David Almond
David Almond is the highly acclaimed author of Skellig, The Savage, Clay, My Name Is Mina, My Dad's a Birdman, Slog's Dad and many other novels, stories and plays. His books are translated into almost forty languages and are widely adapted for stage and screen. His numerous awards include the Carnegie Medal, two Whitbread Children's Book Awards and Le Prix Sorcieres, and in 2010 he gained the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international prize for children's authors. David lives with his family in Hexham, Northumberland.
Books
Clay
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 9+
The scariest thing in Davie's life is the brutish leader of the gang of lads from the next village – until, that is, the arrival of Stephen Rose.
Jackdaw Summer
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 8+
Fate leads Liam to find an abandoned baby and as a result his life becomes entwined with that of Oliver, an African boy seeking asylum and Crystal, an emotionally damaged girl.
Kit's Wilderness
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+
When Kit moves to a village with his parents to care for his grandfather, he becomes involved with a dangerous boy who organises the Game of Death.
My Dad's a Birdman
Author: David Almond Illustrator: Polly Dunbar
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 8+
Lizzie is doing her best to behave normally in the face of her father’s announcement that he is going to put on wings and take part in The Great Human Bird Competition.
My Name is Mina
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hodder
Interest age: 10-16
Reading age: 9+
Through a collection of stories, journal entries and meandering thoughts, Mina tells the story of her life so far; of grief, marginalisation, bravery, self- knowledge and love.
Slog's Dad
Author: David Almond
Illustrator: Dave McKean
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 10+
Slog's dad is in heaven, but Slog is sure he'll see him again some day. David Almond and Dave McKean tell a sensitive story of grief and loss in this powerful graphic novel.
The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas
Author: David Almond Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 10+
Multi-award-winning author David Almond returns with this pleasingly eccentric story of a ordinary boy who embarks on an unusual adventure.
The Fire-Eaters
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 9+
When Bobby begins a new school and endures sadistic cruelty at the hands of his new teachers, he is drawn away from his old friends and towards newcomer Daniel.
The Savage
Author: David Almond Illustrator: Dave McKean
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 8+
Blue’s father has died suddenly, and finding that the school’s counselling increases his anguish, instead he turns to writing a story.
The Tale of Angelino Brown
Author: David Almond Illustrator: Alex T Smith
Publisher: Walker
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9-12
The Tale of Angelino Brown is a gorgeous, heartfelt poem to the hope that all children bring to the world, if only they are allowed to fly. An absolute delight that should be read by all politicians and leaders making decisions about education.