says that he is a Republican too and although the sculptor says he has to think for himself, it is one of the themes of the book that you have to know what side you are on in Florence.

Gabriele ends up on both sides in a way and it is very nearly his undoing.

Follow Mary and find out more about her books here:

www.maryhoffman.co.uk

www.twitter.com/@MARYMHOFFMAN

www.facebook.com/maryhoffman.fanpage

www.bookmavenmary.blogspot.com

Perfect Picture Book Picnics

2011-07-16T12:51:00.007+01:00

As my mother fondly calls them 'pic-in-ics' are the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors ... or as we learnt on Thursday evening at Walker Books picture Book Picnic they are the perfect way to enjoy any space for a picnic can be held anywhere, including in the lovely lofty space Walker Books are lucky enough to have in their building. So it was that librarians, booksellers, bloggers and representatives from many groups with an interest in picture books gathered on a balmy Thursday evening for Pimms, sparkles, nibbles, strawberries & cream, as well not forgetting the ice cream with a flake - traditional British picnic fare and of course we were in the company of some of Walker Books rising stars - Viv Schwartz and others, watching them sketch on the picnic grass, chatting to them about a new range of floor mats and more ...

It was the perfect way to spend a lovely evening, the perfect way to celebrate picture books and remind ourselves that just a a picnic can be held anywhere there is a picture book for any place and any time ... picinics are the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors ... or as we learnt on Thursday evening at Walker Books picture Book Picnic they are the perfect way to enjoy any space for a picnic can be held anywhere, including in the lovely lofty space Walker Books are lucky enough to have in their building.

So it was that librarians, booksellers, bloggers and representatives from many groups with an interest in picture books gathered on a balmy Thursday evening for Pimms, sparkles, nibbles, strawberries & cream, as well not forgetting the ice cream with a flake - traditional British picnic fare and of course we were in the company of some of Walker Books rising stars - Viv Schwartz and others, watching them sketch on the picnic grass, chatting to them about a new range of floor mats and more ...

An Awfully Big Blog Adventure

2011-07-04T15:40:00.004+01:00

Many Armadillo reviewers are also brilliant writers of literature for children and having teamed together for An Awfully Big Blog Adventure three years ago they are proudly celebrating their third birthday this weekend, the 9th and 10th July!

To celebrate they are hosting the very first online literary festival organised entirely by children's authors. The line-up is incredible, with authors popping in every half an hour to share insights, tips, book news and giveaways. The full programme is listed below and all the posts will be archived so make sure you find some time to take a look.

Saturday 9th July
9.30am Anne Cassidy Post: To Blog or Not To Blog?
10.00am Jo Cotterill
10.30am Anne Rooney & Mary Hoffman Video: Italian Inspiration
11.00am Celia Rees Post: Scattered Authors, the Beginning
11.30am Elen Caldecott Competition: Win 'Operation Eiffel Tower'
12.30pm Gillian Philip Competition: Win 'Bloodstone' and 'Firebrand'
1.00pm Liz Kessler Competition: Win 'A Year Without Autumn'
1.30pm Sam Mills Video: Interview with Tyger Drew-Honey
2.00pm Adele Geras
2.30pm Jane Eagland Post: The Ups and Downs of Research
3.00pm Enid Richemont
3.30pm Malcolm Rose Post: Reader Gregor Kelly questions Malcolm Rose over Forbidden Island
4.00pm Lucy Coats Video and Competition: Going to the Dogs--Tackling a Tricky Audience
4.30pm Susan Price & Katherine Roberts Post: Kindles and Kids Books
5.00pm Wendy Meddour Post: On Not Being a Famous Actress
5.30pm Miriam Halahmy & Savita Kalhan Video drama and discussion about Edgy Fiction
6.00pm Catherine Johnson Post: Rastamouse, the Moomins and Me
6.30pm Penny Dolan
7.00pm Linda Newbery & Julia Jarman

Sunday 10th July
10.30am Emma Barnes
11.00 am Dianne Hofmeyr & Miriam Moss On Picture Books
11.30am Kath Langrish Post: Secret Rooms in Children's Fiction
12 NOON Nicola Morgan Competition: Win 'Write to be Published' and a crabbit bag.
12.30pm Julie Sykes Post and Competition: My Favourite Bears
1.00pm Leila Rasheed Competition: Win a critique
1.30pm Joan Lennon Post: The Flamingo and the Writer
2.00pm Hilary McKay Competition: Win 'Caddy's World'
2.30pm Fiona Dunbar & Keren David Video: In Conversation
3.00pm Josh Lacey Competition: Win 'Island of Thieves'
3.30pm Marie-Louise Jensen & David Calcutt
4.00pm Candy Gourlay Video: Creating a Legend
4.30pm Karen Ball Competition: An Inspiring Giveaway
5.00pm Linda Strachan & Cathy MacPhail Video: In Conversation
5.30pm Malachy Doyle Post: The Happy Book
6.00pm Michelle Lovric Competition: Win 'The Undrowned Child'
6.30pm Sue Purkiss Post: What the Dickens?
7.00pm Julie Day
7.30pm Lynne Garner
8.00pm Nicky Browne Video: Finding history and herstory

This schedule may be subject to change as a result of circumstances beyond the organisers' control. They'll do their best to be control freaks and not let that happen!

Words and Pictures

2011-06-28T17:02:00.006+01:00

A blog post from Bridget Carrington

When my children were small, picturebooks (so now you know which I prefer), were just emerging from their thick, yellowish paper with smudgy, stark, limited colours, into the glorious products we know today. Because they’re picturebooks, I think we often regard that element more highly than the words, but three picturebooks I’ve just read show how both parts of the book should interrelate and enhance the other.

I thought the days of overtly moralistic writing had long vanished, until I picked up Diana Mather, Avril Lethbridge and Mary-Ann Mackenzie’s Please Bear’s Birthday (Maverick ISBN 9781848860674). According to the blurb, ‘the series teaches children the importance of good manners through nice and naughty bears’. Oh dear, these adjectives don’t inspire enthusiasm – even KS1 readers would recognise their weak and non-pc nature I think – and neither does the book, despite this being the Daily Mail ‘You Magazine’ Book of the Week. The lengthy rhyming text lumbers along with all the grace and effortless ease of William MacGonagall, while the illustrations do nothing to help, unexciting, humourless and truly reminiscent of picturebooks of the past.

Compare this with two other Maverick publication, Julie Fulton’s Mrs MacCready was ever so Greedy (ISBN 9781848860650), with pictures by Jona Jung, and Giles Paley-Phillips The Fearsome Beastie ISBN9781848860667), illustrated by Gabriele Antonini, and you see what twenty-first century rhyming picturebooks can and really should do.

Fulton’s text is more accomplished than Paley-Phillips’ which falls into the all too common trap of over-inverting and contorting word order so that it scans (and in fact it doesn’t always) and so that the rhyming word ends up at the end of the line. Generally Mrs Macready’s story has a far smoother, natural rhythm and rhyme, and the cautionary tale which emerges – exercise as well as eat, or else the consequences will be dire – is handled in a humorous, non-moralistic way so totally absent from Please Bear. The illustrations are big, bright and funny, and the whole book fits together seamlessly, promising to become a favourite with young readers who like to join in as the text is read to them. In contrast, although clearly a twenty-first century text, Antonini’s style of illustration in The Fearsome Beastie reminds me of a 1950s American cartoon, with children, houses and streets which are more US then UK. The author acknowledges Roald Dahl as an influence, and certainly the poetic style reminds me of Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, while the illustrator was clearly a fan of Sendak as well as Hanna Barbera.

Sharon Rentta’s A Day with the Animal Doctors (Scholastic ISBN 9781407116440) certainly lives up to its advertising, ‘a hilarious trot round the wards’ it certainly is, as Dr Terence the baby tapir goes to work with his mum. Unlike Please Bear, every page is buzzing with activity, with lots for children (and adults) to find in the pictures, as well as a text which offers information on clipboards drawn onto the pages, and a thoughtful, funny look at why we end up in hospital. This makes a lovely book for bedtime reading, as it invites additional questions from young readers, and can also be ‘read’ without any of the words. How nice that Mum’s the doctor and that the nurses are male and female, and that the elderly animals are being cared for so thoughtfully. My favourite pages are the animal babies in their cots, and the children’s ward, where the patients ‘often need to do a lot of Bouncing’!

Altogether an interesting collection, inviting reflection (can’t stop myself rhyming now, though clearly I’ve not got the hang of scansion either!) on what makes a successful picturebook. It’s not just the pictures, nor yet just the text… there needs to be that special something which knits it all into one highly entertaining whole.

Can the Wardstone protect you?

2011-06-28T16:52:00.008+01:00

Having had the lighthearted fun of a birthday celebration Armadillo reviewer Simon Barrett now brings you some dark horror, a theme that must appeal to him for he is currently deep into Lindsey's Barraclough's Long Lankin (brilliantly reviewed by Louise Stothard ina recent edition of Armadillo Magazine) and declared it was most certainly not a book to be read after dark, but before we get too immersed in that let us delve into the phenomenon that is:

The Wardstone Chronicles
Joseph Delaney’s seminal series The Wardstone Chronicles which began with The Spook’s Apprentice was always intended to take up a lot of bookshelf space. It is a credit to the strength of the story and the empathy between readers and characters that the Bodley Head has just published the eighth book, The Spook’s Destiny.

Tom, the Spook’s Apprentice, has certainly grown-up since the first book and has travelled far beyond the boundaries of his home, the County. Whilst the dark has at times seemed invincible, Tom, his family and his friends have always shown the courage to win through.

As a Religious Education teacher with an interest in philosophy, the Wardstone Chronicles provokes two enduring questions for me. Is the universe a dualism of two separate, distinct entities: light and dark? Can the means justify the ends?

The Wardstone Chronicles began with the opposing forces of light and dark. This is perhaps typified by the character of the Spook himself, shunning all compromise with the dark and those who would use the dark. The universe however has become far more complicated. Tom’s best friend Alice was unwillingly trained as a witch, but willingly uses magic, sometimes for dark purposes. Even Tom’s mother is a reformed creature of the dark. More compelling in the series is Tom’s own nature, in which a sliver of darkness now exists deep in his being. In the latest book, Joseph Delaney hints that there is more to the universe than light and dark. Tom meets the Old God Pan who intriguingly refers to a shadow world, separate from the dark.

Can the dark be used to fight the dark? This question has come to dominate the books with the servants of the dark co-operating in the fight against the dark. This fight is epitomised for me in the character of Grimalkin, the Witch Assassin who has saved Tom in the past, and fights alongside him to try and bind the Devil in The Spook’s Destiny. The Spook is of the mind that the means must justify the ends and only light should be used to destroy the dark. Tom and Alice challenge this, and the world might have ended before now, if they hadn’t. I am eagerly awaiting Joseph Delaney’s next story, one that promises to reveal much more about Grimalkin....

Only to be read after dark if you dare ...

The Hay Diaries Part 4 ...

2011-06-23T16:15:00.010+01:00

Saturday 4th June – Trumps, time travel and trudging

At the crack of 10am – in the Starlight Tent

When an author begins an event by inviting the audience to shout BOGIES, you know you are in for a treat. David Roberts is the children’s illustrator responsible for The Troll and Tyrannasaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson, some super retellings of fairytales and, most filthily, Dirty Bertie.

Bertie was the star today. And the challenge was on to see if anyone in the audience could ‘trump’ him for dirty habits. They certainly had a go. One girl who is probably in with a shot is a girl that approached David Roberts at a previous book signing and said ‘I like to pick my nose’. She then proceeded to demonstrate, and was about to EAT it, when she saw David’s shocked face. ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘would you like some?’

After reading the first Dirty Bertie book, David Roberts gave some tips on drawing Bertie. You can see my very average attempts here:

The audience helped David to create a picture. It started as Bertie eating some candyfloss, but gradually more and more horrible things – bugs, worms, dog poo, a plaster, a lobster (?!) – were added and it looked a lot less appetising.

The ‘interesting’ imaginations of some audience members were also revealed when David asked for ways to prevent your parents from moving house (as Bertie does in one of the books) and one girl immediately replied ‘go to the toilet on the bed’. I’m quite glad I don’t live with her.

Overall, this event was very funny, and perfectly aimed at its 5-7-year-old audience, while allowing parents to laugh secretly at the toilet humour too. There were also some drawing tips to pick up for those of us who aren’t artistically challenged. And even those who are can have a go…

1.30pm – in Sarajevo 1914/Elizabethan England

I appear to have time travelled. I think that Johnny O’Brien, author of the Jack Christie adventures, is to blame. His event, like his books, is centred around how fun it would be to actually find yourself in another time.

The hero of the books, Jack Christie, finds himself at some of the major turning points in history and must decide whether to intervene. The first – in Day of the Assassins – is the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which was the trigger (geddit?!) for the first World war. Through some super role play involving audience volunteers (who made worryingly good assassins) Johnny showed us how the Great War was actually caused by a sandwich.

Johnny told us he is quite keen on the gruesome side of history (and, as a Horrible-Histories-reared child, so do I). From the books he read us a rather violent encounter in the trenches and later an eye-witness encounter of the execution of Mary Queen of Scots.

4:00pm – On the sad trudge home, being rained on

My whirlwind visit to Hay has whirled and winded (and now rained) and I am on my way home. I bid goodbye to the cat and she watched me go with a cool and steady hatred.

But I leave with a feeling that there is much to be excited about – there are still kids who love reading books and authors who love writing books and events where these people can come together and bang on about how much they love books. To me, that is rather exciting.

Roll on next Hay!

2011-06-23T16:10:00.006+01:00

Friday 3rd June part 2 – Zombaliens attack

2:30pm – the Starlight Tent, in grave danger

Guy Bass, creator of Dinkin Dings (who is scared of everything), was so kind as to save his audience’s lives, by teaching them how to defend themselves against Zombaliens.

He started by asking what everyone was scared of. Answers ranged from my teacher, my Mum (someone in the audience’s, not mine), spiders, DEATH, needles, and a rat. A specific rat.

This is nothing compared to Dinkin’s list of 47 most feared things in the first book, Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things (which everyone must read).

There are, Guy said. three things you need to know about Zombaliens:
1. They want to turn everyone into a Zombalien
2. They disguise themselves as humans
3. They use lemon juice and furniture polish to disguise their true smell (gone-off milk and old ladies’ knickers)

A volunteer named Bruce was called on to test Dinkin’s Zombatron6000 Zombalien defeating hat (complete with plunger for pulling off the human disguise mask) and Bruce performed some top-quality sneaking on Guy Bass.

We were introduced to the frightening things (Edgar the skeleton, Herbert the monster and Arhur the ghost – Dinkin’s frienda and the only things he’s not frightened of) and more volunteers (for simplicity Guy called them all Sophie) took on the roles of the frightening things. With some sound-effect-help from the audience they performed the arrival of the frightening things from the first book.

I almost ran screaming in terror from the tent, but managed to keep in my seat long enough to get a sneak preview of Guy’s next book, Stitch Head, which is about a mad professor’s first invention.

Guy read from the new book to round off a fantastic event – he is basically a stand up comedian in a children’s writer’s body. I queued up afterwards to get my Dinkin book signed and told Guy it was nice to meet him in person as opposed to on Twitter. Then I said

‘Tomorrow I’ll be back to following you all day’

Which probably sounded a bit scary.

In true half-term style, I was back in time to watch Home and Away and give the cat lots of food to make it like me. It remains unimpressed.

The Hay Diaries Part 2 ....

2011-06-23T16:05:00.003+01:00

Friday 3rd June part 1: Mumbling at a dame

11:30am – In a big tent
Am definitely in the right place. Everyone is a girl. Everyone has a Jacqueline Wilson book. I am very excited.

Once they’d seated Jacqueline’s legions of fans-o’clock – In a big tent Jacqueline Wilson entered the stage to thunderous applause and plenty of whooping. You only had to look around the audience to see the range of ages she covers. From 8-year-old new fans, to teens, to old girls like me who remember Tracy Beaker when she was first around (along with leggings and Take That).

‘How many of you like writing?’ she asked the audience, and lots of hands shot up. The advice – get notebooks and start writing. She shared her school reports with us – encouraging at primary school, where she was often asked to read her stories to the class. At secondary school her English teacher didn’t seem to see it the same way. Red pen covered Jacqueline’s work, with ?s by any slang and phrases such as ‘I don’t like your tone Jacqueline’ and, hilariously, ‘Highly inappropriate – see me’.

Jacqueline’s route into writing began with a job at DC Thompson on a magazine for teenage girls. They had wanted romantic short stories, but rather than writing about handsome heroes and moonlight kisses, she wrote a story like this: A girl goes to a party, boys ask all her friends to dance and no one asks her. She spends the night nodding her head to the music and taking plenty of trips to the loo to pass the time, before going home, telling her mum she had a great time, getting into bed and crying. It is a classic Jacqueline Wilson tale. Luckily they liked it, and put her on course to write many more.

Via making up horoscopes, how Tracy Beaker avoided being called Tracy Toilet, and seeking out a suitable oak tree in Richmond Park for four children to hide in, we came all too quickly to the end of the talk. Q&A revealed that Jacqueline is most like a mixture of the twins in Double Act, she almost got a tattoo when writing The Illustrated Mum and if she wasn’t an author she would be a second-hand bookshop owner (because ‘nothing is as wonderful as holding a real book’ – said to a huge cheer).

12:30pm-hours later! I meet Jacqueline Wilson – or stare at her and mumble while she signs a book. Still counts.
As always, she stayed and signed books for hours. I had the chance to get a copy of Hetty Feather signed for our fab competition winner http://sites.google.com/site/armadillomagazine/competition2
I may have mentioned loudly that I was getting a book signed for someone else, just to ensure it was clear I was an adult. (Being 5ft1 and going to lots of children’s book events means I can often be mistaken for a child…)

It also gave me a chance to chat to some Jacqueline Wilson fans in the queue. Mary, Laura and Ffion were queuing behind me. Mary told me her favourite Jacqueline Wilson book is Girls in Tears, while Laura chose The Longest Whale Song and Ffion went for Cookie. Mary explained what it is about Jacqueline Wilson that her readers love so much. ‘She covers every issue. Reading her books is addictive, because there’s always a really good storyline and you can’t stop reading once you get into it.’ I also met a quartet of Jacqueline Wilson fans – May, Lucy, Laura and Sophie – who told me their favourite of the books.

May: Hetty Feather
Lucy: Diamond Girls
Laura: Best Friends
Sophie: The Worry Website

With different favourites from each person I spoke to, there quite clearly is a Jacqueline Wilson book for everyone. When I finally got to the front of the queue and my big moment came, Jacqueline signed my book and it was my chance to speak to a life-long hero. I said: ‘Thank you! It was…Bye!’

Oh dear.

2011-06-20T19:33:00.004+01:00

Just when I was getting ready to write all about the brilliant books I have read recently and cheer you all up after this miserable (but good for the garden rain), Liz Bankes has written a wonderful series of Hay Diaries, so sit back and enjoy the installments over the next few days and before you know it I will be back with even more books up my sleeve!

The Hay Diaries

Thursday 2nd June: Things I didn’t see

2:45pm – On the train
As I journey to the Hay Festival I thought I’d depress myself by looking through the Hay Fever programme at all the things I’d already missed. (I did this while eating Burger King chips with my hands if that makes it any more tragic). Here are my top five things I didn’t see:

1. The Etherington Brothers – creators of Monkey Nuts
I didn’t find out how to make comics, draw monkeys and be hilariously funny.

2. Geraldine McCaughrean and Candy Gourlay, chaired by Sarah McIntyre
I didn’t get to find out how these quirky, humorous writers put spark into their writing (but they in turn missed out on my contribution to Q&A – WHY ARE YOU ALL SO GREAT??)

3. Fiona Dunbar – Ghostorama
Phantom science teachers, dead celebrities and creating a spooky mystery to solve… *cries*

4. Patrick Ness and David Almond – A Monster Calls and My Name is Mina.
Do I need to explain?

5. Julia Donaldson and friends – A Jolly Jamboree
It is one of my life’s ambitions to meet the Gruffalo. [and you can add to that a chance missed of meeting the new Children’s Laureate!]

7:30pm – In a tent selling cider
(The tent was a cider selling tent – I didn’t just start selling cider to people.)
So, after my train ride I accidentally got on three buses and at some point arrived in Hay. As the Hay Fever events had finished, there weren’t many children around, but I heard many a word of praise for Andy Stanton and his Mr Gum event from many an adult. (There’s a number 6 for my list)

I had a look around the Hay Fever courtyard, where all the children’s books events were taking place. There was the Starlight Stage – venue for most of the author events, the Make & Take tent, the Mess tent for cooking events, and a giant wall book about planet earth.

There’s only so long you can walk around a festival before you accidentally spend all your money and so I went to my Hay house, where I was cat-sitting for my uncle.

I was a few hours later than I thought I’d be. The cat was not impressed.

Its Official ...

2011-06-07T17:01:00.006+01:00

... we have a new Children's Laureate for 2011-2013 and it is Julia Donaldson.

A hushed expectation greeted Viv Bird of the Book Trust as she took to the podium to make the first speech of the event this morning in London's Kings Cross.

Yet the audience were not to be let off lightly, first there were the speeches to listen too, from Ed Vaizey, minister for culture to representatives from sponsor's Waterstones, the Publisher's Association and the last Children's Laureate Anthony Browne, until Floella Benjamin, chair of the Laureate selection panel, herself a children's author of over 20 books and strong campaigner for children's book and human rights, took to the podium and ... welcomed all her 'playschool babies.' Floella delivered her own moving and interesting speech before revealing that Julia had been the choice of the panel to take on the role of Children's Laureate for the next two years.

We heard, from each speaker, how important books and reading are, particularly in the current climate with library closures and competition for children's attention with new technologies. Despite this we were assured that reading remains a fundamental cornerstone of every child's education and that Julia plans to reinforce this, after she recovers from the awe she feels. Explaining that she was impressed by Anthony Browne's effort to tour Scotland, visiting six schools in a week, she plans, as the first Scottish based Laureate, to better that whilst also promoting reading for children throughout the UK. Her primary aims, she explained, will be to bring books and reading to children through drama and music as well as furthering the work done with deaf children, being partially deaf herself.

An exciting two years await Julia and the team at Armadillo wish her all the best whilst looking forward to her work and initiatives in her new role. we too will be continuing to work to further the importance of children's reading and ensure libraries in the community and our schools remain open for all.

Just follow the dotted line..........

2011-06-05T18:18:00.003+01:00

I love books that engage me, both visually and imaginatively. Perhaps that is why, as an adult, I still see the beauty of picture books alongside those with no pictures at all. When authors of more adult titles include little sketches on random pages or themed chapter headings it adds something very special and unique to the story. Picture book authors and illustrators no doubt find it a continual challenge, albeit and exciting one, to find new ways in which to engage the reader in the story they are telling.

Peely Wally a new title from Kali Stileman (Red Fox, ISBN 9781849410823) manages to do just this. How? By enticing the reader in with the tempting suggestion that they ‘Follow the dotted line and see where it goes.’ The trouble then is does one follow the line, read the story or do both? It is a good challenge for young readers and encourages considerable engagement with the story. The bright, simple and child-like paintings that fill the pages of the book yet show Stileman is clearly not afraid of white space, help to tell the story of Peely Wally and her adventurous egg! When Peely Wally lays her small, spotty and perfect egg it is in for a big adventure and the reader, when they turn to the end is in line for a wonderful surprise. A clever story, simple, engaging, colourful and with a captivating technique for engaging the reader.

On the other hand Rachel Bright lives up to her name with her third picture book for Puffin. Mine! (ISBN 9780141332130) Not only does she fill each page with a block of colour, differing for each double page spread but this is then covered with some fantastically bright and colourful pictures of the characters and their story. The text is fun, moving about the page, encouraging the reader to follow it around whilst they follow the story. So to the story which finds the twins Frankie and Fifi arguing over Funny Bunny for they are two and he is only one. This is a wonderful story which explains the importance of grandmothers, oh and of course sharing!

A Vote that Counts!

2011-05-18T14:28:00.000+01:00

BLOOMSBURY LAUNCHES POLL TO FIND FAVOURITE HARRY POTTER CHARACTER

Wizard? Muggle? Dementor! - Who would you choose?

J.K ROWLING would choose: ‘Harry, although I believe I am unusual in this, Ron is generally more popular (I love him too, though). Now that I have finished writing the books, the character I would most like to meet for dinner is Dumbledore. We would have a lot to discuss, and I would love his advice; I think that everyone would like a Dumbledore in their lives.’

Bloomsbury Publishing is launching the first official global search to find the world’s favourite character from the Harry Potter books.

Over the course of seven bestselling books Harry Potter has met a huge cast of incredible characters. Bloomsbury has drawn up a list of 40 of those characters which can be found on the home page of www.bloomsbury.com/harrypotter where visitors can vote.

If a character is missing, then there is also the opportunity to add your favourite.

The poll is open and runs until Friday 26th August 2011. The winning character will be announced on Tuesday 30th August 2011. The poll will be supported by regular Facebook updates.

The Harry Potter novels have now sold over 400 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 69 languages. J.K. Rowling has generated huge popular appeal for her books in an unprecedented fashion. She was the first children’s author to be voted the BA Author of the Year, and also win the British Book Awards Author of the Year.

Taking a Dark Ride

2011-05-11T09:42:00.003+01:00

Do you dare take a Dark Ride?

They say that good things come in threes. Okay maybe they don’t say that, but on a grey May Wednesday good things came in threes for me when I was introduced to

a lovely independent bookshop,
a fantastic new writer,
and an unputdownable story.

Owl Books in Kentish Town was the setting for the launch of Dark Ride by Caroline Green. Dark Ride is the story of Bel and Luka. There’s a love story, a creepy disused fairground, and plenty of mystery, but I’m afraid I can’t reveal any more. I will only say that I made the person next to me on the train jump at one point…

I was completely caught up in this story and cared about the characters, especially the narrator, Bel. As you can see if you follow this link to hear Caroline reading the first chapter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HAFFl9x9hw Bel is sarcastic and very funny. In fact, Bel and the humour with which she tells her story are my favourite things about the book. Humour draws the reader into the love story and the mystery – and it is a feature that is quite rare in teen love stories, especially the dark and magical kind.

At the launch Caroline’s editor read out the book’s first review. It was from a 14-year-old girl, who said ‘I did not want it to end. Bel and Luka are two characters you don’t want to let go of when the book ends.’ I think Caroline Green should get used to reviews like this. Teen readers, and people like me (who like to pretend they still are teen readers) are going to love her.

Thanks to all at Piccadilly Press for lovely organising, the Owl Bookshop for lovely hosting, Caroline for lovely writing, her friends for the lovely food, and finally, apologies for overuse of the word lovely.

Photo credit: Candy Gourlay

Easter Delights!

2011-04-19T17:26:00.012+01:00

Easter is just around the corner. Are you off on a journey or just staying at home to enjoy some last Spring sunshine? Whatever your plans you can be assured that there is a book for you to enjoy. You could look through the latest edition of Armadillo Magazine for some inspiration of take up one of my suggestions here.

For the crafty among you why not try making something with the inspiring ‘I Can make things for Easter’ from Lion Publishing. Packed with ideas, in fact there are 16 projects from using paint and your fingers to make fingerprint chicks, getting busy in the kitchen creating chocolate nests, crafting an Easter card or even making chicken markers for the traditional Easter Egg hunt. Not forgetting of course the woolly sheep, bunny ears and Easter vase, there really is something in this book for everyone; every age; every ability. So what are you waiting for: get stuck in!

If you are travelling then I have the perfect idea for you, ‘The Children’s Travel Journal’ by Ann Banks is an opportunity to record you thoughts and feelings about the places you may have seen, include some interesting and memorable facts even save some mementoes in the special pocket. Perfect for any budding writers and reporters, a lovely way to keep your memories safe this is a friendly charming an well designed journal.For younger children unfamiliar with Easter and wanting a little craft activity of their own ‘My Very First Easter Story’ again from Lion publishing should tick the box. Not only does it introduce the youngest children to the traditional Easter story but it allows them to customise the story with the enclosed stickers.

If it is a reading book that will make you happy then for younger readers I can strongly recommend 'Naughty Toes' by Ann Bonwill & Teresa Murfin. This is a charming story about how to be yourself. Trixie and Belinda may be sisters but that does not mean that have the same ability when it comes to ballet, or that their hair is the same or even their dress sense! Smile at the gorgeous illustration a glorious collage of shape and colour, giggle at the story and enjoy discovering, along with Belinda, that being yourself is best for you never know what you may discover! Sticking with the performing theme

‘Sam in the Spotlight’ by Anne-Marie Conway continues the drama and dilemma’s faced by the Star Maker Club. This time it is Sam who faces a confidence problem, how do you react when you receive a letter from a sister you didn’t even know you had? Follow Sam’s journey as she comes to terms with a new family member and her drama dilemmas in this latest addition to a series charting the ups and downs of the members of Star Makers Drama Club.

Finally for anyone a little older why not try the new stand alone novel from Liz Kessler, 'A Year Without Autumn.' Liz originally wrote this story 6 years ago but her editors wanted her to wait until the time was right to publish it. The time is definitely right now for this novel of time-slips, family ups & downs and friendships. A pacey, well told and exciting story with plenty of ups & downs this is a great read and perhaps a step up for some readers.

Do enjoy your Easter break however you spend in and do try to find at least one good book to read!

Make this Your First Gruffalo

2011-04-14T19:58:00.004+01:00

My niece reaches the grand age of 1 next week and I have the perfect present for her - a set of My First Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, Macmillan) books. Of course they won't actually be her first Gruffalo books at all as I gave her a lovely copy complete with buttons to press and sounds to hear at christmas. she may not be old enough yet to fully appreciate them but she does love hearing the story, seeing the pictures and even trying to turn the pages!

The four My First Gruffalo books are therefore perfect for they will help her to begin to learn her Colours, Numbers, Opposites and even Animal Actions as she grows. Better than this though becasue they are tough and chunky board books she can handle them herself without the worry of torn pages.

Each book features well-known and loved characters from the stories using each of them in an apprpriate way. For example in Colours the red fox is on his own but opposite a bright red page with the word RED and a few other red pictures from the story. GREEN appears opposite a nice tall tree from the forest and so on for the five colours featured.

In Opposites the BIG Gruffalo is opposite a small mouse. A happy mouse with his acorn faces a sad mouse without the acorn. In this book there are six Opposites for children to learn. Five numbers will find the reader counting the characters on each page with the words to learn to read too and animal actions will find children and their parents making some wonderful noises!

What is there not to enjoy about the Gruffalo and even more so now that there is a wonderful set of books with all our favourite charcters helping babies and toddlers to learn and take their very first steps into reading and understanding.

I know my niece and her parents will have great fun with this bright, colourful, durable and edcuational set of books, I hope you do too!

Autumn in Spring

2011-04-06T12:30:00.007+01:00

Last night a lovely group of publishers, librarians, magazine editors and bookshop staff joined Orion editors and Liz Kessler in Lodn's Covent Garden to celebrate the launch of her stand-alone story A Year Without Autumn. Liz began to write this marvellous story six years ago and was recommended to put it on the shelf, after shedding a few tears she did as she was told, and wrote a few more stories very successful stories, keeping this one faithfuly on that shelf!

Feeling the time was now right, her editors at Orion decided A Year Without Autum could now be published. The time is most certainly right now for this beautiful book. We may be enjoying Spring but there is nothing wrong with a little Autumn, or is there? In this beautiful, tender and yet pacey book Liz tackles family friends and time-slips! I won't go into detail here but please do visit Armadillo Magazine for a wonderful review.

Liz was a charming celebratee thoroughly enjoying the evenuing and meeting many new people. Thanks to Orion for a lovely event and of course for keeping this great book for the perfect moment and then allowing Liz to share it with us all.

Sit down and Face the Tweets

2011-03-27T18:30:00.006+01:00

Armadillo are doing it and it seems that everyone is at it these days - Twitter and Facebook of course. Reading is apparently no longer a solitary activity for those older people among us, we now have to share it which is wonderful news! We don't have a Facebook page but who knows. For now the Blog, an occasional Twitter @Armadillomagazine and the quarterly magazine are more than enough for us to be doing.

However if you want more from your books and you would like to be able to chat to the authors as well as other fans then why not pop along and see what Chicken House are tweeting at Chickenhsebooks, look for the latest news on their Chicken House UK Facebook pages or perhaps find out what Jonathan Stroud the author is up to @jonathanstroud on Twitter, or www.facebook.com/jonathanstroudauthor. His Bartimaeus website has recently been updated www.bartimaeusbooks.com and he is giving himself a wider online presence so pop along and see him for a chat one day.

Then as if that is not enough the Federation of Children's Book Groups are starting up a fortnightly Twitter book group, Sunday's between 8 and 9pm find them at @FCBGChair and why not join in?

This is a wonderful chance to see books, their authors and the stories in a whole new light, pick up some great hints and tips and even find out about new books to excite you as readers.

The to top it all off come back here for more latest news and take a quick peek at the inspired sketch Sarah McIntyre posted to her Blog ttp://jabberworks.livejournal.com/385463.html after a wonderful Armadillo interview in the current edition - thanks Sarah!

Make sure to remember however that there is still nothing better than sitting down with a real book and feeling the joy of turning those pages, heart in mouth as you wait for the story to unfold!

The Picture Book World of Polly Dunbar

2011-03-23T13:11:00.010Z

An event report from Liz Bankes

This is a command: get yourself to Daunt Books on London's Marylebone High Road sometime before 24th of March! An utterly lovely experience awaits you. The Picturebook World of Polly Dunbar is an exhibition of over 60 original artworks from Polly Dunbar’s books, featuring all her much-loved characters – Ben and Penguin from Penguin, Tilly, Hector, Pru and the rest from the Tilly and Friends, Lizzie and her Dad from David Almond’s My Dad’s a Birdman, and many more. And if you haven’t been to Daunt Books (as I hadn’t) then you can have the double pleasure of seeing the exhibition and being in a proper ‘booky’ bookshop. Everything is wooden and there are galleries and staircases and books lining the walls – you will want to live there.

It’s also a lovely setting for Polly Dunbar’s illustrations. Her books already seem like classics. The illustration ‘You be saucer, I’ll be cup’ from Here’s a Little Poem is an example – it feels like a picture I’ve known since I was a child, even though I’ve actually only just seen it! Seeing the original artwork allows you to look at this picture in detail – and there is a lot to see. The picture is made up of different textures, with the stars, characters and background cut from different types of material, and the flowery tablecloth is made from what looks like pink glittery wallpaper. Her characters seem familiar, like old friends, even though we’ve actually only met quite recently. I think especially with the Tilly and Friends series, because each book follows one of the gang, the characters’ personalities just leap off the page. This was the same even seeing one page from a book as an artwork on its own. My particular favourite is Hector the pig, and it was fun to go through the exhibition finding him in different pictures. Each picture is a story in itself, and even if you haven’t read the book it’s from you can tell immediately what is going on, and how the characters feel about one another.

Polly Dunbar was at the exhibition herself on Thursday 17th of March, spending her St Patrick’s Day kindly signing books for keen exhibition goers (thanks Polly!). I would imagine there were many young Polly fans who were later thrilled to be presented with a book containing not only her signature, but a sketch of one of the characters. She also did a signing/family event on Saturday 19th March. So what are you waiting for? Get yourself to the Picturebook World of Polly Dunbar. Ben and Penguin are expecting you.

The Picture Book World of Polly Dunbar

18th - 24th March 2011

Daunt Bookshop

83 Marylebone High St

London W1U 4QW

Artwork Up for Grabs!

2011-03-21T11:02:00.005Z

I am a great admirer of artists who can also turn their hand to writing and of course vice versa. So it is with great pleasure that I report the following opportunity to you, my readers.

Jackie Morris, acclaimed artists whose work can be found sumptously decorating a number of beautiful children's picture books, is auctioning her original watercolour picture of a tiger from Caroline Pitcher's Lord of the Forest. The auction is being held in aid of the 21st Century Tiger fundraising partnershhip.

Only 100 years agio there were 100,000 tigers in the wild, now there are only 3,200. Jackie Morris loves knowing that tigers are in the wild and wants to ensure that they continue to live in the wild for future generations. 21st Century Tiger give 100% of all money raised to carefully selected projects in Asia so you can be sure that your money will be well used to save these beautiful animals and, if you take part in the auction you could own a very beautiful and orignial piece of artwork.

The auction starts today on Ebay and lasts for 10 days, finishing on 31st March. For more information vsiit http://www.21stcenturytiger.org/ and if you have never seen Jackie's artwork then start ith Caroline Pitcher's Lord of the Forest and you will be hooked!

Loud Music!

2011-03-10T20:22:00.006Z

My husband loves to play his cd's at a very high volume and I find myself sounding like my own parents when complaining about the voume so it was with a great deal of amusement that I read Kaye Umansky's Tales from Whitchway Wood: Crash 'n' Bang.

Umansky is on fine form and back in Witchway Wood not with Pongwiffy this time but a host of new characters. She has turned her storytelling skills to the tales of some of the others we always knew lived in the woods but who were always on the periphery of the action. They are now firmly in the centre of it and making a lot of noise too!

Witchway Wood may be a magical place but it is not always a favourable magic that befalls its residents as the Witchway Rhythm Boys are about to discover.

This band comprising a dragon, fiend and leprechaun, not forgetting the later addition of a Werewolf have their own share of problems, some of which seem to be the result of magic, some of which are the result of being in a not very well-known rock band! they are loud that much is certain and yes they do have some talent but there is one thing missing ... a singer ...

Become a groupie, follow the band as they set out to win the Battle of the Bands. Are they any good? Will they ever find a singer? Will they make it to the venue? Will magic, politics and romantic rivalry spoil the day or can the band win? Will Skulgooey's kitchen ever get cleaned and will they make it to the cake sale? Lots of questions, but if you read the story there are lots of answers.

Kaye Umansky is a talented writer of funny, unusual but above all warm books that will endear her to children of all ages. Funny books can be taken seriously as 'proper' reading books, just start with this one and you will soon see how.

Worlds of Books

2011-03-03T20:01:00.002Z

Have you enjoyed a wonderful World Book Day? Found a book to enjoy or perhaps one that you are considering buying with your voucher? We have had a wonderful day, buzzing with books and ideas for stories as well as suggestions on how to use our vouchers. But all is not yet over for on Saturday the adults have World Book Night, this may have come under some criticism but it will be interesting to see how it goes. I don't think I will brave the cold and crowds in Trafalgar Square but I will be curled up at home with my next new book from the ever growing pile.

If you are looking for a book to read, having been inspired by World Book Day or in preparation for World Book Night then why not try Factotum by D M Cornish, published by David Fickling books? Reviewed here for you by Armadillo reviewer Simon Barrett it is the third in a brilliant trilogy that can actually be read on its own but why miss out on a great series?

Rossamund Bookchild: Founderling, Lamplighter and now Factorum or personal servant to Europe, the most feared monster-slayer in all the Half-Continent. Together they travel to her residence in the city of Branden-Brass, escaping the evils of Winstermill, only to find that scandals travel faster.

Here in the city Rossamund at last finds out his true identity. He is a rossamunderling: a manikin or monster in the form of a man. Rossamund however still needs to discover his true purpose in a life full of contradictions. He is a monster deeply loyal to a monster-slayer. Men call him a sedorner -- someone who sympathises with monsters – while monsters call him humbuggler, a hypocrite who acts the opposite of what he says. Somehow he must be himself in a world where men can be monsters too, such a man as Pater Maupin, who becomes Rossamund’s most deadly enemy.

Factotum continues the epic story of the half-continent in which men and monsters war and half-forgotten myths of monster-Lords come to life in the most unexpected places. The author, D M Cornish, continues to expand the horizons of the Half-Continent and the things that inhabit it, whilst delving deeper into its history and the origins of men and monsters through the footsteps of Rossamund. Along with the Branden Rose, Rossamund is joined by his once guardians and sea-salts, Craumpalin and Franistart. There is plenty of adventure and desperate to the death struggles as well as enjoyable sojourns in which Rossamund and his friends taste the delights of life. It all reaches a fierce and bloody end in which friends and foes lie dead or mortally wounded.

For young adult readers of fantasy the Monster Blood Tattoo series will continue to sate your appetitie and make you hungry for more.

Words and Letters

2011-03-01T19:26:00.004Z

Having now fully recovered from the madness that was the last half term I am now back on an even keel and have been able to return to my reading habit, I try and get through at least four new children's books a week, not least becasue there are so many good ones to read but also because the children at school love to hear my latest recommendations and I now have a reputation to maintain!

So I have been busily reading away though I must confess that half term found me finally finishing Anna Karenina - a moving and powerful story and Emma Kennedy's hilarious 1970s holiday memoir The Tent, The Bucket and Me. It was lovely to indulge in some adult reading but I do miss my children's books. There is something very special about the way in which writers of chidren's book use words and language with such skill that they can be as entertaining and fulfiulling for an adult as a child. There is also something very special and priviledging about being able to read such books.

One book that stays with me and I find myself regularly recommending is Toon Tellegan's Letters to Anyone and Everyone. Tellegan has a magical way with words, making them powerful, touching, amusing and compelling. Not only does he prove that letter writing is not a lost art but that short stories can be built from the simplest of letters. Accompanied by the gentle and calming illustrations of Jessica Ahlbery, Tellegan has created one of a series of such books that Boxer Books, the small, indpendent publisher discovered and thankfully shared with us. So special is this particular book in fact that it recently won the Marsh Award for Children's Literature in Translation. This award is fully deserved and will, I hope, bring this wonderful author and his very special skill to a much bigger audience.

I can not recommend the book more highly and suggest that you all make an effort to find and read a copy, you will, I promise, be transfixed!

An Alternative Valentine

2011-02-14T16:15:00.007Z

Well Valentine's Day comes but once a year and what a shame. For it is, in my opinion something that we should constantly remember - our love for one another. So because I am against the commercialism that has overtaken today I am instead offering an alternative - a book to love.

In actual fact I have a number of books to love and, trying to keep in the spirit of the day, I have chosen cute and sparkly books! Sorry boys but your turn will come…

For my cute one first of all, the most appropriate for today is I Spy Something Wonderful by David Conway (published by Red Fox). With its cut-out heart front cover this will have an instant appeal to all little girls, couples with the oh-so cute picture of the deer family who could fail to fall in love with this story? The perfect story for a cold wintery day or with a cuddle at bedtime this is an ‘I spy’ story with so many lovely things to spot, but there is one very special thing to spot right at the end and a lovely novelty fold out too.

Moving on and I find myself once again drawn through the magic mirror with Ellie and Emma into the fun place to meet – Sparkle Street. With four new adventures to enjoy young fans and readers will love helping the friends with the problems they encounter. One adventure, Spells and Showers, finds them helping Wizard Stargazer cast a happy spell resulting in a riot of colour and sun shades rather than umbrellas! They must avert a potential catastrophe and prevent Rosa Bloom from having disappointed customers in Daisy Disaster. The Missing Mice cause a bit of a stir so Ellie and Emma must turn detective and then when Fairy Pink’s wand gets out of hand once again there are quite a few bubbles to deal with in Bubble Trouble (all published by Macmillan). Great fun, very pink, very glittery and perfect for a Valentine’s Day.

Finally, continuing the theme, there is no doubt that at one time or another every little girl dreams of being a hairdresser so they would be advised to read The Fairytale Hairdresser (published by Random House) and find out just how Rapunzel got her prince. A very amusing and clever take on a very old folk and fairytale. Full of vibrant colour, a sprinkling of glitter, lots of hair and a great adventure this is in fact a book that could be read by boys and girls alike.

I hope that you enjoy this sparkly, glittery alternative to hearts and chocolates and I hope to see you back here later this week!

The Spirit of Adventure

2011-02-12T18:34:00.005Z

It was with sadness that this week I read of the death of Brian Jacques. A quote on his website perhaps sums him up as a fearless writer with a brave heart. He was an avid reader and a brave adventurer. His work delivering milk to a primary school encouraged him to pick up his pen and write his now much loved Redwall series. without his passion, energy and enthusiasm we would not have had such a wonderful insight into the lives of his fantastic and fearless characters. Whilst we may no longer have Brian we can still have his books and we can continue to read and love them.

Being of an adventurous spirit is not something that comes naturally to me, I am rather a timid lover of my comforts but every now and again I like to surprise myself - even with books. Int he last two weeks I have read a large number from glossy girly books to funny magical and quite frightening thrillers. I have to admit that I have enjoyed them all and each has left me wanting to read more but also wishing I had the skill to be such a wonderful storyteller. Sadly I don't but I am an avid reader so it was with great interest that I delved into picture book territory, just for some light relief with the title 'It's a Book' by Lane Smith (Macmillan, 2011, 9780230753136) technically I don't think that I should be writing about it here in the Blog for as the back cover says

"Can it text? Blog? Scroll? Wi-fi? Tweet? No. . . it's a book."

However if I didn't tell you about it here then you perhaps wouldn't be able to share it with anyone and everyone or have the great big grin that I had plastered across my face after I had finsihed reading it!

I love it, it is simple, clever, enjoyable and it is a book! The premise is simple, an adult and a child, one reading a book the other with a computer unable to comprehend this new device. Soon something miraculous happens and whilst the detail of the actually far from detailed pictures reveals all there is much fun to be had. This is simply a simple story with simple pictures but one that is intensely clever, witty and as appealing to an adult as a child. I urge you to read it as soon as possible, perhaps even buy it and never ever part with it, or any other books in favour of a computer again!

Let's All Have a Reading Party!

2011-01-30T16:01:00.009Z

Well I have survived, my Book Week and then post Book Week week of sorting have now passed and I think that I just about feel human again. Now I only have to plan for next year - a big one too as it will be the 10th anniversary and my 7th one!!

I was going to tell you a little about the enthusiasm generated and some of the activities we held but there is so much other news to impart that I will have to drip feed the information in over time. I do think it is quite relevant to tell you about how it all started this year though, with a Bedtime Reading Party....

Children & mummies came after school on the Friday before Book Week proper, armed with teddy bears and dressing gowns to enjoy cocoa, biscuits and of course some bedtime stories! Maverick Publishing very kindly came along with author Kimara Nye who read from her book 'The Four Little Pigs' and provided the children with some great colouring activities. We had a lovely party, were lucky enough to have a bedtime story from a real author. I also found that launching Book Week with something simple but charming was a real hit.

During Book Week there were so many activities my feet barely touched the ground, it did however mean that I missed the very wonderful Chicken House Big Breakfast - the perfect complement to my Bedtime Reading, however Armadillo reviewer Francesca Del Mese was able to attend and sent back this lovely report:

On Thursday 20th January I headed to London for the Chicken House Breakfast. Held at stylish cafe 'Le Pain Quotidien' on the Southbank, it was a gathering of authors, scouts, Chicken House staff and other professionals. An energetic and charismatic Barry Cunningham welcomed us and spoke about the successes of Chicken House this last year, mentioning it was their tenth anniversary!

Three authors gave readings from their forthcoming books: CJ Skuse, (also an employee of Chicken House and author of 'Pretty Bad Things') read from her new novel 'Rockaholic': a comedy about a girl who kidnaps a rock star (every girl's dream!).

Philip Webb read from his dystopian thriller 'Six Days', and Andrew Peters read from 'Ravenwood', a story about a world that exists in huge trees - Barry called this book a 'magnificent piece of sustained imagining.' A number of other published authors were present and / or mentioned: Lucy Christopher, Rod Gordon, Sarah Rubin, Rachel Ward (who has recently sold the film rights to her book 'Numbers'), Sophia Bennett, Di Toft and Erin Bow. It also looks like the gory trend of vampires and dead things hasn't yet left us; Barry mentioned another new author Kirsty McKay, whose book 'The Undead' about zombies has been taken on recently.

It sounds as though a feast of fun was had by all and that we can all look forward to some exciting titles from Chicken House in their 10th Year! Congratulations to them, thanks for the breakfast and thanks to Francesca for gallantly agreeing to go along.

Happy New Year - Getting Ahead of the Game

2011-01-09T17:14:00.012Z

A Happy New Year to all my readers! Sorry its slightly late but I am quite sure that it will have now been a few days since anyone has uttered those words to you!

I have made a new year's resolution this afternoon, to try and stay ahead of the game. I am referring here to the postings on this blog. With a blog it is very easy to become complacent, to forget to log in and write an entry and so on. This afternoon I have decided that I will endeavour to log in at the very least once a week to provide updates. I truly hope that I will manage more than that but it is unwise to commit in writing otherwise you will all be able to hold me to my word!!

So to start the new year being 'ahead of the game' I have some new books to report on for you. Firstly there is a book which will be finding its way to my nephew for his 4th birthday later this week. I am also sending him some vouchers for the Early learning Centre so that he can stock his Fantasy Tower with more models but a book is always a hit and I am quite certain that this one will be. It is Delivery Man Stan by Diane and Christyan Fox and published by Macmillan. The story features Stan and his trusty dog Boxer. This fearless pair will deliver anything to anyone at anytime. What makes them special is not only the various forms of transport that they use from van to motorbike, train, plane and even spacecraft, but also their bravery and their down-to-earth attitude. For children it is the charmingly bright and simple illustration as well as the simple rhyming text and wonderful fold-out pages that will create the magic. For the adults who will most likely be sharing the book it is the wonderfully funny twist at the end. I am going to leave you guessing at to what that could possibly be! A wonderful and highly recommended book that may even beat the fantasy tower in my sister's household this week!

As well as this I have been reading books for the slightly older reader, and a few for me too but that is for another day!

Back to the children.

For those of you with children who like a challenge in their reading but who are still young

enough to want a simple story book with lots of pictures then look no further than the latest story featuring The Clumsies. In The Clumsies Make a Mess of the BIG Show Sorrel Anderson brings back Howard and his friends the Clumsies for a magical Christmas adventure at the wrong time of year! perfect for reading as an antidote to Christmas and pantos this is a very funny story with lots of brilliant illustration, strong characters and silly events. The words jump and dance around the pages, struggling to fit in with the wonderful illustrations of Nicola Slater and threatening to take over with a madness reminiscent of the talking trolley which makes a quite unique character! Adults this may not be a book for you but the kids will just love it. Published by Harper Collins this is the third book featuring the Clumsies and it is great!

If it is something completely new that you are after however you may have to wait a little longer and I am sorry to whet your appetites too far in advance but I must tell you about Magic Farm by Ashley Birch, published on 7th March (my brother's birthday) by Egmont. Enter into a whole new world of excitement, adventure and of course magic with Hannah and Oliver. This brother and sister have just moved to a new farm, Golden Valley Farm and whilst exploring and making new friends they make a very exciting discovery. So exciting is this discovery that when the children find themselves transported to a magical, parallel farm they are not quite sure they believe what has happened to them! Queue a wonderful adventure or two, some very big surprises, a few horrible villains and the scene is set for some great adventures and great fun. With a new world to explore, new friends to make, problems to solve and discoveries galore there is not a moment to be bored in a new and colourful world. I have only read a proof copy of the book so cannot comment on the final appearance but i do hope that it will be as bright and colourful as the story promises.

So there we have it: one book to look out for in the coming months and two to start off your new year reading journey. Remember to check back here regularly for more updates and news from the book world.

Oh and don't forget to visit the magazine too for some great reviews, interviews and more!

Season's Greetings

2010-12-23T19:56:00.005Z

Happy Christmas to you all.

I hope that all of you who read this, follow and support Armadillo Magazine have been enjoying all our efforts this year.

We have lots of wonderful book reviews, interviews and features to bring you in 2011 so do keep an eye out for our editions and keep an eye on the Blog for the latest news and events.

Remember that the December edition is there for you to read now with some great reviews and more as well as a seasonal competition for you to enter - please do!

In the meantime I hope that you have all been surviving the snow and that you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Watch this space in January for all the bright new things we have to offer you.

All the best, Louise & the Armadillo team!

Kids Lit Quiz A Triumph Yet Again!

2010-12-01T18:41:00.004Z

With thanks to Nicky Potter who kindly sent the following report on the national final of the Kids Lit Quiz:

Fun and excitement were the name of the game at the Kids Lit Quiz Finals™, held in Oxford Town Hall on 30 November, when the cream of our young readers came together from 13 regions around the country (extreme weather conditions prevented 2 teams from joining in) to compete for the Kids' Lit Quiz™ coveted cup.

Children’s author, actor and comedian Charlie Higson, creator of the Young Bond series and new zombie thriller series The Enemy, led almost 30 children’s authors to congratulate the winners from the regions and to support them as they answered questions on children's literature put to them by KLQ's dynamic quizmaster, Wayne Mills.

The atmosphere at a Kids’ Lit Quiz™ heat has been compared to “a pub quiz without the beer”, marked by high stakes – the teams knew that the UK winners will travel to New Zealand next July for a 20th BIRTHDAY INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION QUIZ. Half way through the quiz, Wayne Mills announced that to mark the special anniversary the runners-up would also win the chance to compete in New Zealand. This was fortunate because two teams achieved exactly the same score. They then had to take part in ‘a sudden death’ competition – getting the best of three challenging questions correct – to win the finals. Two other teams also had to battle for third and fourth place because they had clocked up the same number of points! It was all nail-bitingly tense!

In the end the results were:
First – Cockermouth School (UK champions)

Second – Bristol Grammar School (English champions)

Third: Litcham High School

Fourth: Glasgow High

The first and second place winner have both won a place to compete in the 20th Birthday International Celebration Quiz in New Zealand so watch this space for more information.

One of the members of the four strong winning team at Cockermouth comprehensive school said that he had not really got into reading until Mrs Farrar, his school librarian and team coach, kept giving him books to read.

Wayne Mills said: “We had a wonderfully exciting finish to the UK Final. I couldn't have written a more exciting script had I tried. The quiz is a genuine literary challenge that goes beyond what a child may be reading at school. It embraces popular culture and contemporary modern texts alongside the more established canon, including the ephemeral literature that is here today and gone tomorrow but enjoyed by children in the moment. Reading mileage is the single biggest factor in improving literacy.”

For further information about the Kids’ Lit Quiz ™ in the UK see: http://www.kidslitquiz.com/national-competitions/united-kingdom

Short Story Surprises

2010-11-22T19:51:00.004Z

National Short Story Week starts today.

Short stories are special for they encapsulate in a very short space all the very best elements of storytelling for they have a plot, characters, wonderful language and also some amazing settings. In the space of just a very few pages they can tell a complete story or leave the reader yearning for more.

Some short stories make up a whole narrative - think of the 1001 Arabian Nights, one story told each night so, by its very nature it had to be short! Then there is the traditional from whence they came - oral story telling - again these stories were meant to be short and succinct to appeal to their listener. Perhaps the most famous shrot story writer is Aesop. His Fables have been handed down over generations and are some of the most famous we now have. We should not however forget Kipling and his Just So Stories - also great classics this time explaining how the animals of the world came to be.

Not all short stories are 'classics' or old however. Dickens and Hardy, our great Victorian and Edwardian novelsists wrote short stories for their public audience and many of these were published in magazines of the day. Roald Dahl and Malorie Blackman have written volumes of short stories for the modern reader. there are many collections of themed stories which provide wonderful reading for all ages and my favourite short story writer of the moment is Toon Tellegan whose books have also been beautifully illustrated and are perhaps best described as a combination of Aesop and Kipling - charming moral stories that once you start you just can't put down. And being short they are very easy to finish!

An additional joy of the short story is the ability of the reader to dip into a volume at any story and read as many or a few as time permits - it is a great reading journey, a great way to be intorduced to new stories, genres and writers and a wonderful way in which to explore your imagination.

Pick up a short story this week, look at the National Short Story Week website and enjoy yourself - who knows where this adventure may take you?

We all Love Funny Books

2010-11-18T10:16:00.008Z

Well its true, I hope, and the best thing about today is that we have learnt that funny books can also be lovely books (and that Louise is obviously the name to have).

What am I alluding to? Well the Roald Dahl Funny Prize of course which was won yesterday (17th November) by Louise Yates, in the under 6 category, for her wonderfully funny (of course) and quite simply charming picture book, Dogs Love Books (Jonathan Cape).

I was thrilled to read that Louise had won, being a big fan of this story as I may have mentioned before!

Not only did Louise win this category but she also pipped to the post Quentin Blake, the long-time Roald Dahl illustrator and, she says, one of her own inspirations!

In the 7-14 category the winner was Louise Rennison with Withering Tights, a shamelessly laugh-out-loud story. Her heroine comments with wit and insight on the world around her whilst continuing to be carried along with it so there is plenty of humour in this book on many levels.

Judge and award founder Michael Rosen commented on the freshness and humour in these winning titles which were just one aspect of a wonderful and varied shortlist. I strongly urge you to visit the Book Trust website for more detail and to investigate the shortlisted as well as winning titles further.

In the meantime well done to the Louise's and thank you for bringing so much humour into our lives!

The Richness of Storytelling

2010-11-15T20:15:00.002Z

Sometimes I am amazed at the speed in which word can travel with the Internet and email. I wrote about my 'Book of the Week' for the school newsletter and sent the piece to the editor for publication on Friday of last week (we have a weekly newsletter), then that very same afternoon I had a parent in the library, who having seen the recommendation wanted to borrow the book. As it was 5.30pm on a Friday afternoon and I had shut down the catalogue I could not give her the book for the weekend but one was on the go and they could wait until Monday I was assured. Today the young boy in question came to get his book and as soon as I had it on my desk another teacher and another pupil both wanted to borrow it.

Is it the cover, the author name or the title I wonder? Perhaps it was my glowing recommendation. Whatever the reason this book is proving popular with my readers already so I felt that I really must recommend it to you - my Armadillo followers.

So what is this mystery book that is attracting so much attention? It is the new title from the widely talented David Walliams. The author of The Boy in the Dress and Mr Stink has now written Billionaire Boy. Published by Harper Collins this book looks like a big novel. It is a thick hardback with quite a few pages but open the book and find that it is a story packed with the wonderful illustrations of the much loved Tony Ross and a story that could be read by readers as young as 7 or as old as 77 for it is funny, accessible and a good read. It also conveys an important message about money - it really isn't everything, as Joe, the really, really rich main character is about to find out.

So do get your hands on a copy if you can, and let me know what you think too!

More About those Greeks

2010-11-12T15:47:00.007Z

Sadly much of the material remains of the Ancient Greek culture we viewed in Athens had been badly damaged over the centuries, the result of many wars, but happily ancient Greek myth, culture and stories have remained popular.

In fact it is the stories and myths which have come down to us that have extended the life of this ancient culture and continue to bring it to life in our modern world. It seems to me that children do learn about the Greeks and Romans in school but they also want to learn about them. So often when we have classes on these subjects the children are desperately keen to share their knowledge of the stories.

For all these children, and others yet to discover their love of ancient Greek stories I have two excellent books to recommend. The first is probably not for purists but The Comic Strip Greatest Greek Myths by Tracey Turner and Sally Kindberg is a wonderful introduction to the subject which contains all the most famous myths in a brand new light - through comedy and graphic pictures. Great for reluctant readers, struggling readers and anyone who enjoys taking a new angle on something old!

On the other hand a book which is most definitely for sharing and would make a wonderful gift for the enthusiast is Ann Turnbull's Greek myths. With stunning and sumptuous illustration from the pen (or pencil?) of Sarah Young this is a beautifully written and stunning collection of some of the most famous Greek myths. It is a book to be shared and treasured. With 17 stories there is something for every reader and it acts as a great introduction to the world of the Greeks and their stories - I urge you to find this, pick it up and delve in - you won't be sorry and maybe one day you too will find yourself in Athens or Greece admiring the many places where these stories are set.

All things Greek

2010-11-11T22:46:00.003Z

Now I may have been absent from your screens for a couple of weeks but I promise that I have been busy and yes, reading too!

In fact I began by being in Athens where I was awed by the Acropolis, Parthenon and more (and I have the pictures to prove it too)!!

After this it was a busy half term catching up with lots of reading for my MA and this week it has been school as well as preparing the next edition of Armadillo that has kept me from you.

However never fear for I am now back (unlike Mr Schwarzenegger who always threatened to come back) and I will be here again tomorrow to tell you more about the ancient Greeks and some books too!

Until then, have a good night ....

Nautical Books

2010-10-21T15:59:00.008+01:00

Whilst the weather may be turning Autumnal there is still plenty to celebrate - bright crispy mornings, lovely long walks through the woods with all the turning and falling leaves and of course the chance to curl up in the warm with a hot drink, slice of cake or even a biscuit and a wonderful book - after all it gets dark so early now ....

So I have two books with a nautical theme and a wonderfully exciting launch party to tell you about today.

Pull Out All the Stops by Geraldine McCaughrean and Worse Things Happen At Sea by Alan Snow may be two very different stories but they share a theme and they also share the wish to make their reader laugh so what better way for their publisher, Oxford University Press, to launch them than a boat trip down the Thames complete with readings and performances from the authors themselves?!

The guests were an eclectic mix of librarians, reviewers, bloggers, booksellers and family and friends of both authors. The evening began with Alan providing a very entertaining presentation and Geraldine and her fellow actors followed him with a wonderful drama performance based on Pull Out All The Stops!

Alan provided some very tasty ship's biscuits (from Botham's of Whitby) which were actually edible (not at all like those of days gone by) and he designed labels with words to that effect himself which he soaked in tea to make them stained and look old fashioned!

Copies of each title were given to all guests and the authors happily signed away whilst guests admired the sites of London.

A very enjoyable evening had by all so it seems.

Guardian Prize Winner

2010-10-14T09:39:00.007+01:00

Linda Newbery, author and my co-editor attended the award event for The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize last week. Linda's latest book for young children, Lob, was shortlisted for this prize and whilst it sadly did not reach the winning spot she sent this report from the event:

It seemed a high-risk strategy to me. The winners of the Young Critics competition – aged about eight and up – were each given a scroll, but told not to open them yet, as they would reveal the winner. If I’d been in charge, I’d had lined the children up against the wall, and told them to stand there and not move for the next ten minutes, but all went well and nothing was leaked.

It was left to Mal Peet – last year’s winner – to award the prize to Michelle Paver, for Ghost Hunter, the final part of her highly-praised Chronicles of Ancient Darkness sequence. She paid tribute to her editor, Fiona Kennedy of Orion, and to her agent, Peter Cox, and said something every author will recognise: when Fiona sent a text message to say that she liked the draft, Michelle had to text back to ask, “But did you really?”

It’s a great month for Michelle – her adult novel, Dark Matter, is published, also by Orion. It sounds irresistible: a ghost story involving Arctic exploration. I haven’t read her winning book, so can’t comment on it, but from what I know of Michelle’s writing I can’t wait to get hold of a copy of Dark Matter.

(I have an advance copy and it is waiting for me to read it so I will report as soon as I have done.... Louise)

From the publisher's press release:

Michelle collects the £1,500 prize for the only children's award in which authors are judged by their peers.

Julia Eccleshare chair of the judges said, “Whatever the individual judges thought about fantasy before they began Ghost Hunter – and some admitted to hating it! – they were immediately captivated by Michelle’s brilliantly created world, her wonderfully dramatic story and her powerful story telling. They loved the way she described the world she has been fashioning throughout the series saying, “The language is inventive and rich. Sharp and poetic but also child friendly”. They also adored her characters describing Wolf as “endearing” and the people as “real”. Finally, one summed Ghost Hunter up in terms of awe: “The construct of the world is amazing. I am jealous and impressed!”

Michelle Paver says of the award: “I’m thrilled and delighted that Ghost Hunter has won this award – especially given the amazing quality of the other short-listed books. And somehow, I find it particularly gratifying that it is the final book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness which has won, because it’s the book in which Torak and Wolf reach journey’s end.”

Fruits of the Autumn

2010-10-10T18:59:00.001+01:00

Recent trips to the wilds of Epsom and Ashtead have rewarded me with plenty of fruit for my autumn jam making which I must say is not always appreciated by my husband who believes we could feed an army with the stock we currently have – it will however find its way into hampers at Christmas and happy recipients I am sure.

This brings me quite nicely to my latest reading material, for Cloudberry Castle by Janey Louise Jones opens at Christmas and whilst, despite its charming name, there is very little mention of berries it remains a charming and captivating story for younger readers, fans of ballet in particular. Gently written, touching on difficult issues such as bereavement and grief as well as family tensions this story finds its young heroine, Katie, showing strength in adversity and having a great adventure at the same time. It is a charming, beautifully written story with lots of pace and great appeal.

Perhaps at the other end of the scale are two books for teens which whilst they don’t link to my opening paragraph have still featured in my reading this week and have links to Cloudberry in that they both touch on some hard-hitting themes but do so with great skill so that the reader does not feel bogged down by issues but rather that they are working with the character to face adversity and overcome it. I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter may be a long title but it is an immediate draw!

Its lead, Cammie Morgan, knows seven ways to kill a man but is about to go on her most dangerous mission for Cammie is a member of the Gallagher Girls and whilst the Gallagher Academy may look like any other highly respected girls school from the outside it is what inside that matters and here it is a school for spies and assassins. With a fast pace and gripping story line this is one book that my senior girls can’t get enough of! However as there aren’t enough copies to go round I have been able to tempt at least some of them with Joss Stirling’s magnificent Finding Sky. From its evocative cover, a barbed heart set on a black background to its distinct character this is a book that deceives. I thought I was going to be reading another Twilight spin-off but what I found was a love story with true grit and realism. Coming of age is never easy. When you are in a new country among strange people with new powers it is even harder. Effortlessly blending fiction with fantasy this is a must read for young teens this autumn.

Can I Share or Shall I do It All Myself??

2010-10-03T16:57:00.006+01:00

Okay, hands up, I admit that when packages arrive on my desk at work and I open them up to find books spilling out that publishers want me to review for Armadillo I am actually very loathe to part with them. I want to read them all myself and as a result review them too. I love the reviewing but I have to say it is the temptation of reading them all which is the real draw! I am however good and having learnt to delegate I do actually make sure that they are shared among my reviewers and that if they look really good I buy copies for the school library too.

The temptation to read all these wonderful books is just one temptation in my life, the other is to want to do everything at home myself, that way I can be sure it is done to my exacting standards!! Well not quite but at least I know that things have been done…

So when I opened up yet another exciting parcel to find the latest title from Andersen Press and Tony Ross, A Little Princess Story with the title ‘I Want to Do It Myself’ I just had to keep this one back! Imagine my sheer joy and surprise then when the next book to come out was Share! a glorious new title from the pen of Andrea Simmons and the drawing board of Georgie Birkett. A better combination could not have been planned!

You are probably wondering by now what the Little Princess wants to do all by herself … well … she wants to go camping! Off she sets with bags packed but, on finding the perfect spot it appears that the little princess has forgotten the tent, and the cooking equipment and … well the list goes on. luckily there are some quiet and secretive helping hands to ensure that all goes smoothly, the only trouble is that on the way home the bags do seem very heavy! A story in which lots happens as if by magic which is how I often feel myself! If you love the Little Princess stories then you will also love A Little Princess Trilogy which also landed on my desk recently and is a great collection of 14 wonderfully hilarious stories along with puzzles to play - so go on, indulge!

Share on the other hand finds a brother and sister having to do just that – learn how to share. From toys to food and even bathtime whatever one sibling loves the other automatically desires to share and after all that is what Mummy wants them to do. Delightfully cheeky this picture book is the perfect size for sharing, will bring a smile to all faces and will make the perfect shared bedtime book. It is also a very important message to children about how to share.

The wonderfully bold, bright and vibrant pictures in both these books are a testament to the skill of the illustrators who know just how to appeal to young eyes, theirs is a skill I would love to share but I remain content to know that I can share in other ways as can we all.

And now I am off to enjoy the late Sunday afternoon sun and check that the rabbits and chickens are sensibly sharing the garden and perhaps even some lovely fresh eggs for the soufflé dinner….

Far from Reckless...

2010-10-01T11:46:00.011+01:00

Cornelia Funke is far from Reckless unlike the title of her latest book... she is in fact charming, eloquent and highly talented.

Making a stunning entrance in a stunning dress at the sumptuous and very Gothic Beach Blanket Babylon in London's Notting Hill last night she certainly proved that she is a tour de force! The assembled guests were awed by her dress and thrilled to be able to share an evening in her company and of course that of Lionel Wigram her co-collaborator for this story.

Working for over two years on this story Cornelia and Lionel have had many disagreements, all of them friendly, about where it should go and how it should develop but their shared vision of a dystopian fairytale remained true and they have created a story within a story. A world found through mirrors evocative of Grimm's Fairytales and forever sleeping beauties nearly exploded Cornelia's storytelling brain but it has certainly been worth it.

If you thought that the power of Cornelia's imagination had reached its peak in the Ink trilogy think again for here is the beginning of a new, more thrilling and perhaps, to some, an even more exciting series!

Reckless features an adult main character yet it is a children's book. Upon being questioned about this approach by the equally wonderfully dressed Nicolette Jones, Cornelia replied that she had learned from the Ink stories that it was the adult characters who were favoured by the reader and that if the story did not ask for a child it really wasn't necessary to put one in. After all children hear and see the adult world around them constantly, they want to understand it and know more about it - books are a perfect way of allowing this to be in a safe way.

Reckless may be a dark and haunting tale but Cornelia's writing style gives it a warm tone. Working with Lionel she explained gave her a new perspective on the story - a male one. As a film producer he would obviously like to see the story on film and we would all love to see the dress once again but this time on the red carpet!

A wonderful evening in the most perfect setting. Thanks to Barry Cunnigham and his Chicken House team not only for this but also for sharing with us all Cornelia and her talent. I am already longing to read book 2!

Afraid? You could be soon....

2010-09-26T18:43:00.004+01:00

Have you ever been afraid of things that go bump in the night? Go on admit it, most of us have been alone in a house overnight and imagined creaky floorboards or squeaky hinges and thought more of ghouls and ghosts than the natural sounds of a house. What about walking through a dusky forest or overgrown garden at twilight, does that ever give you the creeps? Well if none of this has before it will do soon for it is exactly the type of setting that the novelist Susan Hill likes to use for her stories and having read them I can guarantee that you will never feel the same about any of these places ever again.

Susan was speaking to Mariella Frostup on Open Book this afternoon, essential Sunday listening for me, after the dramatised Sunday afternoon novel of course. She provided a fascinating insight into what makes a book into a spine tingler, but she was of course talking about books that are intended to be spine tinglers and I have to say that whilst I am not a fan of horror her stories do have a lure for they are less about horror and more about the power of the imagination.

Stories such as those written by Hill, Henry James and of course some of Dickens short stories are primarily aimed at an adult audience. Adults tend to be divided into those who like a little fear and those who like full-blown horror. Children on the other hand seem to prefer horror full stop. I am often asked for recommendations of good horror stories and constantly amazed by how much children love to be scared but there is in fact a safety in this fear for them it is not real - it is on the pages of a book. It is from the imagination of the writer. Do adults know differently? One day I may find a horror story that I enjoy and it will probably be a children's book though I have to say I am enthralled by Joseph Delaney's Wardstone Chronicles which to me do seem to be complete fantasy and a ghost rather than horror story though I have abided by the jackets warning of not reading after dark!

I have also found that there are stories out there which can instill in their reader a sense of fear without falling into the horror category at all - Carol Lynch Williams The Chosen One is one such book. I read it following a recommendation and whilst I found it very easy and accessible, she has a very pithy and punchy style of writing it also leaves so many questions unanswered and instills in its reader a sense of bewildered amazement and horror that it did actually leave me feeling scared, unable to put the book down for fear of what may happen to the characters if I was not there and also afraid of what was being described. This powerful story plays on the imagination, draws the reader in and is unforgiving in its bluntness.

Horror is a genre that casts a wide net and is open to definition. It is well worth exploring and learning more from some great writers such as Susan Hill and writers who show the promise of great things to come such as Carol Lynch Williams. We all need something in our lives, a way of explaining the unknown and for some it may be horror that does this, for children horror is a safe way of being scared - perhaps we all need to be more childlike!

A Love of Picture Books

2010-09-22T19:11:00.012+01:00

As promised here I am with my musings on some of the very latest and most wonderful (in my humble opinion of course) picture books for you to share and delight in as I do....

Picture books range from those with no words to full stories with plenty of text and there really is everything in between. Perhaps this is what makes them so adorable and irresistible, one never knows on opening the cover what will lie within. With the selection I have here for your delectation there should be something for every taste, style and even occasion.

I shall begin with FArTHER, (Grahame Baker-Smith, Templar Publishing) not because the title reminds me of being last but because it is an intelligent and serious story. This is perhaps one of the more unusual picture books I have read and it is one that I would actually be tempted to share with much older readers as much for its angular and collage style pictures as for its sophisticated and philosophical story. It addresses the relationship between father and son, obsessions, hobbies, love and loss. It is a very grown-up story, a magical fairytale and a story of families. It is a worthy picture book that may have a more limited appeal than most but is an excellent resource for teachers.

On a lighter note I move on to Stan and Mabel (Jason Chapman, Templar Publishing) a story

that will be loved by all children for all children love animals, especially those who do the most human of actions. Children are able to suspend belief more easily than adults. The world around them is far more fluid and many more things can happen in their imaginations. So this story is perfect for little ones for Stan and Mabel are a cat and dog, somewhat unloved by their owners take it upon themselves to audition for The Greatest Orchestra in the World and this endeavour takes them on a wonderful journey and involves a great number of new friends being made! As the official artist for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Jason has the perfect models for his story. Add to this a rather large sprinkling of story writing talent and the perfect ingredients of a great story are mixed.

Staying in the city readers must once again find the ability to suspend relaity, this time in favour of magical fantasy for Ruby Nettleship and the Ice Lolly Adventure (Thomas Docherty, Templar Publishing) invloves a fairytale-esq flowering shoot that can read Ruby's thoughts and provides her and all her friends with the most exciting adventure through the city. This story focuses on poor quality children's playgrounds, how children can use their imaginations for positive results and how, with a little persuasion and a few kind words, great deeds can be done. A charming, classic and clever story. Most definately one to be shared.

I hope that your imagination is not in overdrive just yet for my next title certainly needs some

and a story telling talent too. Foxly's Feast (Owen Davy, Templar Publishing) is a tasty and wordless feast. Featuring the young Foxly readers are guided through his search for the most fantastic feast, one that will satisfy his rumbling tummy (just like the one my husband appears to currently have!) Foxly has big ideas but no words, out of his mouth in wonderful speech bubbles merely appear a knife and fork. With pages full of colour and very simple illustartion this book will takes children on a journey as wild as their imaginations and is quite simply wonderful for encouraging creative writing and story telling. Deservedly highly commended for a student illustration prize this is a charming and clever picture book from a new talent.

Finally I have saved for last a modern fable and fairytale from one of my favourite authors and illustrators, Mini Grey. I have to admit a bias towards all her books which are equally intelliegnet and all take on a fable or fairytale with a modern twist. This latest Three By The Sea (Mini Grey, Jonathan Cape) tells the story of three very disperate friends, a dog, cat and mouse who live happily until a stranger drops into their lives and whispers into the harmony. The result of his mischief is actually a very important lesson about friendship. Full of the wit and detail that one has come to expect from all the Mini Grey does this is a book that can be poured over for hours by children and adults alike. There are many subtle messages contained within its pages and some wonderful recipes too... anyone for cheese?

So here ends my picture book selection, I hope that you manage to enjoy some or at least one of these titles nearly as much as I have and I would of course love to know your thoughts on the books or my musings!

We Are Surrounded....

2010-09-19T18:29:00.008+01:00

It seems that the adult world is completely suffused with children's books and stories. I knew this to an extent but the fact was bought home to me this afternoon having listened the A History of The World in 100 Objects from this last week I was surprised when a programme on Chinese bank notes began with an excerpt from Peter Pan. The link was promises and wishes, yet further references were made throughout the programme about the importance the Chinese Ming emperor conferred on children's literacy. hie motives were perhaps selfish, to ensure that they were able to read excerpts from the I Ching and also the writing on his new bank notes, yet he understood the importance of literacy. Later, Pick of the Week began with an excerpt from a programme presented by the singer Cerys Matthews on her favourite childhood story, Pippi Longstocking. I was charmed by her programme and quite amazed at the way in which there was such a split between lovers and detractors of the story - the detractors being those who did not approve of the strong minded, strong willed character!

It is however heartwarming to know that adults are as exposed to children's literature as children themselves and it is perhaps more important for adults to be reminded of its importance for it is they who encourage children to read and yet do little of it themselves. This week I feel that I have been guilty of this - encourgaing the children at school to read whilst not always finding enough time to read myself. Though I have read the newspaper every day. Having thought about this I realised that I have in fact been able to read a number of books in this last week from picture books to junior novels I have been charmed by a whole variety of titles. Today however I really want to tell you about the novels for younger children, come back later this week for picture book musings!

Rupert Kingfisher loves France and French food and as a result Bloomsbury have just published his third Madame Pamplemousse story - Madame Pamplemousse and the Enchanted Sweet Shop. This book tempts the reader with its candy coloured cover and delicious title into a story that will hook from page one! Madeline is feeling low and is tempted into the most wonderful of sweet shops - one which sells mouthwatering chocolates - who wouldn't be tempted by that? The problem is that all is not what it seems in this shop and the food, as delicious as it may be, is also rather sinister. I don't want to reveal too much rather to say that Rupert Kingfisher weaves a magic through his writing as much as Madame Pamplemoussse does with her food. This is a magical and charming story with a very important underlying message - not about about the evils of chocolate!!

Two other wonderful titles that I have very much enjoyed are Kate Davies second book - The Great Rabbit Rescue which sees the return of Anna and Suzanne with their infamous detective skills.... In this story they attempt to save their freind Joe's bunny who becomes mysteriously ill after they take charge of his care. A brilliant detective comedy follows , one which finds the children determined to pull of a brilliant rescue. Written in a semi-autobiographical style, told through the eyes of Anna, it is a very accessible and hilarious short story for animal lovers and rabbit enthusiats as well as amateur detectives!

Finally the Frightfully Friendly Ghosties have a Ghostly Holler Day in their second outing courtesy of Daren King. The Ghosties decide they are lonely and need a holiday, this, along with a postcard from Headless Leslie who went away and cannot remember how to get home helps them to decide that the time has come for a holler-day. So they take themselves off, one cold winters day to Frighton-on-Sea! What they get is not quite what they bargained for and they soon find themseleves embroilled in an exciting ghoslty caper featuring crooked magicians, ghost trains and more. A funny, exciting, charming and not too scary story of ghosts and ghouls!

Take your pick from the above, find some great new stories to read and share and remember that above all else there is nothing better than sharing a good story now that the evenings are drawing in!

Annexed Book Launch

2010-09-15T09:37:00.007+01:00

Today's blog entry could be considered a little somber, focusing as it does on a new novel from Sharon Dogar, Annexed. This book tells the story of Peter Van Pels, the boy who lived in the same Annexe as Anne. It is a compelling and fascinating story which attempts to answer some of the questions left by Anne's diary and fill in a few gaps. Sharon has handled the subject with great sensitivity and I am sure that whilst this is always going to be a book that many find difficult to read it will win a loyal fan base who appreciate the effort Sharon has contributed and her reasons for writing it.

The book was lauched last week by Andersen Press and Armadillo reviewer Shelly Instone attended, sending this report;

On Wednesday the 8th September I attended the book launch of Sharon Dogar’s Annexed. The narrative follows the fictional story of sixteen-year-old Peter, the boy who lived with Anne Frank during their incarceration due to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The launch was chaired by Julia Eccleshare who provided many searching questions forSharon to consider.

The owner of Anderson Press, Klaus Flugge told the audience how the book had received a mixed reception by critics. He felt this was because “Sharon had stepped on a button that we feel uncomfortable with.”

However, Julia interjected that the novel provided “an incredibly warm view of adolescence. We don’t celebrate it enough: the warmth and passion of it.”

On the question of writing a novel that follows Anne Frank’s diary, Sharon disclosed that she had had read it obsessively. “I felt I had a personal relationship with her. However, after re-reading it in my thirties I felt that Anne’s views were questionable. I was more interested in the views of Peter. What was it like for him? Anne’s descriptions of him are brilliant! What most upsets me is the way Anne’s diary ends: the suddenness of it. I felt quite cheated.”

Julia’s question for Sharon regarding the process of writing gave the audience an insight into how a writer begins the task of building a narrative. “I started writing vignettes of Peter and Anne and Peter’s voice grew from that. Peter’s story gives the reader a clear sense of how the Nazi system worked and how it dehumanised him alongside many other Jews.”

Julia also asked why modern children need to know Anne’s story. Sharon responded by telling the audience that she was: “writing for myself and mydaughter and the many unanswered questions we had of Anne’s diary.”

On that note the evening ended with Julia thanking Sharon for an excellent and thought provoking evening.

For more information the Andersen website http://www.andersenpress.co.uk is worth a visit.

Reading Cooks!

2010-09-06T20:00:00.002+01:00

You have probably heard people trying to promote reading use slogans such as Reading Rocks but I have decided this evening that reading cooks!

I realise this might sound very abstract and off-the-wall but its true, reading does cook, for without being able to read we would not be able to make use of recipe books that new institution that no self-respecting household, we are told, should be without. Cookery is everywhere now, with the advent of celebrity chefs, celebrity masterchef and more it is no longer just in the kitchen but on the TV in our books and very much in our lives.

Having recently watched the film Julie & Julia I learnt that cooking can inspire, it can change lives and fortunes but only if the cook can read and possibly even write. Cookery books are full of wonderful, mouth-watering recipes and they are also full of fascinating information. When a teacher returned a book on ice cream making to me today with the loaded question "Does this actually belong in the library" I thought it was a real shame they did not appreciate that to get children reading we must encourage them in any way possible. Cookery books are forever popular and we can even read stories about the joy of food and cooking - so Reading Cooks!

Until I came up with this idea I was upset that I had spent most of my weekend baking for birthdays and parties and not relaxing with a book. I realised this evening as I baked once again that I had enjoyed the experience of searching the books, reading the comments of the authors and following their advice. Delve into a cookbook, be amazed by what it can teach you, enjoy the reading experience and the end result, not many books can do this so lets treasure them, use them and enjoy them!

Summer School & dinosaurs!

2010-08-26T12:26:00.011+01:00

Well I just don't know what has happened to the wonderful summer we have been promised, nearly the end of August and it feels more like the end of October - I can guarantee though that just as we all head back to school for a new term the sun will come out and the weather will be gorgeous, an Indian summer let's hope!

In the meantime whilst I am trying not to think too much about going back to school as I still have another week and a bit until I have to be there I have been thinking about all the new children I will be meeting who will be starting at 'big school' for the very first time. Whilst I don't actually remember my first day at 'big school' I do have lots of great memories of school and how much fun I had there at a young age. It seems these days, or perhaps it is just the angle I can now take, that children have more worries as they begin their school life. However not to fear for there is help at hand, friends, families and siblings can all help but so to can stories. We often read stories to escape from the real world around us and be transported into wonderful worlds and lives completely separate from our own. These stories can also help us to deal with worries and concerns, working on many levels without obviously doing so.

So you must be wondering what exactly I am getting at here? Well two charming books that I have just read and that I know my nephews will adore - as will any young boys who are dinosaur fans - and let's face it most of them are!

The two books in question are Benedict Blathwayt's Dinosaur Chase! Perhaps better known for his stories of a certain Little Red Train, Blathwayt has now turned his attention to the dinosaur and with wonderful attention to detail has created a charming, funny, fact-filled story. This edition, published by Red Fox comes complete with a story CD too. The story centres on Fin, a dinosaur who is different - he doesn't quite fit the macho dinosaur image and to top it all off he is fluffy so he is a brilliant target for bullies. During a rather long chase Fin soon discovers that whilst he may be different it is in fact very important to be different and he finds a skill that only he has meaning he can outwit the bullies! A great story, beautifully illustrated that will teach children all about dinosaurs and also help them to overcome any fears of bullies.

To accompany this ex-primary school teacher Sheryl Webster has used the skills gained from working with a young age group to become a writer of great stories for them. Workng with the ever popular and inspiring illustrator Jan Fearnley the end result is Tinysaurus. Published in September by Andersen Press, Tinysaurus also features a young dinosaur who is trying to fit in. Tiny's problem is one of size - he is desperate to be bigger. He soon discovers that actually being small isn't so bad after all for even small animals can be heroes! This is a charming story that will endear itself to young readers and dinosaur fans alike, it also has a great message and whilst it may not have a story CD there are teacher resources (from the publisher's website) available making it perfect for use in the classroom - a great start to a new year perhaps?

So if like me you are trying not to think about school starting soon but know it is about to come round all too soon why not try sharing these books with the young children of your acquaintance or even those in your household and teachers take a look at the accompanying notes to provide yourself with a perfect start to the new year!

Happy reading and lets hope these bright and colourful books encourage some sunshine into our lives for the last week of our holidays!

History in the Making

2010-08-20T12:23:00.005+01:00

Well, back from a fantastic holiday which involved two weeks of camping, walking and very hard work on the archaeological dig at Vindolanda Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall. The weather was kind to us for almost the entire two weeks, the scenery was breathtaking and the experience one that I would highly recommend and am planning to do again (though my husband wants a proper bed next time!)

I didn't have much time to read whilst I was there, tiredness and lack of light in the ten after about 9pm precludes much activity other than curling up in a sleeping bag with a mug of Horlicks working out which bit hurts the least!

However there are two books that I would like to tell you about and which connect me in some ways with the experience. The first is Under a Silver Moon by Anne Fine. It is the title of this which resonates for me. The story is set in an unknown location which is very middle eastern and it is the tale of two boys, Haroun, the Sultan's son and Akil, the gardener's son - inseparable friends until Haroun has to learn how to be a prince. the result is more aches and pains than I experienced but ones that I can relate to (not for the same reasons). The outcome is a realisation that fresh air, the outdoors and some hard work can be a good cure and very good for your health. This resonates for me because the title reminds me of the beautiful Northumberland night-time sky with the stars and moon so clear. The story itself helps me to recall the outdoor hard work of every day which has left me with a wind tan to envy!

The second story is more relevant, in some ways to the nature of the digging I was doing for we

were delving into the past. In our case it was a Roman past and we were discovering, though the finds a little more about the life of the Roman soldiers posted at this furthest outpost of the empire. The book that I can link to this is Lady Jane Grey: Queen for Sale by Caroline Corby. Lady Jane may have lived some 1500 years later but the story told here is of before she became famous. I t is a story that required research for uncover the facts and presents an image to its reader of how she may have lived - just as the artefact's I was finding helped me to see how a Roman soldier may have lived. So if you are interested in history and love a good story this could be the book for you.

I am off now to catch up on some good books, sitting on a comfy chair in a garden with no deep trenches and no wind!

Summer Holiday Fun

2010-07-30T09:54:00.004+01:00

Bored already? Children declaring there is nothing to do? Need some useful ideas for activities to keep the kids out of trouble for the remainder of the holiday?

The most recent Armadillo Magazine competition challenged readers to submit top tips for keeping the family entertained this summer, from the great entries submitted I have selected winners whose books are on the way to them. In the meantime, because some of the ideas were just so good I am featuring them here.

I hope this keeps the kids and family entertained for a couple of weeks as I am off on my summer holidays tomorrow so you won’t be hearing from me for two weeks!

Anyway back to those tips, here are samples from the top three:

Pay a visit to your local library and select a book, this book will provide the family with a theme for the week and each member of the family must then use this theme to create or organize a related activity.

An example of this may be the book of choice being Gilbert in the Deep by Jane Clarke. This is a book about a giant shark and as such activities could include:

Having a fish and chip supper

Going for a swim

Investigating shark infested rock pools at the beach

If it is raining making a fish mobile to hang in the house

Theme around the family summer holiday. If it happens to be camping then hunt second hand and pound shops for camping accessories and create a mini camping adventure in the park or garden to get the kids in the mood. Then afterwards make up a scrap book to remember the day. This is a great idea that could be applied in lots of different situations.

Write activity ideas on scraps of paper, fill an empty jar with them and then when the kids are bored pull one out and endeavour to do it!

Have fun and do let me know how you manage to keep those kids entertained!

A sense of mystery

2010-07-26T12:41:00.005+01:00

Today’s Blog entry comes to you with two voices mine and that of Shelley Instone, Armadillo reviewer, who recently attended the book launch of ‘The Moonstone Legacy’ at the Nehru Centre in London’s Mayfair.

The Moonstone Legacy is the first instalment in a planned trilogy based on Wilkie Collins’ Moonstone and has been written by Diane de Gunzberg and Tony Wild.

Shelley’s full report will feature, along with a book review in the September edition of Armadillo, meanwhile here is a taster of the evening…

The evening began with light refreshments and informal chat as Diane and Tony revealed how they had known each other from childhood and had a mutual fascination with India. Tony stated that their friendship and shared interests arose from what he described as ‘a slight dislocation from both of us coming from culturally diverse backgrounds.’ On asking Diane why she had decided to write for a teenage audience she stated that, ‘it simply felt natural as young people are going through so many changes.’

Both Diane and Tony stressed how they had carefully researched their novel by travelling to India and tracing the footsteps of Wilkie Colllins’ novel. They felt it was essential to experience the colourful and diverse aspects of Indian life. Although ‘The Moonstone Legacy’ is placed in the historical context of the late 19^th Century both authors felt very strongly that all characters should be equal in terms of ethnicity. This, they claimed was a conscious departure from the imperialistic narratives of writers such as Kipling and Forster.

Diane disclosed that there had been the odd argument over character and plot…

Tony added, ‘this created the mystery that the protagonist, Lizzie Abercrombie must solve.’

I had the distinct impression that if this collaborative piece of fiction could emulate just a fraction of the success of Wilkie Collins’ Moonstone, both authors would be delighted...

2010-07-21T17:11:00.008+01:00

Fabled cities, personality disorders and master criminals may not instantly come to mind in the same thought but when you are spending an evening in the company of Eoin Colfer then they are quite a natural collection of ideas!

Last night an invited audience of booksellers, the media and publishers celebrated the launch of Eoin Colfer's 7th Artemis Fowl adventure. Eoin has now been writing about Artemis for 9 years and despite a break of two years during which he completed a novel for adults in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series his enthusiasm for Artemis has most certainly not dwindled (he is of course the Puffin of Puffins after all) and neither has his, very typically, Irish sense of humour!

Following a day of interviews which began with BBC Breakfast and took in Channel 4 and Amazon (where he has knocked Stephanie Meyer off the no. 1 spot) Eoin then went on to broadcast a live web chat before submitting to questions for Julia Eccleshare and the gathered audience on the 10th floor of Puffin on the Strand in London.

With a new story comes the inevitable new twist and whilst Eoin was giving little of the story away in case the assembled audience had not been lucky enough to read it (I was one of the few who had and can highly recommend it). he did however read a very short excerpt before answering a few questions and having us all in stitches with his replies!

Artemis fowl and the Atlantis Complex is Colfer's opportunity to punish Artemis for the wrongs he has committed by giving him a fairy illness and forcing him to face a few truths, along with the fact that perhaps he is growing up... This is new territory for author and character, there are light touches but a lot of psychology that older fans will enjoy. It is a book to be read on many levels and as such it will appeal to fans of all ages.

Eoin still gets immense pleasure from Artemis and enjoys writing his stories as much as we all love reading them. he reassuringly told us that there is more still to come and we should perhaps look forward to even more excitement for Artemis' 10th anniversary next year!

Thanks to Puffin for putting on the event, Julia for some great questions and Eoin for being such a funny, lively and brilliant author - go out and buy the new book now!!