SEPTEMBER
Theme of the month: Stories and storytelling
Primary schools have until September 30 to bid for places as Nestle Smarties Young Judges. One hundred and fifty schools will be picked to study the company’s book prize shortlists in three age groups next month and vote on the winners. Adult judges include authors Henri-etta Branford and Nicholas Allan. For an information pack write to: Book Trust Publicity Department, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ.
OCTOBER
Theme of the month: Poetry
Oxford University Press is asking children aged 12 and under to write a poem on Why Poetry is Such Fun. Titles worth Pounds 100 to be won, plusvisit to OUP. Closing date October 31. Full details available from bookshops or from: Catherine Stokes,Children’s Books, Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP.
2,3
Telling Tales conference at Girton College, Cambridge with Philippa Pearce, Michael Rosen, Kevin Crossley-Holland and Hugh Lupton. Details from Anita Chapman, University of Cambridge School of Education, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 2BX. Tel 01223 366525 5-11
National Children’s Book Week
The Young Book Trust estimates that at least 1.5 million children will be involved in events this week, both in and out of school. Most are organised locally so check libraries and bookshops for details. Schools should receive a free poster by mid-September. The trust has also produced a free 20-page guide to organising events. Send an A4 sae (40p stamp) to NCBW, Book Trust,45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ.
* It’s also National Schools Film Week, organised by Film Education, which provides teaching materials about books on screen from ‘Matilda’ to ‘Regeneration’. Details from Film Education, 41-42 Berners Street, London W1P 3AA.
6
The launch of the Year of Reading in Scotland at the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. Topics for discussion: The place of reading in our lives; Beginning with books; and Adult literacy. Details from Scottish Book Trust (fax 0131 228 4293). Bookings close September 25.
7
Teachers’ Day for Children’s Book Week (see above) with Theresa Tomlinson at the Reading and Language Information Centre, University of Reading. Free to members, Pounds 5 non-members. The centre runs a programme of courses for teachers, parents and others (this term’s programme includes The role of the literacy governor on November 12). Details from the centre at Bulmershe Court, Earley, Reading RG6 1HY. Tel 0118 931 8820. Fax 0118 931 6801
8
National Poetry Day. Check the Poetry Society web site (www.poetrysoc. com). Colman Getty PR Consultancy would like to hear about schools’ plans, which already range from performance poetry training to an exercise matching poems to teachers. Fax details to Melody Odusanya on 0171 439 1784.
9-18
Cheltenham Festival of Literature, the first big one of the National Year of Reading, has a full children’s programme, Book It!, with guests including Philip Pullman, J K Rowling and Helen Cresswell. Request a brochure from 01242 237377.
10
Celebrating the Year of Reading with Bernard Ashley. Annual conference of the Reading and Language Information Centre, University of Reading (see October 7). For teachers, librarians, parents, booksellers, publishers and authors. Seminars on choosing books for children, teaching literacy, prize-winning fiction, poetry, non-fiction. 9.30am-4.45pm. Pounds 55.
12
Daft as a Bucket: inside the world of Colin McNaughton. Exhibition and performance at Newcastle Discovery Museum to November 21. Programme and bookings information: Elizabeth Hammill and Mary Briggs, The Centre for the Children’s Book, Pendower Hall, West Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE15 6PP.
16
Everybody is a Reader training day organised by the National Resource Centre for Children with Reading Difficulties (REACH) in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. For teachers, classroom assistants and other professionals. Pounds 35. Bookings: Telfax 0181 692 4704.
16-18
Children’s Books Ireland conference, at Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin. The focus is on Irish writers. Joan Lingard opens. Details from Claire Ranson, tel: 00 353 1 872 5854.
NOVEMBER
Theme of the month:
Early Years
BOOX, a quirky books magazine produced by teenagers for teenagers, launches its fourth issue this month. For a sample copy and order form, contact Miranda McKearney at Well Worth Reading. Fax: 01962 853747.
* Well Worth Reading has new adult booklists which feature titles suitable for 16-plus readers. Made in Britain has details of black British writers; Shaken and Stirred covers books on“life’s great themes”.
7
Dundee Children’s Book Group conference on Creating the Writers and Readers of Tomorrow. Speakers include Joan Lingard, Julie Bertagna and Mairi Hedderwick. Details from Caroline Beaton, tel 01828 686779, or Alison Dick, tel 0131 449 2713.
13
Enlarging Literacy conference organised by ‘Carousel’ magazine at Walton Hall, Wellesbourne, Stratford upon Avon. With authors Malorie Blackman and Jacqueline Wilson, and Roy Blatchford of Reading is Fundamental. Pounds 35.Bookings: Carousel, 7 Carrs Lane, Birmingham B4 7TG. Fax: 0121 643 3152
14
Day conference on popular children’s fiction past and present organised by the International Board on Books for Young People British section at Roehampton Institute, London. Sessions on comics, graphic novels and books on tape as well as the work of Lesley Howarth, Michael Morpurgo and Roald Dahl. Bookings: Maureen Murdock, National Centrefor Research inChildren’s Literature, Roehampton Institute, Downshire House,Roehampton Lane,London SW15 4HT.
lJ K Rowling, Theresa Breslin and Mairi Hedderwick at Enter the Bookzone, a day of events for all age groups at Netherbow Theatre, Edinburgh. Details: sae to Marion Donohoe, 7 Rochester Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5AB 21
Northern Children’s Book Festival Gala Day at Redcar Bowl and Leisure Centre, organised by 12 library authorities throughout the North-east. Free sessions with authors and artists can be booked from October 5. Send sae to Leisure and Libraries Dept, Redcar and Cleveland House, PO Box 86, Kirkleatham Street, Redcar TS10 1XX.
DECEMBER
Theme of the month:
Plays, theatre
JANUARY 99
Theme of the month: Screen Reads
FEBRUARY
Theme of the month:
Information
MARCH
Theme of the month:
Sport
26-28
Federation of Children’s Book Groups conference - theme “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” - in Leicester. Speakers include Philip Pullman, Russell Stannard, Allan Ahlberg, Ian Beck and Morris Gleitzman. Details: Martin Kromer, 9 Westroyd, Pudsey, West Yorkshire LS28 8HZ. Tel: 0113 257 9950. e-mail: Kromer@btinternet.com
APRIL
Theme of the month: Songs and Lyrics
2
International Children’s Book Day (and Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday).
23
World Book Day. Many UK publishers will be making this their big event of the year. Check local libraries and bookshops for events.
MAY
Theme of the month:
Visual arts
JUNE
Theme of the month:
Holidays travel
JULY
Theme of the month:
Newspapers and magazines
AUGUST
Theme of the month:
The Future
