Fallen Star Stories

Frances Hardinge  has become the first YA author to win the top prize for best fantasy novel for her incredibly surreal and creepily sinister Cuckoo Song . The award, known as the Robert Holdstock award was presented to Hardinge on Sunday at FantasyCon 2015. I am so extremely pleased for her. I've been a huge fan since her first novel, Fly By Night, which won the Branford Boase award in 2006.... and, clearly, the brilliant books have just kept coming. Cuckoo Song tells the story of a girl, Triss, who nearly drowns in a local pond. When she awakens, she finds her world has become slightly out of sync. Pages have been ripped out of her diary, she is incredibly hungry all the time, her younger sister is terrified of her and her parents are whispering behind closed doors. She comes to believe that she is, quite literally, not herself. In order to discover the truth, she must travel to the dark and twisted side of town to find the Architect, a menacing villain with designs on her ...

The long lists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals 2016 have been published. These lists are always extensive and utterly brilliant. I never envy the judging panel their task. While I simply cannot (and wouldn't want to) place the entire lists on my blog, I'll give you some of my personal highlights and put the links below, so you can check it out yourself. I'd love to have your comments, so feel free... 2016 CILIP Carnegie Medal long list...just a selection: David Almond for A Song for Ella Grey . This contemporary reworking of the Orpheus myth is simply magnificent. Raw, emotional, funny and very realistic... Sita Brahmachari for Red Leaves . An exquisitely crafted story of Aisha, a 13 year old refugee caught up in the foster care system in London and 12 year old Zak, coping as best he can with his parents divorce. The two meet and join forces due to the intercession of Elder, a strange homeless woman. Cathy Cassidy for Looking Glass Girl. Inspired by ...

While we are all being whisked off our feet by the excellent programme in this Octobers'  Childrens Book Festival (Read Everywhere!), in just a few days it will be time for the brilliant and exciting Baboró International Arts Festival for Children in Galway. From Monday, 12th October through Saturday the 18th, we will be positively inundated with incredible theatre, music, workshops and much, much more by artists from near and far. You can bring your baby to Concertino Pannolina and be immersed in classical music. How about some theatre? There's Casa...telling the story of an adult and a child who meet and build a story, a structure....a home.  Bake! lets you into the Queens' palace as preparations are made for Prince Fredriks' 9th birthday party. And an extra special addition this year; the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Puppet Theatre brings us Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook...pure magic. There's Baborós' Happy Heart Zone,  t...

October is my favourite month of the year for soooo many reasons. And one of those reasons is the release of all the books heading into the seasonal round-up. While many try to get ahead of the game by releasing early, from this point forward, you will see new books on the shelves of your local bookshops and libraries day by day...I promise. So, as every year, it's the perfect month for Childrens Books Irelands'  Childrens Book Festival (KidLitFest), with it's theme this year, READ EVERYWHERE . Events, Storytimes, and activities will be taking place near you throughout the month of October encouraging children to get involved with books. Reading is for everywhere and every time; not just schools or libraries. So, look around. Find an event. Illustrate a new cover for your favourite book and READ, wherever you are! Having trouble finding the right book for you. CBI has the answer as always! Pick up a copy of the Inis Reading Guide. Just head into the library to collect o...