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World Book Day 4th March – Antarctic Stories to Shanghai

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On March 5, 2021

In world Book Day, Harrow International School, Shanghai, Book events, BookMonitor, Books go Walkabout, History

Books Go Walkabout is working with Harrow International School in Shanghai to deliver online author visits direct to classrooms. Working globally is no problem online!

Harrow International School, Shanghai

Our second event at Harrow International School, this time with author and polar explorer Joanna Grochowicz from New Zealand. The audience of Years 4-6 came ready dressed up as book characters and armed with questions at the end of Joanna’s presentation .

Joanna and model Amundsen

Joanna enthralled the children from the start with slides and tales of life in the Antarctic in the early 19Century. This is real history and gives amazing insights into how tough life could be. Imagine having your fingers so badly frost bitten they are the size of sausages for instance, I could hear some sounds of ‘Yukk!” from the children.

Then there were the orcas, who surrounded Scott’s photographer, Ponting, on an ice floe. He thought he was going to take a photo. The orcas thought he looked like lunch! They tipped the ice floe and Ponting was only saved by landing on another ice floe.

Orcas looking for lunch!

Or the story of the dog on the Terra Nova who went overboard in a terrible storm in the Southern Sea and the Roaring Forties, fortunately  a wave brought him crashing back.

Joanna is expert at great detail of research around the expeditions of Scott, from Britain, Amundsen from Norway and Shackleton from Britain(her next book).

Amundsen’s Crew in the Antarctic

Children from Harrow International School were exceptionally well led by Tess St Clair Ford, who organised Book Week in 2021, not an easy task  with many places still in lockdown. The pupils’ questions to Joanna showed that good listening skills were in place and they had done their homework too.

World Book Day 2021 and a great way for Books Go Walkabout to engage with Harrow International Shanghai, far away but really very close!

Joanna’s new book Shackleton’s Endurance is out soon to join her Polar Explorer’s Trilogy Into the White and Amundsen’s Way.

Sue Martin

How to Design a Novel – Rehan Khan

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On November 6, 2020

In The Book Monitor, Book events, Featured authors, Featured children's book

Rehan Khan, author of Carnegie nominated ‘ Tudor Turk’ will be running a live 2 day course on; How to write and design a novel, on 12-13th December 2020. (...this is an entrance fee event, see link below…Ed.)

You can register for this event here – https://courses.rehankhan.com/Pjr25

We know there are many of our blog readers who would love to write a book themselves. Maybe you are one of those? Do you have a story inside you to tell? Do you love reading and would like to to write a book? This course may be just right for you.

Rehan is the author of A Tudor Turk and A King’s Armour, an historic fiction series with Hope Road Publishers. They are great books and bring a totally new dimension to that period in history.

This is a unique opportunity and the focus on designing the novel will enable a way into writing. Finding the backdrop of the story, providing the setting, thinking about the characters, planning and enabling some hooks for the story to unfold.

In the UK as we head into lockdown 2, maybe this will give you some inspiration and motivation to find a way to write that book.

But in any case, try reading A Tudor Turk and A King’s Armour over lock-down. You will find yourself in another world, full of daring adventure.

Sue Martin

    Winner of the School Librarian of the Year 2019

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    On June 28, 2019

    In Featured Librarians, School Library Association, Book events, Books go Walkabout, Dolphinbooksellers

    The SLA School Librarian of the Year Award is the School Library Association’s highly valued award to recognize the excellent work carried out in school libraries across the country. 

    In 2019, Alec Williams, who introduced the afternoon said, ” A room full of books is just that! But given the proper space and a librarian, the discovery, delight and magic happens.”

    This year Ros Harding at The King’s School Chester has been awarded the honour of the School Librarian of the Year 2019. Sara Barnard, the 2019 YA Book Prize winner presented Ros Harding with her award at a special ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Kensington, London Kensington on 27 June .

    Ros is Head Librarian and Archivist at The King’s School Chester, which is an independent selective school for 3-18 year olds, Ros contributes in many ways to the life of the school and the wellbeing of its students and staff. She was described by others as“caring, for people but also for the library itself”, “inspiring curiosity” and a “tour de force”.

    As well as establishing a School Book Award, Ros is an excellent ambassador of research skills and ensures all aspects of the school to have a place within the library. She empowers pupils and gives outstanding support and pastoral care.

    A quote and under-statement from a pupil, ” She knows her library”!

    Announcing the School Librarian of the Year 2019, Sara Barnard, whose novel Goodbye Perfect won the YA Book Prize 2019  said:
    “Libraries are essential to any school and community, and I’m delighted to pay tribute to them and the librarians who make them what they are.”

    The two other school librarians on the Honour List, were recognised for their outstanding work .Chantal Kelleher is the Learning Resource Centre Manager at Herne Bay High School, and  Helen Cleaves, Librarian/Learning Resources Manager at Kingston Grammar School.

    The panel of judges was led by Sue Baston, who is also Vice Chair of SLA.

    From bringing books to life in highly imaginative and engaging ways, to generous and bold outreach work each librarian on the Honour
    List has made a huge difference to the lives of all they work with, igniting a passion for reading.

    An interesting and inspirational event  recognising all the good work that continues in our school libraries.

    Sue Martin

     

     

     

    Leigh Hobbs and Mr Chicken Land in London with BGW

    By

    On October 17, 2018

    In Art, Book events, BookMonitor, Children's books, Events, Leigh Hobbs

    Leigh Hobbs at William Tynedale image

    Leigh encourages a whole class to ‘get creative’…

    Leigh  Hobbs came to the UK in October 2018, visiting schools in London and Norfolk, and students of the MA in Children’s Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.

    Books Go Walkabout are really pleased to be working with Leigh to plan and arrange visits in the UK. He is a real  inspiration and his characters are incredible. 

    Mr  Chicken,  Old  Tom,  Horrible  Harriet – are full of adventure and fun in the midst of the city. Leigh related how the characters were formed, and showed the children just how to create their own characters in their drawings.

    Leigh Hobbs in the studion - image and web link

    Leigh in his studio. See and buy Leigh’s books here…

    Books  Go  Walkabout  are now planning  ahead  for  Spring  2019.  Leigh loves  London,  the  people,  the  architecture,  the history  and  best  of  all  plotting  adventures for his characters during his visits.

    As well as working in schools, Leigh  gave  the first ‘visiting lecture’  to over two hundred M.A. students of Children’s Illustration, in the Cambridge School of Art, at Anglia Ruskin University .  Leigh explained to his audience that all he  had  ever  wanted  to  be was  be an  artist  and to visit  England.

    Leigh develops a character - live...image

    Leigh develops a character – live…

    At  William  Tyndale Primary School  in  Islington,  Leigh worked  with  classes  of  years 12,3 & 4. The  atmosphere  was  electric.  Mr  Chicken  was drawn by the children in many  varied ways, a different farmyard fowl springing from the mind of each child. They  learnt  all about  creating  characters through their drawings.

    A great visit and Books Go Walkabout team are delighted to continue working with Leigh on UK visits in 2019.

    Sue Martin

    Books Go Walkabout

    Books, writers and illustrators – across the globe…

     

    The Philippa Pearce Lecture Tenth Anniversary, with Frances Hardinge

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    On March 8, 2018

    In Book events, Homerton College, Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture

    The Philippa Pearce Lecture celebrates its tenth anniversary with a lecture by children’s author Frances Hardinge.

    Thursday,19th April, 2018 at 5.00 pm – The Mary Allen Building, Homerton College, Cambridge, CB2 8PH.

    Frances’ highly acclaimed children’s novels include Fly By Night, Twilight Robbery, the Carnegie-shortlisted Cuckoo Song and Costa Book of the Year winner, The Lie Tree.

    Image credit: David Henson. Frances Hardinge, London, 2009

    Frances’ lecture, entitled  “Peopling the Dark“, will explore unseen and half-seen figures of menace and malice in Philippa Pearce’s The Shadow Cage and other children’s literature.

    This prestigious annual lecture at Homerton College, University of Cambridge is a highlight of the literary calendar for a wide-ranging audience of academics, writers, illustrators, publishers, teachers, students and other lovers of children’s literature.

    The lecture offers a unique platform for the very best children’s authors, poets and illustrators to reflect on their art. Always thought-provoking as well as entertaining, the lectures have tackled such topics as the implications of exposing children to fear, and what poetry is for, and the place of digital technologies in children’s literature.

    Following the inaugural lecture and tribute to Philippa Pearce in 2008, the line-up of speakers has included Michael Rosen, Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo, Malorie Blackman, Kevin Crossley-Holland, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Meg Rosoff, Allan Ahlberg and Chris Riddell.

    The event is held in association with Homerton College, Cambridge,  and is part of the College’s 250th anniversary celebrations:

    The lectures were established in 2007 by the family, friends and colleagues of the distinguished children’s author, Philippa Pearce. Her children’s novels include the well-loved classic, Tom’s Midnight Garden (Carnegie Medal, winner,1958).

    Exploring concepts of time, connections between past and present, and relationships between children and parents, all convey a sense of the East Anglian landscape where Philippa’s family had lived for generations, and where she spent most of her life. As Philip Pullman said, “She was one of the very finest writers British children’s literature has ever had.”

    The Tenth Anniversary Philippa Pearce Lecture, Thursday, 19 April at 5.00 pm, in the Mary Allen Building, Homerton College, Cambridge. A wine reception follows. Tickets are free but  do book in advance.

    Register your place here...

    An event not to be missed.

    Sue Martin

    Books Go Walkabout

    Into The White, Scott’s Antarctic Odyssey by Joanna Grochowicz and illustrated by Sarah Lippett

    By

    On November 4, 2017

    In 9 to 10 years, Book events, Featured authors, Featured children's book, Featured illustrators, Non Fiction

    Into the White

    Buy this book on-line here…

    A first children’s book for Joanna Grochowicz and an amazing start to a career in writing.

    The book is full of adventure from beginning to end. This is a journey into the unknown, into a world full of extremes and hardship. It is an amazing story of a team bound together with courage and endeavour.

    If you’re into happy endings, best look some place else. This story does not end well. This is a story where men die and their dreams of greatness with them. But it is a fine story and one that is worth telling, from heroic beginning to tragic end.

    This is the story of Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova expedition and the memorable characters, who with a band of shaggy ponies and savage dogs, followed a man they trusted into the unknown. Battling storms at sea, impenetrable pack ice, man-eating whales, crevasses, blizzards, bad food, extreme temperatures, and equal measures of hunger, agony and snow blindness, the team pushes on against all odds.

    Buy this thrilling book here…

    A thrilling story about leadership, resilience and facing adversity with courage, Into the White will leave you on the edge of your seat, hoping against hope that Scott and his men just might survive their Antarctic ordeal and live to tell the tale.

    Joanna Grochowicz was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1972.  Following a career as a business writer, Joanna decided to take the plunge and did a Masters in Creative Writing.  Into the White is her first book.

    “People fascinate me. I love oddballs and misfits, saints and creeps, the selfish, the needy, the dreary, the nerdy and the enormous tangle of real life characters you come across in life.  History offers a boundless source of fascinating characters to reanimate. It can be a wonderful thing to rehabilitate a great story – like restoring a dilapidated castle and making it magnificent again.”

    Sarah Lippett, the illustrator has created some classic drawings of the characters and the teams of ponies and dogs on the journey. For a book for 9-14 year olds, the sketches add hugely to the feel of the time period and of the difference in equipment between 1912 and 2017. The maps are wonderful and are a great help to plot the journey as you read through the book.

    Into the White, is published by Allen and Unwin, Australia, who have created a wonderful paperback book of this epic journey.

    It has just been released in the UK, on November 2nd 2017 and is available to purchase in most good stores and on-line. (Link below…).

    At Books Go Walkabout, we are delighted to be working with Joanna on her first visit to the UK from November 3rd 2017.

    Sue Martin

    Books Go Walkabout

     

     

    Chris Riddell The Age of the Beautiful Book

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    On September 11, 2017

    In 9 to 10 years, All Ages, Book events, Children's Laureate, Chris Riddell, Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture

     

    The Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture 2017 was presented by Chris Riddell, award winning author, illustrator, political cartoonist and Children’s Laureate 2015-2017.

    Not many lectures start with a cartoon of the anticipating audience and the back of the presenter’s head on the large screen! An intriguing way of getting the messages across, and amazing to see book characters come to life before your very eyes! Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse, the first in the Goth Girl series, evolved in the screen in front of the audience at Homerton College, Cambridge

    Discover Chris’s work on his web site here.

    An exploration into the development of the book itself was a joy to listen to, so often we hear of the ideas behind the book but Chris was keen to portray the business of getting the book into print. A meeting with the book development side of the publishers meant that Goth Girl books have plenty of book bling, deep blue, silver foil, varnish effect and above all sprayed edges. At the back of the books is a tiny book in an envelope attached to the back cover; further information about Ishmael the mouse. Brilliant idea! 

    The book then travels to the ends of the earth (that may mean China, I suspect!) and back to our country for sale.

    The Age of the Beautiful Book was much more than a lecture about illustration in children’s books, but about how that precious book does become beautiful, something to keep and treasure.

    Chris talked a little about his own childhood, as the son of a vicar, and how important  books are in exploring new worlds; he talked about finding worlds in wardrobes or indeed down rabbit holes. He has a warm and reassuring tone and when he mentioned that he had, ‘ a vague and reassuring feeling that God doesn’t mind that he doesn’t believe in him’, there were many quiet nods and mmm’s.

    This empathy with people is shown throughout his illustrations and he has some ingenious ways of bringing books to life. Now, as he is thoroughly into social media, he has a good way of illustrating characters in all sorts of books and then sending photos to gain many, ‘ little blue thumb likes’! ‘Pictures turbo post words’ he said.

    Chris is also an advocate for the real book, the attraction to the senses, tactile, the smell, the sound of turning the pages and being a feast for the eyes. Reading is a pleasurable thing to do and should not be turned into a grammatical exercise only. He  wants children to draw for fun and for expression and we had some amazing cartoons on what would happen if education ever created assessments for drawing; ‘analyse the makeup of the graphite, the ergonomics of pencil sharpening… it would suck the life joy out of it!’

    An enthralling lecture, this Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture on  Friday evening September 8th with Chris Riddell will be remembered for its engagement, fun and how to bring the best in children’s books alive through beautiful books.

    Sue Martin

    Books go Walkabout, stories across the world

     

     

    The Philippa Pearce Lecture, September 8th, Homerton College, Cambridge

    By

    On September 1, 2017

    In All Ages, Book events, Featured authors, Featured illustrators

    Read more: Philippa Pearce Lecture

    The Age of the Beautiful Book is the title of the 2017 Lecture which will be given by Chris Riddell, a multi award winning illustrator and political cartoonist, who was the Children’s Laureate from June 2015 – June 2017.

    The series of lectures was established in 2008, as a living memorial to celebrate the achievement of author, Philippa Pearce, who lived close to Cambridge. Philippa’s most famous book was Tom’s Midnight Garden, which won the Carnegie Medal in 1958. There were many more books, including The Minnow on the Say. You can find lots of resources and information on The Philippa Pearce website.

    Chris is going to talk about words and pictures working together for a reader both on the traditional page, and  in a digital age. He will explore how books are ever more covetable as objects in their own right, as well as valued for the words and illustrations inside, plus how libraries remain vital as repositories for these beautiful productions.

    Chris has now published his Laureate’s Log as a book with PanMacmillan and is a beautiful journey of his time as Laureate.

    This will be an excellent opportunity to explore the interests and ideas of an esteemed author working in illustration and the value of books in their own right for children.

    In today’s world, we are surrounded by media, in digital and paper and formats. Often the value is only seen in what we can instantly gain and attain from reading and looking at the books. There is much more to be developed in the ongoing level of cognitive interaction and illustrations in books.

    At Books Go Walkabout we work with illustrators and authors across the world, including Leigh Hobbs, the Australian Children’s Laureate, who was recently in conversation with Chris at The Children’s Bookfair in Bologna.

    Looking forward to the lecture, exploring the Laureate’s Log and listening to further tales.

    Sue Martin

     

    Books go Walkabout, stories across the world

    The Comics Exhibition at Seven Stories in Newcastle, UK

    By

    On August 2, 2017

    In All Ages, Book events, Events, Exhibition, Seven Stories

    Approaching Seven Stories - image

    Approaching Seven Stories….

    Seven Stories is the National Centre for Children’s Books. Nowhere else in the UK matches the uniqueness of Seven Stories.

    There are collections from authors with titles galore and notes of their work as it progressed. There are amazing original pieces of artwork from illustrators, as well as the printed book.

    Seven Stories are custodians of the only collection in the world of British authors from 1930’s to present day.

    Children’s books change the lives of those who read them, they capture thoughts and feelings, they create adventure and exploration, they help children to face and understand the world.

    The centre has many roles and activities, including workshops, events for children of all ages, connections with schools in the North-East. It has a wonderful bookshop and a café for lunches, with a view over the Ouseburn river.

    Exhibitions have a big place in Seven Stories. The two exhibitions running now are about Bears and Comics. There are also exhibitions with material from previous exhibitions, archived digitally and accessible as a resource. Once the exhibitions have finished at Seven Stories they often go on tour around the country, such as the recent Michael Morpurgo exhibition, on tour this year.

    Always worth a visit to Seven Stories - Comics image

    Always worth a visit to Seven Stories…

    The Comics exhibition, is showing until Summer 2018 on the fifth floor and once you enter, you are immersed in the world of comics, old and new.

    Comics, illustrations, graphic novels, adventure, showing a whole world of characters and story. One page of a comic would lead you into another world with weekly episodes keeping you on the edge of your seat. There are many favourite characters, heroes and superheroes, good guys and bad guys.

    The exhibition is set out to show the different aspects of comics; story, character, setting, props and power, and style. As you journey through the exhibition there is a really good sense of the components of creating a comic adventure, with characters and plots larger than life! The quality of the illustrations and huge amount of time involved in creating a page with many panels of sketches is enormous.

    Ahoy there? - panels image at the Comics Exhibition, Seven Stories

    Ahoy there?

    A story for a comic is generally made in a series of panels, with each panel including some words in speech bubbles or a displayed text, but often there are no words at all!

    Characters can be anyone really, monsters, jokers, friends, people you know or even yourself. The exhibition shows how you can define your character in clothes, height, features and special powers.

    Other areas are Props and Power; an amazing collection held in some drawers of destiny and a wardrobe full of ideas or possible impossibilities!

    Alongside the comics with superheroes and other characters were also some well-known novels, made into comic or graphic style. My favourite was Tom’s Midnight Garden, which looked amazing and also Moomin on the Riviera, The Snowman, Guardians of the Galaxy and Asterix.

    Would you enter the wardrobe - image

    Would you enter the wardrobe?

    This is a fantastic exhibition and we could well have spent a whole day there.

    The team at Seven Stories, who collate and present the exhibitions, have real professionalism and flair in the creation of this amazing space, especially the interactivity of many of the displayed artefacts.

    Maybe one day soon, I will go back and wander into the Wardrobe of Impossible Possibilities. If you visit the exhibition and find the wardrobe you may discover new  solar systems, characters and stories within.

    A visit to Seven Stories and the Comics Exhibition is a must for the school holidays or at any time.

    Sue Martin

    Further reading and exploration of ‘the comic’?

    https://comicswap.wordpress.com/       https://comicsclub.blog/

    Great archive and news stories on a theme, featured links at the exhibition.

    Image Credits: With thanks to Seven Stories for the images of the 'front door' and the magical wardrobe...

     

    Brian Alderson donates rare children’s book collection to Newcastle University and Seven Stories

    By

    On June 22, 2017

    In Book events, Books go Walkabout, History, Libraries

    Brian Wouldhave Alderson, a Freeman of the City of Newcastle and a renowned children’s literature scholar, is donating his extraordinary collection of children’s books to Newcastle University and Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books. Believed to be the largest privately-owned children’s literature collection in the UK, it is made up of more than 20,000 books, dating from the 17th century to the present day.

    Source: Press Release –  Newcastle University

    Books Go Walkabout is delighted to be visiting Seven Stories in Newcastle upon Tyne and sharing this good news with our contacts in different countries. The collections will be a wonderful resource for children around the world.

    Works come from the United States, France, Germany and Britain, and the collection includes original illustrations and papers related to Brian’s diverse career. Brian is a respected author, editor, critic, and scholar who has curated many exhibitions and is a former children’s books editor of The Times (1967 – 1996).

    ”His interest in children’s books  soon became a passion. The donation is a mark of Brian’s long-standing and ongoing support for both Newcastle University and Seven Stories. He was awarded an honorary degree by the University in 2016.

    He said: ‘With the University’s scholarly interests in children’s literature and historic children’s book collections, and with Seven Stories being the national home of contemporary children’s books, I am delighted to be able to augment the City’s prominence in fostering interest in what is an unduly neglected subject.”

    Jill Taylor-Roe, Acting University Librarian at Newcastle University, said: “The Alderson Collection enhances and extends the University Library’s unique and distinctive holdings in Children’s Literature, and together with Seven Stories’ holdings, will create an incredibly rich resource for anyone interested in the history and further development of children’s literature.”

    Sarah Lawrance, Collections and Exhibitions Director at Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books, said: “We are immensely grateful to Brian Alderson for the generous gift of his collection, which includes many rare and unique books – now to be made publicly accessible for the first time – and complements the holdings of Seven Stories and the Philip Robinson Library perfectly.”

    The donation of the Collection jointly to the two organisations is a key outcome of Seven Stories’ and Newcastle University’s Vital North Partnership, funded by Arts Council England.

    The two organisations are marking Brian’s generous donation with a free exhibition of some of the highlights from the Collection at Newcastle University’s Philip Robinson Library, opening in June 2017 and running throughout the summer”.

    Sue Martin

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