Fallen Star Stories

This just in from the Guardian this evening answers a question I've been wondering about for weeks (and, yes, I'm sorry...it's more on Enid Blyton.) Beginning with the first 10 Famous Five books, Blyton's language is being revised in an attempt to give the books greater appeal to today's children. Such phrases as "mercy me" and "awful swotter are being replaced with a more contemporary version (such as "oh no" and "bookworm" respectively) The idea is to make Blyton's novels timeless and to open the opportunity for children to relate to characters and relationships through dialogue. "Children who read [the Famous Five books] need to be able to easily understand the characterisations and easily to get into the plots. If the text is revised [they're] more likely to be able to engage with them.", as Anne McNeil, publishing director of Hodder Children's Books explains. There will be no references to mobile phon...

Absolutely wonderful! Cave Baby is a perfect collaboration bewteen Julia Donaldson's storytelling skills and Emily Gravett's timeless illustrations. I just love it! And to celebrate the release of this beautiful new picture book, Dubray Books has an amazing colouring competition. It's the chance for eight lucky young fans of Donaldson and Gravett to win a signed limited edition print from Cave Baby , plus an amazing selection of other books! The competition is also a brilliant chance to show off your own illustration skills. It seems that Cave Baby has a blank wall in his cave. How would you help him to fill it? Pick up the competition forms in any of the Dubray Books shops, or download it directly from the Cave Baby tab on their Facebook page. Entries must be in by 23rd August; winners notified on 27th August. And as if that weren't enough, there is a Cave Baby site....CaveBaby.co.uk. It's not quite ready yet, but if you keep your eyes on Emily Gravett's (f...

Absolutely wonderful news! UNESCO has now honoured Dublin by designating it as the fourth City of Literature within it's UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Dublin has received warm welcomes from the other three designated cities; Edinburgh , Melbourne  and Iowa City. Fabulous recognition for all our illustrious writers! Congratulations Dublin!!!! (The attached photo, borrowed from the CBI site, shows some of our lively and brilliant authors enjoying the celebrations.) http://www.dublincityofliterature.ie/

The news from Publishers Weekly Children's Bookshelf was full of some of our best-loved authors this time. In an article entitled 'The One That Almost Got Away' , Sue Corbett discusses Siobhan Dowd's work and includes a profile of the upcoming (2011) Dowd/Ness collaboration to be titled 'A Monster Calls'. Concerning the prospect of taking over Siobhan Dowd's voice, Patrick Ness has this to say.... "Normally, it wouldn't be anything I would consider doing, because I need to write freely and if I tried to mimic someone else, I think I'd write a bad book........But the idea was so good, I started getting my own ideas about how I would write the story."  The (extremely long) link to the article is as follows: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/43918-the-one-that-almost-got-away.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+Children%27s+Bookshelf&utm_campaign=153b290a44-UA-15906914-1&utm_medi...

It's here! It's here! The wait is over and the new Artemis Fowl...Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex is in!!!! I picked up a copy (guess where) and it grabbed me page one. Fabulous! Also... the winners of Dubray Books Artemis Fowl crossword competition have been chosen and should be notified by now. Eight lucky winners will momentarily have in their possession a signed hardback! (I'm jealous.) I also have it on good authority that this is Eoin Colfer week, with live streaming today (see earlier blog posts) and appearances by the very busy Mr. Colfer for signings and readings...in Dublin, I hear. At any rate, I'm loving the book....

Children's Books Ireland has just unveiled this year's Bookfest poster. Every year, CBI invites an incredibly talented illustrator to design the poster for the annual event, and this year the commission went to Kevin Waldron. Kevin has already made his mark on the illustration world with a picture book version of the Edward Lear poem 'The Owl and the Pussycat' and his first title, Mr. Peek at the Zoo (2009, Templar). His next project is a collaboration with the truly magnificent Michael Rosen to be published this autumn by Walker Books..... and the Bookfest poster is absolute class! The Children's Book Festival takes place all over Ireland every October. (For more information on this year's Bookfest, watch this space and follow the link below to the CBI website.) http://www.childrensbooksireland.ie/index.php?option=com_news_portal&Itemid=240

I know, I know, I should have posted this ages ago.....but if you haven't done this already, you really must check out Celine Kiernan's blog about all things Moorehawke. Her incredible Moorehawke trilogy will find it's completion with the (much awaited) publication this October of 'The Rebel Prince'. That will give you just about enough time to read 'The Poison Throne' and 'The Crowded Shadows' if you haven't already (What....you haven't???!!!!! Why not?); check out the blog thoroughly and get yourself up to speed for what promises to be one of the most exciting conclusions ever! http://www.celinekiernan.com/blog/