LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor
Ref. Michael Rosen’s recent piece in BfK (‘Laureate Log’ in BfK No. 170) and the notion that there is no longer time to develop trainee teachers’ understanding of how to help children enjoy books, I’m writing because I do ‘know otherwise’!
MORE »How to add your comments onto our Forum on Age-ranging
How to add your comments onto our Forum on Age-ranging
1. You will need to log in and/or register before you can post/add your comments (see below).
MORE »British Children’s Fiction in the Second World War
While the European dictators of the 1930s systematically supplied their young readers with approved fascist texts, Britain continued to leave its children’s literature to the vagaries of market forces. So what kind of reading matter was available to the young? Nicholas Tucker discusses Owen Dudley Edwards’ recently published history, British Children’s Fiction in the Second World War.
MORE »Illustrators in the Picture: the top ten ‘new’ picture book artists
As part of its campaign to promote picture books, Booktrust announced in April the names of the top ten illustrators (out of a possible 250) who represent ‘the best rising talent in the field of illustration today’. What does their work tell us about the nature of picture book publishing in the UK? Joanna Carey discusses.
MORE »Age Guidance
Book buyers will have started to notice something a little different when browsing the children’s sections of their local bookshops. On the back covers of some of the books will be a small black and white image indicating the age of reader that book might suit. But is age ranging a good thing? Caroline Horn explores.
MORE »Katie’s Picture Show
Picture books that introduce children to art are now a standard requirement in the bookshops of our galleries and arts centres. It wasn’t always so – James Mayhew’s pioneering Katie books, which aim to teach children about art via a story, had to wait to find the understanding and appreciation they now enjoy. James Mayhew explains.
MORE »Letter to the Editor
The Branford Boase Award
Only a decade ago, first novels would be published to very little, if any, fanfare. It was assumed that writers needed to get several titles under their belt before they could be taken seriously. That all this has changed may be in large part due to the influence of the Branford Boase Award. Julia Eccleshare explains.
MORE »Libraries for Living: the KidsLibs Trust Kenya
In January this year riots erupted across Kenya following a presidential election which was widely seen as rigged. Beverley Naidoo, author of a children’s novel set in Kenya during the State of Emergency, reflects on the continuing historical impact of colonialism. She also describes how the recent tumultuous events have affected Kidslibs Trust Kenya – Libraries for Living, an organisation which sets up libraries in communities.
MORE »What happened to England’s National Literacy Strategy?
John Stannard and Laura Huxford’s The Literacy Game: The story of the National Literacy Strategy is a tale of government ministers, hungry journalists, partisan researchers and opportunistic publishers, not to speak of schools and pupils. Henrietta Dombey assesses a turbulent history and the lessons that can be drawn from it.
MORE »