Anne Fine
Children's Laureate 2001-2003
Anne Fine studied politics and history. She has been writing for both adults and children since 1978, winning numerous prizes including the Guardian Award and both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread (now Costa) Award twice over. Her work is translated into over forty languages.
As the second Children's Laureate (2001-2003) Anne campaigned to raise the profile of public libraries, as well as launching the My Home Library Scheme, encouraging children to build their own libraries at home.
Books
A Shame to Miss: 1, 2 and 3
Author: Various Editor: Anne Fine
Publisher: Corgi Children's
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+
Former Children's Laureate Anne Fine has selected some marvellous poems, both classic and contemporary, for inclusion in her trio of poetry anthologies.
Blood Family
Author: Anne Fine
Publisher: Doubleday
Interest age: 14+
Reading age: 13+
Locked away by his mother's abusive partner, Edward is seven years old before rescue finally arrives. This is his story.
Charm School
Author: Anne Fine
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 8+
Horrified when her mother enrols her at Charm School, Bonny is saddened to discover that although outwardly, everyone is charming and ladylike, closer inspection reveals a group of spiteful, insecure girls.
Eating Things on Sticks
Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Kate Aldous
Publisher: Yearling
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 9+
Having burned down the kitchen, Harry needs to be housed with a willing relative while it is rebuilt.
Flour Babies
Author: Anne Fine
Publisher: Penguin
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+
As part of a Child Development project, each boy in Class 4C is given a 'flour baby', a sack of flour which must be looked after for three weeks, ensuring it does not get lost or dirty.
Ivan the Terrible
Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Philippe Dupasquier
Publisher: Egmont
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 6+
When Russian Ivan arrives at Boris's school, Boris is assigned as his translator. But while Boris is a mild-mannered, peace-loving child, Ivan is quite the opposite.
Tales From Weird Street
Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Vicki Gausden
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 8-11
Reading age: 8+
Interspersed with black-and-white illustrations to complement the super readable text, this masterclass in storytelling from a distinguished author is fascinating, entertaining and just creepy enough to leave readers feeling a little bit uneasy.
The Killer Cat Strikes Back
Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Steve Cox
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 6+
This is Tuffy's third adventure, in which he takes exception to Mum's art class, and ruins almost all of her new masterpieces.
The Road of Bones
Author: Anne Fine
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 11+
Anne Fine subtly but accessibly explores the nature of state repression, personal freedom and responsibility in this thrilling, darkly chilling adventure.
Up on Cloud Nine
Author: Anne Fine
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+
Stolly has fallen out of a top-floor window and lies, unmoving and unconscious, in a hospital bed. While he watches, Stolly's friend Ian decides to write about Stolly’s unusual life.