Find out what's new on our websites, where we've been, what's on our minds and the things we're doing.
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In praise of ... James Salter
Posted Friday October 16th 2009
by James SmithIn 2007, the American writer James Salter, now in his eighties, was given the signal honour of having four of his books reissued in the UK at the same time – by two publishers.
In addition, a new collection of short stories was published in paperback for the first time. Such joint publishing ventures are rare, but in Salter’s case it proves how highly both Picador and Penguin feel about his writing.
Salter (born James Horowitz in 1925) grew up in New York. His father, who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, sent James to West Point, the famous military school. After graduating, he underwent further training with the US Air Force, and was sent to Korea, where he flew jet fighters. He was subsequently posted to bases in Germany and the United States, finally taking the momentous decision to leave the air force and concentrate on his writing.
It was a huge wrench – ‘a strange, bottomless reaction set in’, as Salter wrote in his memoir Burning the Days – but he adjusted. He continued flying at weekends for the National Guard, and was posted to France in 1961 as a reservist during the Berlin… -
Everybody Writes Day
Posted Tuesday October 13th 2009
by Anna LoudonThis week it is Everybody Writes Day on Friday 16 October, and primary and secondary schools around the country will be collapsing the curriculum for one day to celebrate writing in all its forms. Every pupil and staff member gets to enjoy writing – including catering staff, site managers and parent volunteers. Schools may choose to run one big writing event to engage all pupils, or opt for a series of playful and engaging writing activities.
For teachers thinking about planning an Everybody Writes Day either this week (or at any other time in the year), the Everybody Writes website has a wealth of useful planning information and inspiring projects already run in schools to spark ideas for writing activities, as well as fun and accessible writing games that can be used in the classroom with children of any age.
This year, Tidemill Primary School in south-east London will be launching a whole-school writing project about the development of their new school building. They will capture the important values they'd like to take from their old school, along with hopes and aspirations for the new one, in a range of fun and engaging writing activities in and beyond…
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National Bookstart Day
Posted Monday October 12th 2009
by Megan FarrNostalgia on the menu at this year’s National Bookstart Day event.
Some people might not remember their nursery rhymes but everyone attending National Bookstart Day event on Friday 9 October at the V&A Museum of Childhood in London was treated to a nostalgia trip as they stepped into the 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' setting and were taken back to their childhood with stories, rhymes and drawings in celebration of National Bookstart Day.
Twinkly lights created a magical atmosphere with many children looking amazed as they stepped into the room before rushing off to do some colouring and have their faces painted.
The entertainment kicked off with tea-party-inspired stories and rhymes with storyteller Sylvie and rhyme-inspired drawings from illustrator Bruce Ingman. The Bookstart Bear, librarian Karen Robinson and poet (and Booktrust writer in residence) Nii Parkes led a lively rhymetime session which had everyone singing along and joining in the actions.
Special guest Danielle Lineker added glamour to the event – as she read the children the tale of Mr Pusskins the photographers' cameras clicked and flashed around them.
The guests left happily clutching their packed lunches and copies of Bookstart’s Favourite Rhymes, inspired to spread the magic of sharing books…
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Interview with David Vann
Posted Wednesday October 7th 2009
by James SmithDavid Vann's new book is hard to describe. Not quite a novel, but not quite a collection of short stories either, Legend of a Suicide takes a pivotal moment in one family's life – the death of the father 'by his own hand' (as they used to say) – and reworks it over six chapters/stories. Facts and points of view are slippery things, though, and the reader can often feel strangely disoriented by Vann's book.
We wanted to find out more, so asked the author some questions. He was kind enough to reply.
> At the end of Legend of a Suicide you acknowledge some pretty heavyweight writers. How intimidating was it to put your own work out there?
I don’t feel intimidated by great writers, or even really envy them, because I realise it’s not a competition. We each write what we can. I try to understand and ingest their work and hope that some aspect of it might appear in my own. No writer is truly original. We’re all using what has come before. And publishing, seeing one’s work out in the world, is a gift and immensely satisfying.
> The University of Massachusetts Press seems an…
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Happy Children's Book Week!
Posted Monday October 5th 2009
by Katherine WoodfineToday is the first day of Children’s Book Week 2009 – our annual celebration of reading for pleasure for children of primary school age.
This is the 78th year that Children’s Book Week is being celebrated in schools, libraries and other venues across the UK – and in the last few weeks, I’ve been inundated with requests for extra copies of our special Children’s Book Week pack.
The pack contains resources for teachers, our Best Book Guide, plus a bookmark and posters, beautifully illustrated by award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett. Copies were automatically sent out to all state primary schools, special schools, hospital schools, children’s librarians and teacher training institutions in the UK back in June, but we always receive lots of additional requests from everyone from registered childminders to universities, all of whom want to explore and enjoy reading for pleasure during Children’s Book Week. If you want to take a look at the pack yourself, you can download it from our website.
It’s also been great to hear news from schools, libraries and all kinds of other venues across the country, who have been telling us all about their events and activities taking place during Children’s Book…
