27 June 2006
The Children's Party at the Palace, 25 June 2006
One of the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations was a special children's garden party which celebrated the magic of books. A live stage show took place in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, with 2,000 children attending, as well authors and a host of book characters including Peter Rabbit, Noddy, Postman Pat, Paddington Bear.
For pictures of the Children's Party and more information follow the link at the official site of the British Monarchy, http://www.royal.gov.uk/
For pictures of the Children's Party and more information follow the link at the official site of the British Monarchy, http://www.royal.gov.uk/
# posted by BH @ 6:09 pm
22 June 2006
The Reading Mission
This year's Summer Reading Challenge has just been launched by public libraries. I’ve had a preview of the Reading Mission sticker pack, and the bookmark, fridge magnet, invisible writing pen and badge you are awarded as you read six books. The challenge is linked in with the film of Stormbreaker, which is due out in October. There’s a super website at http://www.readingmission.org.uk/. All you need to do now is get reading!
It’s free to join your public library. You’ll need an adult to sign the membership form, and then you can borrow up to 20 books! More info at Kids & Teens @ Libraries, http://kidlib.oxfordshire.gov.uk
If you’re going to be away and can’t visit your local library this summer, then don’t miss out - make sure you do the OLCSS Summer Reading Challenge, which is very similar. If you're mad about books and reading then why not start a Reading Diary, and bring it in to show me in September.
It’s free to join your public library. You’ll need an adult to sign the membership form, and then you can borrow up to 20 books! More info at Kids & Teens @ Libraries, http://kidlib.oxfordshire.gov.uk
If you’re going to be away and can’t visit your local library this summer, then don’t miss out - make sure you do the OLCSS Summer Reading Challenge, which is very similar. If you're mad about books and reading then why not start a Reading Diary, and bring it in to show me in September.
# posted by BH @ 3:16 pm
19 June 2006
Kids' Lit Quiz World Final
Remember back to October and November, when we were selecting our two teams for the Oxfordshire heat of the Kids' Lit Quiz? We enjoyed taking part, but the ultimate prize was not only to win the local heat, but win the national heat, and then travel to New Zealand to take part in the World Final.
Congratulations to Bancroft's School from Essex, the UK winners, who came a very creditable 4th in the World Final in Auckland, New Zealand. Teams also travelled from China and South Africa. This took place on Sunday 18 June, and was televised live in New Zealand.
Full details: http://www.kidslitquiz.com
Congratulations to Bancroft's School from Essex, the UK winners, who came a very creditable 4th in the World Final in Auckland, New Zealand. Teams also travelled from China and South Africa. This took place on Sunday 18 June, and was televised live in New Zealand.
Full details: http://www.kidslitquiz.com
# posted by BH @ 9:00 pm
15 June 2006
Aventis Prizes for Science Books
The Royal Society’s Aventis Prizes for Science Books are annual awards, which celebrate the very best in popular science writing for adults and children. Previous winners include Bill Bryson, Stephen Hawking and Robert Winston.
There are two categories: The Junior Prize, which is given to the best book written for under-14s, and the General Prize, for the best book written for a more general readership. Each prize is worth £10,000 to the winning author and £1,000 to the author of each shortlisted book.
Winners
Junior Prize The Global Garden by Kate Petty, Jennie Maizels, Corina Fletcher (Eden Project, Random House)
General Prize Electric Universe: how electricity switched on the modern world by David Bodanis (Little, Brown Book Group)
For more details, including the shortlists, visit
http://www.sciencebookprizes.com
http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=2418
There are two categories: The Junior Prize, which is given to the best book written for under-14s, and the General Prize, for the best book written for a more general readership. Each prize is worth £10,000 to the winning author and £1,000 to the author of each shortlisted book.
Winners
Junior Prize The Global Garden by Kate Petty, Jennie Maizels, Corina Fletcher (Eden Project, Random House)
General Prize Electric Universe: how electricity switched on the modern world by David Bodanis (Little, Brown Book Group)
For more details, including the shortlists, visit
http://www.sciencebookprizes.com
http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=2418
# posted by BH @ 9:19 am
06 June 2006
Bun Throwing in Abingdon - 10 June 2006
To mark Abingdon’s 450th Anniversary Celebrations of the town's first Royal Charter bun throwing will take place on Saturday 10 June 2006, 5.30/6 p.m. (My photos above were taken in June 2002, celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee.)
Local councillors will throw 4000 currant buns from the roof of the Museum, to crowds assembled below in the Market Place. This unusual local custom only takes place to mark a royal event or special celebration. It dates back to 1860, the coronation of King Geoge III. The buns are specially baked and are edible, although many people save them. The museum, originally built as the County Court for Berkshire, has a display of buns going back many years.
You can read more about this custom in the article Bread from the Heavens at http://www.thisislimitededition.co.uk/item.asp?category=History&ID=191
# posted by BH @ 10:45 pm
Orange Prize announced
Zadie Smith has won the Orange Prize for Fiction for her novel On Beauty.
The Orange Prize is the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written by a woman.
2006 shortlist:
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel
The Accidental by Ali Smith
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living by Carrie Tiffany
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/
The Orange Prize is the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written by a woman.
2006 shortlist:
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel
The Accidental by Ali Smith
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living by Carrie Tiffany
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/
# posted by BH @ 10:12 pm
05 June 2006
Red House Children’s Book Award 2006 - Winners
Winners have been announced for the three categories.
Overall Winner and Books for Older Readers
Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lightning Thief
Books for Younger Readers
Andrew Cope Spy Dog
Books for Younger Children
Jonathan Emmett & Steve Cox Pigs Might Fly
More details at
http://www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk/winners2006.htm
Overall Winner and Books for Older Readers
Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lightning Thief
Books for Younger Readers
Andrew Cope Spy Dog
Books for Younger Children
Jonathan Emmett & Steve Cox Pigs Might Fly
More details at
http://www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk/winners2006.htm
# posted by BH @ 8:45 pm
02 June 2006
The Big Bad Read - vote for your favourite baddie!
Who is your favourite literary villain?
Which baddie from a book do you secretly love?
Bloomsbury the publisher has launched a search to find the nation’s favourite literary villain in a children’s book. From Cruella DeVille to Moriarty, from Bill Sikes to Voldemort there have been hundreds of villains that readers have enjoyed hating. But which one is the ultimate baddie?
See the list of 40 of the most vile villains at www.bigbadread.co.uk where you can vote for your favourite or add a new villain to the list.
Which baddie from a book do you secretly love?
Bloomsbury the publisher has launched a search to find the nation’s favourite literary villain in a children’s book. From Cruella DeVille to Moriarty, from Bill Sikes to Voldemort there have been hundreds of villains that readers have enjoyed hating. But which one is the ultimate baddie?
See the list of 40 of the most vile villains at www.bigbadread.co.uk where you can vote for your favourite or add a new villain to the list.
# posted by BH @ 11:58 am
01 June 2006
School Librarian of the Year
Congratulations to school librarian Anne-Marie Tarter of Ripon Grammar School in Yorkshire, who won the School Library Association's 2006 award, SLA School Librarian of the Year. A Lifetime Achievement award was also presented to Lynn Barrett, formerly of Dixons City Academy in Bradford.
The Awards were presented by Jacqueline Wilson, the Children's Laureate at the Library and Information Show in Birmingham.
More information at http://www.sla.org.uk/slya.php
The Awards were presented by Jacqueline Wilson, the Children's Laureate at the Library and Information Show in Birmingham.
More information at http://www.sla.org.uk/slya.php
# posted by BH @ 1:56 pm
