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
Heaven Eyes
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+
A beautifully written tale about three lonely, frustrated children who live in Whitegates children's home.
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 Climbed into the Moon
Author: David Almond Illustrator: Polly Dunbar
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 8-10
Reading age: 9+
A child's imagination is a wonderful thing and Paul's is more wonderful and vivid than many. He has a theory - that the moon is not really the moon but a great big hole in the sky.
The Colour of the Sun
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 12-16
Reading age: 12+
David Almond returns to deliver a powerful story centring around the acceptance of loss of one’s childhood after a parent’s death and the journey towards adulthood, which is portrayed beautifully in this coming-of-age novel.
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.
The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Puffin Books
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 13+
Complex and difficult issues are reflected in both narrative style and content.