OLCSS Library News

By now parents of students in Years 7 & 8 should have received, in the school mailing, my end-of-term list of reading suggestions - look out for the coloured paper. Do keep it as it’s also a ready-made gift list.

I enjoy reading the books on my suggestions lists. I don’t claim to have read them all, but try to have read at least one book by most authors I’m suggesting. I’ve just looked at the list and counted. I can confidently report that I have read 45 of the 50 or so books listed on the front page. My suggestions also come from reading book reviews in the literary press and online, magazines for librarians and teachers, visiting book shops, as well as listening to recommendations by colleagues, friends and, of course, the young people themselves.

Many parents enjoy reading the books their children are reading and the activity offers an opportunity to chat about shared interests, as well as help motivate reluctant readers. We have some excellent contemporary authors writing for young people. Revisiting children’s classics as adults can not only bring back memories of past favourites but they remind us of the quality of a ‘good read’. However I’m sure you would agree with me that it is better for children to read anything rather than nothing – magazines, popular fiction can all lead to finding the ‘right book’ and author.

I am also keen to promote listening to stories and if you look at this blog you will see that I regularly promote BBC 7, one of the BBC’s digital networks. Stories can be heard live or ‘listened again’ online. Not only is this an enjoyable pastime it also develops listening and concentration skills.

Look at the schedules and you will see that the treats during the school holidays include:

• The Box of Delights: when the wolves were running, a thrilling two part adaptation of the children's fantasy novel by John Masefield
• Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel
• The Chronicles of Narnia, the entire series, continuing into January
• Stravaganza, Mary Hoffman's spellbinding story of Lucien, who is ill in bed in hospital, but wakes from a dream to find himself transported back to a sixteenth century Venice-like city called Bellezza. Here he finds an intriguing world of conspiracy, deception and rivalry.

Finally do try and find time to read something by prize-winning writer Jamila Gavin, our visiting author on 1 February.

Happy Reading!

The 2006 Nestlé Children's Book Prize (formerly Nestlé Smarties Book Prize) in the 9 - 11 age category, has been won by The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding .

The Diamond of Drury Lane is an atmospheric adventure story that captivated the prize’s school-age judges. Set in London’s theatre-land in the 1790s, The Diamond of Drury Lane tells the story of an orphan who becomes involved in a diamond mystery.

Julia Golding is a former UN campaigner and ex-diplomat, who started her career working for the Foreign Office in Poland and then lobbied on war-related issues on behalf of Oxfam, before taking up writing.

Full results
9 to 11 age category

GOLD The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding (Egmont Press)
SILVER The Tide Knot by Helen Dunmore (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
BRONZE The Pig Who Saved the World by Paul Shipton (Puffin)

6 to 8 age category

GOLD Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King – illustrated by David Roberts (Faber and Faber)
SILVER Hugo Pepper by Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell (Doubleday)
BRONZE The Adventures of The Dish and The Spoon by Mini Grey (Jonathan Cape)

5 & under age category

GOLD That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell & Neal Layton (Orchard Books)
SILVER The Emperor of Absurdia by Chris Riddell (Macmillan Children’s Books)
BRONZE Wibbly Pig’s Silly Big Bear by Mick Inkpen (Hodder Children’s Books)

Information taken from http://www.booktrusted.co.uk/nestle/

Ten Blue Peter competition winners selected the winners of the 2006 Blue Peter Book Awards

The Book I Couldn't Put Down:

Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo
Blood Fever by Charlie Higson
GRK and the Pelotti Gang by Joshua Doder

and the winner was .... Blood Fever by Charlie Higson.


The Best Book with Facts:

Connor's Eco Den by Pippa Goodhart
Poo by Nicola Davies & Neal Layton
Spud Goes Green by Giles Thaxton

and the winner was ... Spud Goes Green by Giles Thaxton.


The Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud:

Guess Who's Coming for Dinner by John Kelly & Cathy Tincknell
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffars
Traction Man is Here by Mini Grey

and the winner was ... Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffars.

The Blue Peter Book of the Year is Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffars.

One of my favourite radio stations, BBC 7, one of the BBC's digital radio networks, will be broadcasting the complete Chronicles of Narnia, beginning on Monday 4 December with The Magician's Nephew followed by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

It's on Monday - Friday at 6 p.m. but if you are not able to catch any of the 28 episodes live, then go to the BBC 7 website to 'Listen Again' where each episode is available for a week. The final episode of the final book, The Last Battle, ends this epic on 10 January. These beautiful dramatisations are a great family listening treat, with a breath-taking cast, including Paul Scofield as the Storyteller and David Suchet as Aslan.

Current stories you can hear via BBC 7's website from the Big Toe Radio Show are
• Harry and the Wrinklies by Alan Temperley (8 episodes)
• Dakota of the White Flats by Philip Ridley (6 episodes)
• Horrible Histories - The Vile Victorians by Terry Deary (6 episodes)
• 13 Unpredictable Tales by Paul Jennings (4 episodes)
• Vampirates by Justin Somper (2 hours)

Also starting tomorrow at 6.50 p.m. in 14 episodes: Mortal Engines, Philip Reeve's dark, futuristic sci-fi thriller. It's a town-eat-town world, with larger cites preying on smaller ones to survive. Tom and Hester are thrown together on a strange adventure.

Information taken from BBC 7 Newsletter.