Book events – Page 6 – Bookmonitor – news from around the world

World Reader and St Jordi’s Day in Barcelona

w reader

We had just met with Zev from the World Reader organisation at a World Literacy Foundation conference in Oxford. Some concepts just make sense form the start and this was our feelings for World Reader.

It works by loading a Kindle with over 300 books taking to Africa, direct to communities where the children have the chance to read! No more expensive lorry loads of slightly used books trying to find their way across the continent and then being stopped and refused entry.

This scheme actually works! You just need a small mind shift to know that children in Africa can access Kindles and benefit hugely from the supply of information at their fingertips.

The inquiring and smiling faces says it all. World Reader projects has some excellent photos. Read the stories of how empowering this project is for the whole family, Daniel and his grandmother are just one example.

We were invited to World Reader‘s new office celebrations and also to mark their ambition to get 1 million books into Africa. How amazing is that!

la rambla On St Jordi’s day in Barcelona the streets were full, the tradition is to mark the day of their patron saint by sharing gifts; the man to buy the woman a flower and the woman to buy the man a book.

At the SmithMartin Partnership we were delighted to celebrate with World Reader and look forward to being involved. It parallels and brings into one, our work with communities, children’s literature and modern technology solutions.

Sue Martin

SmithMartin Partnership LLP Inspiring communities and Broadening Horizons

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What on Earth Books!

At the Federation of Children’s Book Groups conference we were blown away with this new concept.

The What on Earth Wallbook, from the Big Bang to present day.

A whole wall book of facts! It’s a book with no spine, that doesn’t mean it has no real bite, this book will give you all the facts and information you need to know about the whole history of the world for billions of years.

It’s dynamic and creative and is just amazingly brilliant.

It goes on to become a whole wall display or even larger…. an outside huge wall covering for passers by.

It’s a treasure hunt of learning, it’s a story on a time line, and it changes scale like a telescope, especially as humans start to appear on the world scene.

On Monday April 30th Chris is launching the Wallbook of Sport on London’s South Bank. a great event if you can make it, or find visit World of Books.

Definitely worth finding out more and you could even make a discovery about this wonderful world.

This is clear view thinking!

How Chris made this journey himself is fascinating and resonates with all who feel that the National Curriculum is a barrier to active learning.

Or, as Chris expressed it, ” It makes discovery feel like looking through a pane of shattered glass”.

pictures courtesy of Chris Lloyd

Sue Martin Dolphin Booksellers- the best in children’s books always on line.

The World Literacy Summit

hope

A global initiative on one of the world’s largest challenges – improving lives through literacy.

A world wide problem and this summit is about bringing together people from across the globe to share ideas, create platforms and to build a greater awareness of the international literacy crisis.

Children are great learners and time spent in reading is still the best way to support learning, and alongside the children it is hoped to reach out to parents too.

It has the power to transform lives, it helps families, through literacy; out of poverty and into prosperity.

Best of all it can broaden horizons, fuel imaginations and develop creativity.

The World Literacy Summit is being held at Oxford from 1st to 4th April. There is a wealth of speakers and debates, including Dr Tony Cree from the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation and Dr Patricia Edwards from International Reading Association.

Sue Martin Dolphin Booksellers- the best in children’s books always on line.

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The season of Book Fairs has arrived! Last week Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where record numbers were expected. This week we have Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

What an incredible place to visit.

On the edge of the Arabian Gulf and peninsula Abu Dhabi is a cosmopolitan city, with a modern outlook and a long cultural history. There are beaches, souks, parks, museums and galleries.

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is in its 22nd year and the country for focus this year is the UK.

There’s much happening and a strong emphasis on children’s literacy and education. From the Tales of Arabia to modern stories, from ezone to illustrators corner we are looking forward to keeping in touch through the blog.

ad mosque

At the centre of several major places in the world and a travel hub for transworld flights the Book Fair is an easy place to get to. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair – a must for keen book enthusiasts and travellers.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sue Martin

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War Horse

war horse

War Horse, that amazing book written by Michael Morpurgo, and dramatised in the West End at the New London Theatre will shortly be available at the movies.

Steven Spielberg’s latest film production, War Horse, is opening at cinemas on January 13th. It has already been acclaimed for its powerful and thought provoking message.

With a great line up of actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Emily Watson and Peter Mullen, and over 200 horses, trained by Bobby Lovgren the film shows the story of the relationship between a boy and a horse.

But yet, there is so much more…. more than a million horses were sent to the front during the first World War,only 62,000 returned. The horse, Joey,is taken through so many different places and into such horrendous situations. It is a tale of endurance, courage and the pitiful way that war treats humans and animals alike.

There are many newspaper editorials, but try The Observer or The Guardian for some extra information.

A remarkable film, an outstanding theatre production and an even better story, written and developed by Michael Morpurgo.

See you at the movies

Sue Martin

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Happy Christmas

How many books are under the Christmas tree this year?

Hiding in the wrapping paper, tied up with ribbon, stories about to be read and information about to be learned.

There is something about the unwrapping, the excitement, the mystery unfolding….

Image courtesy of Little Tiger Press

Hope you too have at least one book in your presents this year.

with our very best wishes for a

Wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year

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Walkabout in November – autumn or spring?

bgw Books go Walkabout

Stories the world over…

Children and authors using exciting technology to talk across the globe.

Next trip underway between Australia and the UK. Meetings planned with schools and classes of children. Great letters came back from 4D in Balgowlah Heights to Ifeoma Onyefulu,and letters to Lindy Batchelor in Sydney from Babraham Primary School. See them now on Books Go Walkabout.

We are meeting with authors in Australia and the UK in the next few weeks,to build those bridges and bring more books and stories to children from all over.

In Nigeria, children anxious to get hold of books, we can just make that happen and in an inexpensive way too.

Keep in touch with the project Books Go Walkabout, maybe there are some links you would like to make.

Sue Martin

Dolphin Booksellers – The Best in children’s books always on line.

Young Reader Young Writers

A workshop with travels from Westacre to West Africa with Ifeoma Onyefulu, Saturday October 29th.

We are working with the Westacre Theatre Company in West Norfolk on an afternoon of fun, learning and adventure. We will be exploring how to write children books and play African instruments.

Ifeoma travels across Africa and you can follow her stories on her website, Ifeomaonyefulu.co.uk . This is a great opportunity for children in a rural village to look beyond and find out about a different world.

See Ifeoma’s catalogue on Amazon here. Great books anytime.

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When I Grow Up by Benjamin Zephaniah

We met at Keat’s House with Benjamin Zephaniah and Prodeepta Das for the launch of their new book, ‘When I Grow Up’.

It’s a book about breaking down stereotypes and about opening up the world of opportunity.

Benjamin Zephaniah talked about his childhood and the stereotypes which meant he could either have been a gangster or a painter and decorator. But he wanted to be a poet. It was not expected that black people should go to university. After some time in different jobs he decided to follow his dream and has indeed become a famous and brilliant poet.

bz group The book shows all kinds of different jobs, from the Sikh lollipop man to the black woman space scientist,the mathematical clown and the forest keeper. The photos are great and the poems fantastic. A real joy to read and a book to keep looking at.

On the journey back from the launch on the tube, other passengers were leaning over to read the poems.

Published by Frances Lincoln it is part of their programme of books valuing diversity and difference. See more books by Benjamin Zephaniah here.

Dolphin Booksellers – the best in children’s books always on line

Unbound – Books are now in your hands

BRINGING AUTHORS AND READERS TOGETHER

Ever wondered what happens to all those ideas and books that sit in a computer somewhere or in the shed at the bottom of the garden.

Unbound have a solution! This is what they say…

‘ We think authors and readers should decide which books get published. On the Unbound site, authors pitch their ideas directly to you. If you like what you read, you can pledge your support to help make the book happen.

Everyone who supports an author before they reach 100% of the funding target gets their name printed in every edition of that book. All levels include a digital version and immediate access to the author’s shed while they write the book, and supporters of projects that don’t reach their target receive a full refund.

If you like the sound of that, then sign up and have a look around. We’ve got some great projects and we’d love you to help make them happen.

We’re @unbounders on Twitter by the way.

Interested, either way as a budding author or keen reader it sounds fun!

Dolphin Booksellers- the best in children’s books always on line.