Looking back at Refugee Week: books for children

Lajee Dancers in Glasgow

Last week was Refugee Week. In Scotland, it kicked of with a photo-call of a few of the acts performing throughout the week, including these talented young dancers who live in a refugee camp in Palestine. Aida Camp is crowded and insecure - how do you explain to children the sorts of lives these young people are living?

Step forward the amazing Zoe Toft who writes the award-winning blog Playing by the Book. All through Refugee Week she featured children's books about refugees. For example she both reviewed Azzi in between, about a young girl arriving in this country, and interviewed its author, Sarah Garland. She wrote about fiction for kids to make them think about life as a refugee and listed over 75 books about the refugee experience. Finally, she posted about 17 authors and illustrators who were themselves refugees, including famous names such as Judith Kerr and Eva Ibbotson.

Zoe's posts are often accompanied by suggestions for activities, written for her own children but adaptable for the classroom. Books about refugees are not just for Refugee Week - use them at any time to encourage children to empathise and learn to combat negative attitudes in society.

Carnegie and Greenaway Awards announced

Hot on the heels of my last post on the Scottish Children's Book Awards Shortlist come the Carnegie and Greenaway winners!

The winner of the Carnegie Award is Sally Gardner for Maggot Moon (Hot Key). Sally, who is dyslexic, used her acceptance speech to speak up for children for whom reading and writing does not come easily, and the librarians and teachers that help them. She also criticised Michael Gove's new curriculum.

The winner of the Kate Greenaway Award (for illustration) is Levi Pinfold for Black Dog (Templar). Writer and illustrator Levi also used his win to celebrate libraries and librarians across the country.




Both winning books are tales of triumph over terror. In Gardner's Maggot Moon, the unlikely young hero Standish who, like his creator, is dyslexic, stands up to a sinister dictatorship whilst friends and family around him 'disappear'. Pinfold's Black Dog sees a little girl called Small Hope facing fear head-on in the form of a monstrous giant black dog.

Congratulations to all concerned!

Scottish Children's Book Awards: shortlist announced

The Scottish Children's Book Awards shortlists have been announced today! It's an eclectic selection from a mess loving monster to an accidental time-traveller and an angel with a terrible sense of direction. The choices are:

Bookbug readers (3-7 years) 

 

Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan)

A string of paper dolls go on a fantastical adventure through the house and out into the garden. They soon escape the clutches of the toy dinosaur and the snapping jaws of the oven-glove crocodile, but then a very real pair of scissors threatens. A stunning, rhythmical story of childhood, memory and the power of imagination from the author of The Gruffalo, and new illustrating talent Rebecca Cobb. 

What’s the Time Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori (Bloomsbury)

Accompany Mr Wolf as he goes about his daily routine from breakfast to bedtime - and get to know the real Mr Wolf! Little ones will enjoy recognising familiar faces from a plethora of nursery rhymes, including Little Red Riding Hood (masquerading as the post girl), three cheeky little pigs (who make prank calls), a cat who's a dab hand at the fiddle, plus four and twenty blackbirds. An enchantingly original story inspired by the well-known playground tag game, this is also perfect for practising telling the time.

Jumblebum by Chae Strathie and Ben Cort (Scholastic)

A funny story... all about the importance of tidying up. Johnny thinks that his room has its own special style. But his mum thinks his room is... a MESS! Johnny doesn't care... until all the chaos attracts the terrible Jumblebum Beast. Will Johnny end up in the Jumblebum's tum - or can his secret plan save the day?

All P1 children in Scotland will receive a free copy of each of these books during Book Week Scotland in November.

 

Younger readers (8-11 years)

 

 Black Tide by Caroline Clough (Floris)

Toby's dad and little sister have been kidnapped by pirates, and Toby is left alone in the aftermath of the terrible Red Fever epidemic, which has wiped out much of the world's population. Menacing tribes of super-intelligent dogs are gaining ever more ground in Scotland, moving northwards. A mysterious figure called The General is leading a group of villains who are kidnapping people and imprisoning them in a place he calls New Caledonia. But where is this New Caledonia and what does The General plan to do with his captives? Toby sets out on a perilous mission to find New Caledonia and, he hopes, his family. This is the dramatic sequel to Red Fever, which won the Kelpies Prize in 2010.

The Accidental Time Traveller by Janis MacKay (Floris)

One ordinary day, Saul is on his way to the corner shop when a girl appears suddenly in the middle of the road. She doesn't understand traffic, or the things in shops, and she's wearing a long dress with ruffled sleeves. Her name is Agatha Black. Agatha Black is from 1812, and Saul needs to find a way to get her back there. With help from his mates Will and Robbie, he tries to work out how to make time travel happen. This pacy, time-travelling adventure from Janis MacKay, author of the Magnus Fin series, is full of funny misunderstandings and gripping action.

Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti (Floris) 

Mischievous fairies? Stranded mermaids? Smelly troll? Whatever your supernatural dilemma, call the Really Weird Removals company! Luca and Valentina's uncle Alistair is a paranormal investigator. When he realises the children can see the supernatural creatures that share our world, he invites them to join his team. With the help of Camilla, a friendly ghost, the Really Weird Removals team save a real-life stranded Nessie, help a selkie come ashore, and befriend werewolves. But this exciting new world is also packed with danger. When confronted by malicious kelpies and hungry vampires, can their wayward uncle keep the children safe?

Older readers (12-16 years)

 

Ferryman by Claire McFall (Templar)

When Dylan emerges from the wreckage of a train crash onto a bleak Scottish hillside, she meets a strange boy who seems to be waiting for her.
But Tristan is no ordinary teenage boy, and the journey across the desolate, wraith infested wasteland is no ordinary journey. Life, death, love - which will Dylan choose?
 
The Seeing by Diana Hendry (Bodley Head) 

1953. When wild, dangerous, break-all-the-rules Natalie arrives in the quiet town of Norton, thirteen-year-old Lizzie is drawn irresistibly to the new girl from the wrong side of the tracks. As the girls grow closer, Natalie and her strange, eerie brother, Philip, reveal a shocking secret. For Philip has a second sight, and all around them he sees evil - 'left-over Nazis' lying in wait until the time is right for revenge. Natalie and Philip believe it's up to them to root these people out of Norton. Lizzie is swept up in what starts as a thrilling game - but the consequences of Philip's 'gift' quickly spiral into disaster. A chilling, powerful tale from Whitbread Award-winner Diana Hendry.

The Book of Doom by Barry Hutchison (Harper Collins)

The second hilarious book in the comic fantasy Afterworlds sequence.
There’s panic up in Heaven. They have mislaid the Book of Doom – the most important object in existence. They think Satan might have stolen it, so to save the world fifteen year old Zac and his angelic guide Angelo are sent to retrieve it. Sadly directions aren’t Angelo’s strong point and they soon find themselves just as lost as the book, wandering through Afterworlds such as Valhalla and Hades and encountering some colourful characters along the way. Can the hapless pair make it to Hell and back?

The awards are run by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Creative Scotland and are voted for entirely by children - nearly 32000 last year! All over Scotland for the next seven months (until 7 February 2014), children will be reading and voting. Do you know some who would like to join in?

The winners will be announced on Wednesday, 5th March 2014.

Malorie Blackman

You probably saw the announcement this week that Malorie Blackman, most famous for her Noughts and Crosses books, is to be the Children's Laureate for 2013-2015, succeeding Julia Donaldson. For more information, there's a roundup of media coverage on the Children's Laureate site, and Bookwitch has a lovely informal picture of Malorie in her rainbow Converses. Even more important than those, it's good to note that she's a huge supporter of libraries and literacy - more power to her elbow there!

Children's books and social justice: refugees and other stories

With Refugee Week Scotland coming up soon, it's great to report that the inaugural Little Rebels Children's Book Award, run by the Alliance of Radical Booksellers, has been won by a powerful refugee story. Azzi in between, by Sarah Garland, tells, in graphic format, of the frightening journey undertaken by Azzi and her parents, who have to leave their home because it is too dangerous to stay in their own country. Azzi is sad because she had to leave her beloved grandmother behind and because she can't speak the language of her new country. However, Garland shows how kindness and friendship can overcome feelings of difference, and there is a happy ending involving both the arrival of Grandma and a bag of beans! It's not hard to find books with empathetic portrayals of refugees for older children and teens, so it's good to see one for the younger market. For more information about the book and the prize, see the Federation of Children's Book Groups site.

Zoe Toft, of the excellent Playing by the Book blog, has been compiling a list of other books exploring the refugee experience. It's too long to reproduce here (and as yet, there is no online link) but she does point to some other online resources, notably Refugee Week's list of resources for children and the following bibliography:

Collecting Children's Refugee Literature: A Bibliography by Elisa Mason
March 2009; links checked September 2010

Closer to home, don't forget the children's booklist, Refugees, from the University of Strathclyde

Finally, another prize dedicated to social justice and equality issues is the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children's Book Award, which has just announced its winner for 2013, and there is a new(ish) blog Ink & Pen with the tagline "Thoughts on diversity in YA and children's literature".

We have lift off!

This lovely picture book by Sean Taylor and Hannah Shaw has lots of appealing factors for young readers - animals, a space rocket and a good dose of humour. In addition, there's a strong environmental message.

Farmer Tanner keeps his animals in cramped conditions and pollutes his farm with junk. At the same time, his own house gets bigger and bigger - and the animals get madder and madder! They decide to build an intergalactic rocket to escape to the clear, clean stars where there are no humans to mess things up. Unfortunately, none of the animals can quite get the hang of the test flight and then - horror of horrors - Farmer Tanner discovers the rocket! You can probably guess the twist that is coming next - suffice it to say, the farmer is never seen again and the book ends with a stern warning that "if you're one of the people who makes a mess of our planet - WATCH OUT! It could be your turn next!"

Thanks to the publishers, Frances Lincoln Children's Books,who supplied this book via a Youth Libraries Group draw. Neither required me to write a review. We have lift off will now find a happy home in my local library.

PS 22/5/13 - here's a fabulous review from of We have lift-off! from Playing by the Book, including follow-up activity ideas

Book Week Scotland 2013 announced

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop and Scottish authors Denise Mina, Richard Holloway and Mairi Hedderwick show off their treasures, as Scottish Book Trust launches a hunt for the nation’s cherished objects. The Treasures campaign invites Scots to submit a piece of writing about the item they hold most dear, with a free book featuring the best stories and poems to be given out during Book Week Scotland, running from 25 November to 1 December this year. Photo credit Rob McDougall

 

 

Scotland will host a second national celebration of reading in 2013, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced today. Following the success of last year's event, the second Book Week Scotland (BWS) will be delivered by Scottish Book Trust from November 25 to December 1, 2013. One of the best features last year was My favourite place, a writing project which resulted in a free book for distribution during BWS, and this year the same project is taking place with the theme Treasures - see the photograph above. Entries can be submitted online for inclusion on Treasures website, and possible inclusion in a printed anthology, until July 31 at 5pm. Further details of BWS events will be released later in the year. In the meantime, keep an eye on the website, follow @Bookweekscot on Twitter, check out #bookweekscot or like the Book Week Scotland Facebook page. BWS is initiated by the Scottish Government and supported by £250,000 from Creative Scotland.

Photo credit Rob McDougall

This is a great initiative, especially for fostering a love of reading in children. Many children's authors, such as Mairi Hedderwick, seen here with her treasure, take part in events in schools and libraries all over Scotland. As Fiona Hyslop said, last year: "more than 30,000 pupils engaged with Book Week Scotland activities. All of this has supported the development of our nation’s important relationship with books and reading. Teachers have told us that Book Week Scotland had a positive impact on their pupils’ interest in reading and writing and that it was well supported in schools." I can't wait!


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