Just a quick post in the first week back after the summer holidays. Thanks to the Sheffield Libraries webpage, I have just learnt that the new Children's Laureate, Anthony Brown, was born in Sheffield!I always thought his books had a very Yorkshire feel to them, I think it's those tanktops.
Last week I was holidaying in Wales, we had a great week, but lets just say the weather was far from great.
The misty, rain soaked welsh hills really reminded me of Alan Garner's The Owl Service, which I read recently. It has inspired me to check out his other books, especially The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, which I read when was younger and loved.
It also got me thinking about location specific books, a great way to connect with a book. There was a timely article in the Guardian about Beatrix Potter's links with the Lake District. More locally I recommend Malcom Rose's books especially the Traces series set in a futuristic Sheffield and The Kiss of Death about Eyam the Peak District 'plague village'.
I have just come to the end of my first academic year with Reading Matters, and I'd love to say my head is spinning with all the exciting projects I have been involved with, but I am afraid my focus is purely on the six and a half weeks of summer holiday ahead.
My partner, Rhian, has stretched out her maternity leave, so we have the whole time off together with 10 month old Rose (who as you can see is shaping up into a keen reader herself), what a treat. I'll be keeping an eye on things across the summer, check out my News from across the web, and I look forward to catching up with you next term.
"We, the undersigned, call on Her Majesty’s Government to accept in principle that it will make school libraries, run by properly qualified staff, statutory and to prepare the necessary legislation in consultation with the appropriate professional associations and trade unions."
There have been students from local schools visiting the Bannerdale Centre where I am based to do some exams. I like to think the student who 'adapted' this sign in the toilets was once in a Reading Matters partnership, they have a clear love of words.
Reading Matters are not formally involved in these festivals, but I am sure we will be represented at some of the many excellent events taking place in Sheffield and Rotherham in the next few months. Sheffield Children's Festival 2009 13 June to 4 July Some things that caught my eye were the Poetry Wall at Banks Street Arts, a performance of the BFG and associated fun day at the Lyceum, and the many theatre performances by pupils from Sheffield schools.
Showcomotion Sheffield Young People's Film Festival 25 June to 9 July I particularly like the look of the Dreams 2012 programme on 27 June at the Showroom Cinema.
Rotherham Children's Book Festival 2009 27 June to 4 July I don't know where to start with this lot, so many good things; Family Fun Days across Rotherham on 27 June, Story Teller Ben Haggarty at Wickersly Library on 29 June 7.30pm-9.30pm, Shonaleigh at the Central Library on 2 July 6pm-7pm, and finish up with a Storywalk in Clifton Park on 4 July 2pm-3pm.
Edward Rondthaler was born in 1905, but as this video reveals, he has a real empathy for young people struggling to get to grips with English. I love this:
The title stands for Sheffield United Football Club and PricewaterhouseCoopers. I was hoping to return after my half term break to gloriously report that we are working with a Premier league club. Sadly this did quite pan out, and Sheffield United will remain in the Championship, but more importantly some of their staff and their corporate partners will be attending reading sessions at some schools close to the SUFC Academy this term, as part of their best book forward project.
We had a excellent training session at the swanky PwC offices in Sheffield, it was great to have such a diverse bunch of mentors, I am sure they will all do really well. The next step is to prepare some specific materials and get them going!
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