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Julia Donaldson to host live internet broadcast to thousands of children

Julia Donaldson, award winning author and creator of modern classic The Gruffalo, will revolutionise literature for children on 26 May when she hosts a live internet broadcast to thousands of children.

The event is the latest to take place in the ‘Meet Our Authors’ programme, run by Scottish Book Trust, Scotland’s leading agency for the promotion of literature, reading and writing and sponsored by Scottish Friendly Assurance, one of Scotland’s leading providers of tax-free family savings and investment solutions.

Meet Our Authors is an exclusive series of authors’ events streamed live over the internet to provide young people, parents and teachers with the chance to get up close and personal with some of the world’s leading children’s writers. The programme is the first of its kind in the UK. Anyone can sign up to watch and it is completely free.

On 26 May at 11am, Julia Donaldson will talk to a live audience while being filmed and broadcast simultaneously over the internet to tens of thousands of viewers across Scotland. An astounding 65,000 children in more than 800 schools have already signed up to the event, which is supported by digital media including Facebook and YouTube featuring event information and exclusive video clips.

Julia Donaldson said: "I am terribly excited about this very special event! Not only will I be talking to a live audience in Glasgow, but I am also going to be interacting with tens of thousands of other children across Scotland who will be tuned in on their computers – either watching from their school or at home – and who will have opportunities to ask me questions directly. I have spoken to large audiences in the past but never to that many people so this will definitely be a memorable experience for me too!"

The series of live events forms the centrepiece of a two-year long programme that will feature household names including Michael Morpurgo, Philip Pullman, Eoin Colfer, Charlie Higson and Jacqueline Wilson. The first live broadcast took place on World Book Day in March with former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, to which over 100,000 children logged on.

Jasmine Fassl, of the Scottish Book Trust, commented: "Julia has written many well-loved and best-selling children’s books and The Gruffalo has become something of a national institution for today’s young readers. Those logging on to see Julia in action are in for a big treat and will be taking part in an event that will shape the way in which authors interact with their readers in the future."

Neil Lovatt, sales and marketing director of Scottish Friendly, sponsor of Meet Our Authors, said: "The phenomenal demand for this event is evidence that the passion for reading at an early age is as strong as ever. Scottish Friendly has worked closely with Scottish Book Trust for over 11 years to ensure that children even in the most rural areas have equal access to the work of leading authors. We’re excited to bring to life the world of reading and writing to thousands more children in a revolutionary and interactive way."

http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/general-readers/meet-our-authors

Posted: May 21st, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Julia Donaldson

Fantasy news round-up – April 19, 2010

RHS backs campaign to give every school child the chance to grow own food
The campaign highlights the health, educational and environmental benefits of food growing, and calls for it to be incorporated as part of a food education for every child. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is backing the campaign – alongside Garden Organic, Good Gardeners Association and the Children’s Food Campaign and chair of London Food Board Rosie Boycott. Michael Morpurgo, children’s author and founder of the Charity Farms for City Children, said: "Children need to connect with the sources of their food. Growing their own produce – in schools, at home, on allotments – is a fine way to achieve this.

First quarter book sales lowest since 2006
Book sales have improved since the dire first two months of the year, but are still well down on 2009, according to analysis of Nielsen BookScan’s first quarter data. The figures show that book spend in the first quarter was at its lowest ebb since 2006, with the year-on-year decline of 5.9% the highest since records began in 2001. The sales data, which cover the first 13 weeks of 2010 to 27th March, show that the inclement weather in January and early February had a catastrophic effect on sales, particularly sales of self-help books and Christmas left-overs. BookScan year-to-date Top 5,000 data suggests that, despite the sharp year-on-year sales declines of Stephenie Meyer and the comparative unpopularity of this year’s £1 World Book Day titles, children’s book sales are relatively flat year on year—helped by strong sales in the Dark Romance genre and bestsellers from the likes of Jeff Kinney, Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson and Rick Riordan.

JK Rowling open to writing more Harry Potter
As fans eagerly await the two-part film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final chapter in the boy-wizard series, "Potter" creator JK Rowling is thinking ahead. On Monday the author said that while she has no plans to do so now, she could see herself writing additional tales about the “Boy Who Lived "maybe 10 years from now." Rowling made the remark in Washington, D.C., at the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. She gave a reading to a small group of children and then took questions, The Washington Post reports.

The Witcher: Versus free-to-play web game now levelling up
Inspired by the amoral fantasy books of noted Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher action role-playing games have been slowly building their reputation. But while we await the release of the iPhone and Facebook versions of the The Witcher: Versus game, it’s already playable in its virtual item supported, free-to-play online version. The Witcher: Versus, which will operate across the three platforms, enables you to play as one of three character classes; Witcher, Sorceress, or Frightener. The 2D game play revolves around fighting monsters completing quests, looting weapons, amulets, and magical items, collecting achievements and badges, plus player versus player battles, which scale up to epic guild on guild clashes. The game initially limits you to playing within the Kaer Morhen keep, but when you hit a certain level, you’re allowed out in the big, bad world. Levelling up unlocks further new regions. Players can also unlock items for the upcoming The Witcher 2 PC and console game.

Posted: April 19th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: JK Rowling, Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo, Stephenie Meyer

The 20 greatest children’s books ever, according to The Telegraph

Some are time-worn classics, some more recently embraced. Lucinda Everett selects the stories that resonate with the young decade after decade. We think that it is a great list and have added some of our favourites immediately afterwards.

1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
   Far from fading with time, Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale of fantasy has attracted a growing audience in each generation. Rat, Mole, Badger and the preposterous Mr Toad, have brought delight to many through the years with their odd adventures on and by the river, and at the imposing residence of Toad Hall.
2. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
   The Lord of the Rings is a magnificent achievement, an epic tale of friendship, love and heroism. This book set down the benchmark for all fantasy novels to come, without it the world would be a poorer place. Perfection is a very difficult goal to achieve, the Lord of the Rings comes as close to it as is maybe possible. Readers will be left with dreams of living in their very own hobbit hole and the journey that the Fellowship undertakes will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Tolkien’s narrative is breath-taking and his beautiful descriptions of Middle-earth are a joy to behold.
3. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
   Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon’s house, which he thinks is normal for someone like him who’s parents have been killed in a ‘car crash’. He is bullied by them and his fat, spoilt cousin Dudley, and lives a very unremarkable life with only the odd hiccup (like his hair growing back overnight!) to cause him much to think about. That is until an owl turns up with a letter addressed to Harry and all hell breaks loose! He is literally rescued by a world where nothing is as it seems and magic lessons are the order of the day. Read and find out how Harry discovers his true heritage at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, the reason behind his parents mysterious death, who is out to kill him, and how he uncovers the most amazing secret of all time, the fabled Philosopher’s Stone! All this and muggles too. Now, what are they?
4. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
   Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy astounded the literary world, reaping high praise from adults as well as children. The final book in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, was published to great literary acclaim, earning Pullman a place on the longlist for the prestigious Booker Prize and pushing the trilogy toward cult fiction status for both children and adults.
5. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
   Lucy steps into the Professor’s wardrobe – but steps out again into a snowy forest. She’s stumbled upon the magical world of Narnia, a land of unicorns, centaurs, fauns … and the wicked White Witch, who terrorises all. Lucy soon realises that Narnia, and in particular Aslan, the great Lion, need her help if the country’s creatures are ever going to be free again.
6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
   A much-loved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has won over millions of readers with its vivid and colourful collage illustrations and its deceptively simply, hopeful story. With its die-cut pages and finger-sized holes to explore, this is a richly satisfying book for children.
7. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
   When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, that is the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? There’ll be adventures waiting for them, whatever happens; funny, magical adventures that will delight children again and again.
8. Babar by Jean de Brunhoff
   "If you love elephants, you will love Babar and Celeste," writes A. A. Milne in his preface to "The Story of Babar". "And if you have never loved elephants, you will love them now."
9. Treasure Island by RL Stevenson
   ‘Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest-Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!’ Treasure Island is a tale of pirates and villains, maps, treasure and shipwreck. When young Jim Hawkins finds a packet in Captain Flint’s sea chest, he could not know that the map inside it would lead him to unimaginable treasure. Shipping as cabin boy on the Hispaniola, he sails with Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett, Dr Livesey, the sinister Long John Silver and a frightening crew to Treasure Island. There, mutiny, murder and mayhem lead to a thrilling climax.
10. The Railway Children by E Nesbit
    When Father goes away with two strangers one evening, the lives of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are shattered. They and their mother have to move from their comfortable London home to go and live in a simple country cottage, where Mother writes books to make ends meet. However, they soon come to love the railway that runs near their cottage, and they make a habit of waving to the Old Gentleman who rides on it. They befriend the porter, Perks, and through him learn railway lore and much else. They have many adventures, and when they save a train from disaster, they are helped by the Old Gentleman to solve the mystery of their father’s disappearance.
11. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
    Arthur Ransome was a prolific writer of children’s books. Born in Leeds in 1884, it was his father, a nature-loving history professor, who inspired his love of the outdoors and nurtured a passion for fishing. As a child he enjoyed active, outdoor holidays: sailing, camping and exploring the countryside. He used many of these holiday settings for his children’s stories, notably the much loved Swallows and Amazons, a book that sits comfortably in the category of "timeless classic" and remains one of his most popular titles for young people.
12. Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
    AA Milne’s first stories about Winnie-the-Pooh, the most famous bear in the world, were published eighty years ago. Discover what happens when Pooh goes visiting and Piglet meets a Heffalump, not forgetting when Eeyore loses his tail and Pooh finds one!
13. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
    Charlie Bucket finds a Golden Ticket which wins him a whole day at Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory in this captivating favourite by Roald Dahl.
14. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
    The Gruffalo certainly lives up to its reputation as a classic read for both children and parents. The fantasy story captures the imagination of pre-schoolers as it takes them on a journey with mouse as he strolls through the wood and meets the beast himself, the Gruffalo. As the mouse revisits inhabitants of the wood with the Gruffalo, the mouse successfully convinces the beast that he, the mouse, is the scariest creature in the wood.
15. Peter and Wendy (Peter Pan) by JM Barrie
    Peter Pan, the “boy who would not grow up,” originally appeared as a baby living a magical life among birds and fairies in J.M. Barrie’s sequence of stories, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. His later role as flying boy hero was brought to the stage by Barrie in the beloved play Peter Pan, which opened in 1904 and became the novel Peter and Wendy in 1911. In a narrative filled with vivid characters, epic battles, pirates, fairies, and fantastic imagination, Peter Pan’s adventures capture the spirit of childhood—and of rebellion against the role of adulthood in conventional society.
16. Watership Down by Richard Adams
    Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren – he felt sure of it. So did his brother Hazel, for Fiver’s sixth sense was never wrong. They had to leave immediately, and they had to persuade the other rabbits to join them. And so begins a long and perilous journey of a small band of rabbits in search of a safe home. Fiver’s vision finally leads them to Watership Down, but here they face their most difficult challenge of all…Published in 1972, "Watership Down" is an epic journey, a stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival against the odds.
17. The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
    ‘I’m Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I’d read it if I were you. It’s the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.’ Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children’s Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future in this beautifully observed, touching and often very funny tale, all told in Tracy’s own words.
18. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
    This book has enduring charm and young children will delight in the preposterous notion of a tiger creating mayhem in the house.
19. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
    The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published by Frederick Warne in 1902 and endures as Beatrix Potter’s most popular and well-loved tale. It tells the story of a very mischievous rabbit and the trouble he encounters in Mr McGregor’s vegetable garden!
20. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
    Maurice Sendak’s children’s picture book has become an acknowledged classic. A winner of the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year in 1964, Where the Wild Things Are is a timeless masterpiece that can be enjoyed equally by children and grown-ups.

So there ends The Telegraph’s collection of the 20 greatest children’s books ever. Fantasy Book Review would like to suggest 5 more titles that we believe worthy of appearing in such a list:

1. The Iron Man by Ted Hughes
   Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful destruction caused by the Iron Man. A trap is set for him, but he cannot be kept down. Then, when a terrible monster from outer space threatens to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man who finds a way to save the world.
2. The Spook’s series by Joseph Delaney
   A wonderful and terrifying series by a new writer about a young boy training to be an exorcist. Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been apprenticed to the local Spook. The job is hard, the Spook is distant and many apprentices have failed before Thomas. Somehow Thomas must learn how to exorcise ghosts, contain witches and bind boggarts. But when he is tricked into freeing Mother Malkin, the most evil witch in the County, the horror begins…
3. The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver
   Thousands of years ago the land is one dark forest. Its people are hunter-gatherers. They know every tree and herb and they know how to survive in a time of enchantment and powerful magic. Until an ambitious and malevolent force conjures a demon: a demon so evil that it can be contained only in the body of a ferocious bear that will slay everything it sees, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it – 12 year old Torak, who has seen his father murdered by the bear. With his dying breath, Torak’s father tells his son of the burden that is his. He must lead the bear to the mountain of the World Spirit and beg that spirit’s help to overcome it. Torak is an unwilling hero. He is scared and trusts no one. His only companion is a wolf cub only three moons old, whom he seems to understand better than any human. Theirs is a terrifying quest in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life.
4. The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
   When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age. Throughout his childhood his parents haven’t bothered with him much, knowing that his life would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the day that he’ll die. But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to set off to sea in an attempt to try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles and personas and has numerous outrageous adventures. But can he stay one step ahead of death? Or will fate catch up with him? And, if he does live, which of his many lives will he choose to adopt? This riot of a story is a wonderful adventure, and Pepper is an unforgettable character who stays with you long after his story has been told.
5. The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
   The Edge Chronicles is a young-adult fantasy novel series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. It consists three trilogies and three additional books. Originally published in the United Kingdom, this bestseller series has since been published in the United States, Canada and Australia as well. To date, more than two million copies of the novels have been sold.

Posted: April 14th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, CS Lewis, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson, Kenneth Grahame, Michelle Paver, Philip Pullman, The Edge Chronicles

Fantasy news round-up – April 11, 2010

Game of Thrones re-cast sees Ehle replaced by Fairley
Michelle Fairley is set to replace Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark in the HBO production of Game of Thrones. Ehle played Catelyn in the pilot episode but the Irish-born Fairley will step into her shoes for the remaining nine episodes. The fantasy series, based on the George RR Martin books, also stars Sean  Bean, Lena Headey, Mark Addy, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage. Fairley is also set to play Mrs. Granger, a muggle dentist and mother of Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Production will begin this June in Belfast.

A Game of Thrones book review

More delays expected on Guillermo del Toro’s The Hobbit
Information has come to light on yet another delay for Guillermo del Toro’s The Hobbit. The accusatory finger is pointing unwaveringly at MGM’s financial situation. Pre-production for the double feature began mid-2008 with del Toro, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens writing the scripts but the project was riddled with lawsuits with New Line and the Tolkien Estate, reaching a settlement in September 2009 when New Line had to pay an undisclosed sum to the estate. Jackson then revealed in November 2009 that the anticipated finish date for the scripts would be the beginning of 2010, delaying the start of production by several months to the middle of summer. Filming was due to take place throughout 2010 in New Zealand (a break is planned half way through shooting to allow del Toro to edit The Hobbit while sets are readied for the second part) with del Toro renovating the Hobbiton sets in Matamata. Jackson has kept the Rivendell scale model from filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as the Bag End set, which he has used as a guesthouse. With the court case sorted, things seemed to be going a bit too smoothly. Now MGM, which holds the distribution rights – and $3.7 billion debt – is causing problems for the little man with hairy feet’s quest. Warner Bros and MGM have an agreement to produce and distribute the films but MGM’s financial difficulties have delayed them. TORn’s source said, “At this stage we are all working and hoping for the best case scenario. Without a doubt, the MGM situation carries great importance.”

The Hobbit book review

Health and safety fears scupper Pooh sticks race
Winnie-the-Pooh fans were left high and dry when the World Pooh Sticks Championships were cancelled because the Thames was flowing too fast. The event, which is in its 27th year and is held on the river in Little Wittenham, was scrapped today because of Environment Agency fears over health and safety. On Saturday the agency put up red flags warning off boats on a stretch of the Thames from Radcot Lock to Hurley Lock and organisers said they were unable to get their safety boats to Days Lock. In its 27-year history no one has ever fallen into the water and it has only been cancelled once before – in 2001. Pooh sticks was invented by the writer AA Milne as a game for his son, and first featured in his book, The House at Pooh Corner. Each year up to 3,000 people from across the world attend the championships and it raises about £1,500 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and local charities. About 150 people who still turned up to the event, unaware of its cancellation, were given cups of tea.

The Gruffalo will soon be available in Arabic
Arab parents will soon be able to read one of the world’s most popular bedtime stories to their children in their own language, with The Gruffalo to be published in Arabic for the first time. Eleven years after The Gruffalo’s release, Arab children will finally have access to the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler thanks to a deal between Bloomsbury Publishing and the Qatar Foundation. Bloomsbury, the UK company behind the Harry Potter series, will become the first western publisher to launch a full catalogue out of the Middle East next week when it unveils six new books in Qatar. The catalogue, led by an Arabic edition of The Gruffalo, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, is a result of the partnership Bloomsbury forged with the Qatar Foundation in 2008 aimed at promoting the reading culture in the Middle East.

Stephenie Meyer’s new vampire book will benefit the Red Cross
When Stephenie Meyer published "Breaking Dawn," it brought to an end her wildly popular "Twilight" vampire saga. So any new book in the pantheon is both unexpected and welcome. On Tuesday, fans were thrilled to learn that "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner," a new novella, will be available in June. Now that it’s out there, Meyer is making two charitable moves with the novella. From June 7 to July 5 it will be available for free download at breetanner.com. Secondly, for each actual sale of the book — which costs around $10 online — $1 will be donated to the American Red Cross. On her website, Meyer specifies that the donation will be designated to provide relief to victims of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, and others in need. In addition to supplying emergency relief, one of the primary missions of the American Red Cross is "the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products.

Posted: April 11th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, George RR Martin, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson, Stephenie Meyer

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson reviewed on Fantasy Book Review

One tiny snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of a whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it’s the tiny snail who saves the day.

The sea snail slithered all over the rock

And gazed at the sea and the ships in the dock

And as she gazed she sniffed and sighed.

“The sea is deep and the world is wide!

How I long to sail!”

Said the tiny snail. 

Containing beautiful illustrations and featuring Donaldson’s trademark hypnotic rhyming The Snail and the Whale will delight children between the ages of 3 and 8. Travel, adventure, friendship and kindness are the book’s main themes within a nautical tale that sounds best when read out aloud.

‘Bold and brilliant, wise and wacky’
The Times

‘A joy to read aloud’
Guardian

‘Gorgeously illustrated and with a first-rate story’
Sunday Express

About the author and illustrator
Julia Donaldson is one of the UK’s most successful picture book authors, whose titles regularly appear at the top of the bestseller lists, most notably the acknowledged modern classic and Smarties Gold Award winner The Gruffalo.

Axel Scheffler has achieved worldwide acclaim for his illustrations, and his books have been translated into over 27 languages. His has a wicked eye for character and his humorous drawings are the perfect complement to Julia’s witty, vibrant verse.

Posted: March 20th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Fantasy Book Review, Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson to visit Burnley this Friday

Children’s author Julia Donaldson will be giving a talk at Burnley Youth Theatre on Friday 19 March at 2pm. The event, which is being run by Mid Pennine Arts, provides a rare opportunity for people living in Pennine Lancashire to listen to the writer talk about her work and literary career.

The event, which is being held at Burnley Youth Theatre, will include a bookshop where copies of Donaldson’s books can be bought; the author will also be available to sign copies after her talk.

Born in 1948, Julia Donaldson was born and raised in North London. A writer of songs for children’s BBC television, her first publication ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’ in 1993 was as a direct result of her song writing abilities. This first book was illustrated by Axel Scheffler and was set to be the beginning of a long and fruitful working relationship and friendship.

Her second book published, in 1999, was The Gruffalo, a book which has sold over 10.5 million copies and remains a firm favourite of children, both big and small.

Tickets for the event cost just £5 and are available on a first come first served basis. (The event is not suitable for under 16s). To reserve tickets call 01282 421986.

To coincide with Donaldson’s talk Burnley Youth Theatre are presenting her play Bombs and Blackberries on Friday 19 at 7.30pm and Saturday 20 March at 2.30pm. The play, which is suitable for children aged 7 and above, is set in Manchester during World War II.

Tickets for Bombs and Blackberries are available from Burnley Youth Theatre on 01282 427766 and cost £6 per person, £4 for concessions or £18 for a family ticket.

Burnley Youth Theatre is located on Queen’s Park Road, Burnley, BB10 3LB. For more information about the work of Mid Pennine Arts, visit www.midpenninarts.org.uk.

Posted: March 10th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Julia Donaldson

Fantasy news round-up – February 11, 2010

The Gruffalo announced as firm favourite of Irish mothers and their children
Two-thirds of Irish mothers begin reading to their child before he or she is a year old and more than a quarter read to their child from birth, according to a new survey. It found that 71 per cent of mothers read a bedtime story to their kids nearly every night. Some 28 per cent of mothers read to their children every night, 30 per cent do so most nights and 13 per cent read to their children every other night. Five per cent of mothers said they never read to their children. Of those, a fifth said they are too busy to do it. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson was the favourite children’s book of the mothers surveyed, followed by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Cat in the Hat. Roald Dahl was the most popular children’s author, followed by Enid Blyton and Dr Seuss. Eoin Colfer topped the poll of favourite Irish authors.

Fancy a cup of Hobbit tea?
Fans of JRR Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings might want to fire up the kettle and get out their map of Middle-earth. A tiny Wayne County village near Wooster is where seven young Mennonite and Amish workers are mixing and packaging teas, herbs and fruit into three new blends: Hobbiton Meadow Mint, Gandalf the Gray Tea and Bilbo Baggins Breakfast Blend.

Hobbit Teas, named for the peaceable diminutive characters in Tolkien’s books, went for sale exclusively online on www.hobbittea.com two weeks ago. The site got 300 hits from around the world within the first 24 hours.

Wizarding world of Harry Potter website launched
As the spring opening of Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park gets closer and closer a new website has been launched to heighten the anticipation of Potter fans yet further. For more information, visit http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/.

The 2010 Cape and Island Quidditch Cup
Fans of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books will flock to the Cape in March to compete in his favourite game quidditch, the fictional ballgame the wizards played on flying broomsticks, where players perform acrobatic aerial manoeuvres, dodge damaging blows from opponents and, ultimately, seek out the snitch.

The 2010 Cape and Island Quidditch Cup on March 27 and 28 started as an unusual senior fundraiser and may be growing into a New England event that could help boost the local economy in the off-season.

For more information, visit http://sites.google.com/site/2010capeislandsquidditchcup, www.collegequidditch.com and http://sites.google.com/site/savannahquidditchleague/IQARulebook

JK Rowling’s message to donators
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has passed on a message to all those donated to Partners in Health through in the Helping Haiti Heal project which is a multi-fandom effort currently underway to raise funds for the ravaged nation of Haiti. To date, Helping Haiti Heal has raised $112,000.

"To everyone who has helped raise such an incredible amount for the earthquake survivors in Haiti: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.”

Posted: February 11th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Eoin Colfer, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson

Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Julia Donaldson’s newest title for 2009 is an instant hit with kids as it features the likeable character of a cat – a firm favourite with children. The book tells the story of a buskers cat giving an insight into the world from a cats perspective – any child who has a cat as a pet will find this highly amusing.

‘Tabby McTat was busker’s cat with a miaow that was loud and strong, the two of them sang of this and that’ – this particular tale is of Tabby McTat becoming separating from his dotting owner, the busker. After searching for the busker in the familiar square ‘he was never there’, so McTat goes on a journey as he finds a new family, and in turn a wife. The buskers cats life changes dramatically as he has ‘a very full life with plenty of things to do, like washing Prunella, and pouncing on Pat, and hiding the car keys under the mat’ – and he even has kittens of his own, but he can never settle as he misses the busker too much. As McTat goes in search of the busker, his young son, Samuel Sprat follows him. Once McTat is reunited with the busker he then realises he doesn’t have time for busking now he has his life with his wife – ‘then out from the shadow sprang Samuel Sprat’ – and little Samuel takes the role as the buskers cat.

The infamous partnerships of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is once again a winning formula as the illustrations more than do justice to the story. The details of Scheffler’s drawings bring to life further the story, and kids will have fun searching for the gruffulo (now a trademark to his illustrations).

The story is a real heart warmer and told in the familiar rhyming , almost lyrical style, of Julia Donaldson – it is an excellent read.

Parental note: Do not underestimate the interest from younger readers in this book – the powerful illustrations and the tone of the story are well worth introducing to them early.

Age group: 2-6

Julia Donaldson biography
The Gruffalo book review
The Gruffalo’s Child book review
Stick Man book review
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book review

Posted: January 2nd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Julia Donaldson

The fantasy genre’s strong showing amongst Amazon’s book and author’s of the decade

The final and penultimate books in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series were the top-selling books of the last decade, according to list released by Amazon. Stephenie Meyer also showed well in the list with three of her vampire romance novels appearing in third, fourth and fifth position.

Rowling was, unsurprisingly, also the best-selling author of the decade, with Stephenie Meyer, Julia Donaldson, Terry Pratchett and Enid Blyton showing the fantasy genre to be as popular as ever.

Enid Blyton, whose books are supposed to have fallen out of fashion, was possibly the biggest surprise in a list of which eight of the ten books were written by women. Blyton’s charming tales, including the Famous Five and Noddy series, remain as popular as ever, bought by parents and grandparents who remember the books fondly from their own childhoods.

The only male to make an appearance is the Afghan-born novelist Khaled Hosseini, whose books The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Top 10 best-selling books of the decade:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – JK Rowling
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – JK Rowling
3. Breaking Dawn – Stephenie Meyer
4. Twilight -Stephenie Meyer
5. Eclipse – Stephenie Meyer
6. The Tales of Beedle the Bard – JK Rowling
7. New Moon – Stephenie Meyer
8. The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
9. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
10. A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini

Top 10 best-selling authors of the decade:

1. JK Rowling
2. Stephenie Meyer
3. Julia Donaldson
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Jamie Oliver
6. Dan Brown
7. Enid Blyton
8. Bernard Cornwell
9. Alexander McCall Smith
10. William Shakespeare

Posted: December 18th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: JK Rowling, Julia Donaldson, Stephenie Meyer, Terry Pratchett

Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom stage adaptation on at The Pleasance, London

Tall Stories have had great success with their stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s masterpiece The Gruffalo. Now they’ve turned their attention to that team’s Room on the Broom. It’s not as focused or funny as The Gruffalo,but it’s a very serviceable piece of children’s theatre.

The cast of four play a witch and the puppet animals who want to cadge a ride from her. A lot of the crowd know exactly where the tale is going: “Dragon!” cry out some young punters just before the Welsh dragon appears in the clouds. But Olivia Jacobs’s production boasts good comic turns, especially from a Southern frog and a camp green bird. The big addition is the fine songs, culminating in a Seventies rock finale.
(Times Online)

Box office: 020-7609 1800, to Jan 3

Born in 1948, Julia Donaldson was born and raised in North London.A writer of songs for children’s BBC television, her first publication ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’ in 1993 was as a direct result of her song writing abilities with this indeed originally beginning life as one of Donaldson’s musical compositions. This first book was illustrated by Axel Scheffler and was set to be the beginning of a long and fruitful working relationship and friendship. Taking inspiration from diverse themes such as Chinese folklore (The Gruffalo) and from her own natural ability with rhyme and language Donaldson has revealed a true affinity with children and their fantastical view of the world around them.

Posted: December 18th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Julia Donaldson