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The Arabel and Mortimer Series

A wonderful revision of the Arabel and Mortimer Series written by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake has just been reissued by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.Arabel’s Raven is the first story in the series. Mr Jones takes home a bedraggled raven who becomes his daughter’s best friend. Together they form a real bond and adventures are numerous with thefts and a robber’s quarrel entwined in the story.

The books are wonderfully illustrated by Quentin Blake and bring the characters to life in the most amusing ways. Who else could draw a girl and a raven with saucepans on their heads and make them look totally natural?

A great series and the new release is sure to bring well loved characters back to life. The stories are for sharing and also for reading alone for 6 yrs old and onwards.

Sue Martin Dolphin Booksellers – the best in children’s books always on line, buy this book for £4.99 through Dolphin Books(via Amazon)

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Kate Grenville at Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts

Kate Grenville was in conversation at the Australia and NZ Festival of Literature and Arts in London on Saturday 30th May.

Her new book One Life, has just been published with Cannongate. It is the story about her mother Nance, born in 1912 in New South Wales. A remarkable story, not because Nance became famous or wealthy but the story is about a woman growing up in a harsh family, in Australia in the 1920’s and onwards.

After training as a pharmacist, she went to work in a local chemist and learnt much more about life than dispensing drugs.

Kate Grenville has a remarkable way of telling a story and after a few minutes of conversations and readings from One Life, it felt that we knew this woman Nance, her character of directness and ambition, to do all she could to make the most of life. As a young girl this was not easy at that time, but her determination was unstoppable!

It was a schoolteacher who changed her life and Mr Crisp, left her with a love of literature. Nance instilled in Kate a love of words, Nance had poetry in her mind and was able to deliver apposite quotes just when needed.

This was an amazing chance to listen to Kate Grenville and also hear about the very special book, The Secret River.

So now to read the book, One Life, from the opening pages it will be a book that will be hard to put down.

Check out the website for further conversations and adventures at the Australia and New Zealand Festival with lots of exciting authors.

Sue Martin

Who is King? by Beverley Naidoo and Piet Grobler

What a great book! By Beverley Naidoo and Piet Grobler.

Ten brilliant stories from across Africa with illustrations throughout that give a real feel for the story even before you read the words.

There’s a Zulu tale called, Unanana and One Tusk about a woman who looks after her children on her own and a very angry elephant. A Shona tale from Zimbabwe about a mouse in a house, a Luo tale from Kenya about a hippo that has no hair.

Stories which are set in the past and like folk lore are rooted in past lives and a time when stories were for sharing.

This makes a great book for reading aloud and if you are thinking about folk tales and stories from Africa, it is ideal.

Written by Beverly Naidoo and published by Frances Lincoln and recommended by Dolphin Booksellers.

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

The Christmas Miracle
by Jonathan Toomey

When Jonathan Toomey gruffly agrees to make a set of nativity figures the heart warming Christmas miracle begins.

Happy Christmas

Sue Martin

http://www.booksgowalkabout.com

http://www.dolphinbooksellers.co.uk

iBbY 21st Annual Conference Belonging is…

IbbY uk – 21st Annual IBBY UK/NCRCL

MA Conference, University of Roehampton, Saturday 8th November 2014

‘Belonging is…an exploration of the right to be included and the barriers that must be overcome’

Something that is deep inside us all is the need to belong, to belong to our family, to belong to a group of friends, to belong to the places that we are part of in our work and free time.

A good theme for the conference and met with enthusiasm by all present.

The topics ranged from inclusivity and diversity, against the need for publishers commercial concerns,.

It was really interesting to hear about The International Conference held in Mexico this year. Pam Dix, the chair of iBbY UK, and other members who attended the Congres International de IBBY gave a wonderful account of the global dimensions and international development in children’s books and the need to pursue an agenda of translation.

Alexandra Strick, from Inclusive Minds encouraged others to join their collective and share ways of enabling inclusivity and the creation of characters with needs being just part of the story rather than being a stereotype of special needs.

Julia Hope, who has carried out a great deal of research on refugees in the primary classroom, gave a brilliant account and gave examples of children’s books which are fundamental to the story and narrative of refugees. These included; The Silver Sword by Ian Serrailer, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr and Waiting for Anya by Michael Morpurgo.

Always a good day with time for reflection and thoughts about the role and immense importance of children’s literature.

Sue Martin – Books Go Walkabout and Dolphin Booksellers

New titles for October
Frances Lincoln

Four great new titles from the publisher Frances Lincoln this month.

Beautifully created with thought and care, they all make splendid additions to your bookshelf at home or to the library.

The Magic Bojabi Tree by Dianne Hofmeyer and Piet Grobler.

Folktales from Africa.

‘Python has wrapped himself around the melon/mango/pomegranate tree with its delicious fruit, and he won’t share the fruit unless the animals can tell him the correct name of the tree. Elephant, Monkey and Zebra each in turn visit Lion, who alone knows the name of the tree…’

My Life as a Goldfish and other poems
by Rachel Rooney.

I just love the title and it is excellent for jokes, rhymes and surprises.

‘A monster’s lunch, a wolf boy, Monday mornings, monkeys, headlice, Christmas, making friends, goldfish – and lots more. Full of jokes, surprises and puzzles, but also sensitive and thought-provoking, this is a spellbinding new collection from the winner of the CLPE Poetry Award…’

How the Library Saved Rapunzel by Wendy Meddour (and illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown)

Living on the 16th floor, the only thing that saves Rapunzel is the work in the library.

‘Rapunzel sits on the sixteenth floor of an inner city block, bored, dreaming and looking out at the rain. No one can rouse her from her apathy, not the milkman or the postman or the baker or her aunt – or even the prince. But when at last a letter is delivered, it contains news that has Rapunzel on her feet again. She has a new job at the library! And suddenly her life is busy, sparkling, exciting and stimulating…’

Unos, Dos, Tres, by Yanitzia Canetti and illustrated by Patrice Aggs

This is a beautiful collection of Spanish words and phrases.

“Simple songs and rhymes are an excellent way to familiarise young children with another language. Uno Dos Tres a collection of 25 traditional nursery rhymes, is a delightful way to introduce Spanish. An illustrated vocabulary features simple words and phrases that are easy to learn and that can be used in games or everyday life. Children are encouraged to repeat the phrases and sing along with the rhymes, and the included CD lets them know how both should sound…”

School Librarian of the Year Award 2014

In 2014, there were three exceptional librarians on the Honours List and we were pleased to be able to attend the ceremony held by the Schools Library Association.

This year Liz Millett, Teaching Assistant/Library Co-ordinator at Weatherfield Academy, Dunstable, has been awarded the honour of the SLA School Librarian of the Year 2014 at a celebration at the Hotel Russell in London on 6 October. Award-winning author and artist Chris Riddell (Macmillan Children’s Books) presented her with the award.

Weatherfield Academy is a special school for students aged 7 to 19 with Moderate Learning Difficulties and additional complex needs. There are 117 pupils in the school with 52% attracting Pupil Premium funding and entitled to free school meals and 32% in social care. Much of the curriculum is aimed at giving students lifelong skills. In 2009 a room was adapted for the library and Liz Millett took on the job of developing it. The pupils make good levels of progress, as judged by Ofsted in 2013.

Liz says “My aim is to increase their pleasure from reading whatever level they are at to make sure they are not frightened by books or put off them, so that they will come to see reading as something they will always have for themselves.”

To read more about Liz go to: http://www.sla.org.uk/liz-millett.php

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

Something About a Bear
by Jackie Morris

This is just Amazing!!

A golden brown book full of beautiful images all about bears. This is the latest from Jackie Morris, written and illustrated this year, published on 2nd October by Frances Lincoln.

‘Let me tell you something about a bear…

Where the water churns with the salmon, there the Brown Bear stands and catches the wild king of the river.

Eight wild bears – Moon Bear, Sun Bear, Sloth Bear, Brown Bear,Spectacled Bear,American Black Bear, Giant Panda and Polar Bear, all in their own habitats and some info about each of them.

The last page is the best! Brown Bears paws, just waiting to be touched, if you dare!

Sue Martin

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

I’m a Little Alien
by James Carter

A magical collection of poetry for any child and especially for Early Years. I’m a Little Alien written by James Carter and illustrated by Mique Moriuchi is perfect for all little stars.

Frances Lincoln has a great reputation for new and inventive children’s books and this fits well with their poetry collection.

One of my favorites is Beware!

….Forest dweller

grizzly-fella

sneaking, lurking

here and there

you beware-

there’s a BEAR !

Buy for nursery and Foundation Stage settings or for parents and children to share together.

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

Wolf Man and Freddy and the Pig

Two super star authors have joined Barrington Stoke on the Red Squirrel dyslexia friendly picture book list.

The picture books are designed for easy reading, with good layouts and fonts to help emergent readers and children with dyslexia.

Wolf Man is by Michael Rosen and Chris Mould. The townspeople are terrified, Wolf man is on the loose, he has escaped! This is a funny tale with some serious stuff for toddlers!

Image of Freddy the Pig by Charlie Higson and Mark Chambers... — Really good fun…

Freddy and the Pig is by Charlie Higson and Mark Chambers. Freddy has hit on a cunning plan. He sends the pig to school and he stays at home eating and watching TV. But it doesn’t work out quite as Freddy planned.

Dolphin Booksellers are pleased to support these reading projects.

Four great new titles from the publisher Frances Lincoln this month.

The Magic Bojabi Tree by Dianne Hofmeyer and Piet Grobler.

My Life as a Goldfish and other poems by Rachel Rooney.

How the Library Saved Rapunzel by Wendy Meddour (and illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown)

Unos, Dos, Tres, by Yanitzia Canetti and illustrated by Patrice Aggs

My Life as a Goldfish and other poems
by Rachel Rooney.