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Russell Ayto
Russell Ayto is an English illustrator of children's books including many picture books. Biography He was born in Chichester, Sussex in 1960 and grew up in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. After school he worked in the Histopathology Department of the John Radcliffe Hospital before studying at Oxford Polytechnic and Exeter College of Art and Design where he gained a degree in Graphic Design. He gained work with '' Observer Magazine'' and '' Time Out'' and began illustrating adult fiction before his work was spotted by Walker Books and he moved to illustrating children's fiction. He currently lives with his family in Penzance, Cornwall. Recognition * 2001 shortlist, Kate Greenaway Medal (for illustration); ''The Witch's Children'' by Ursula Jones [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Children's Books
A child (plural, : children) is a human being between the stages of childbirth, birth and puberty, or between the Development of the human body, developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor (law), minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. Children generally have fewer Children's rights, rights and responsibilities than adults. They are classed as unable to make serious decisions. ''Child'' may also describe a relationship with a parent (such as sons and daughters of any age) or, metaphorically, an authority figure, or signify group membership in a clan, tribe, or religion; it can also signify being strongly affected by a specific time, place, or circumstance, as in "a child of nature" or "a child of the Sixties." Biological, legal and social definitions In the biological sciences, a child is usually defined as a person between birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
The Nestlé Children's Book Prize, and Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for a time, was a set of annual awards for British children's books that ran from 1985 to 2007. It was administered by BookTrust, an independent charity that promotes books and reading in the United Kingdom, and sponsored by Nestlé, the manufacturer of Smarties candy. It was one of the most respected and prestigious prizes for children's literature. There were three award categories defined by audience ages 0 to 5 years, 6 to 8 years, and 9 to 11 years (introduced in 1987 after two years with no single prize). Silver and bronze runners-up in each category were introduced in 1996 and designation of one overall winner was abandoned at the same time. Eligible books were written by UK citizens and residents and published during the preceding year (not precisely the calendar year). The shortlists were selected by a panel of adult judges, finally chaired by Julia Eccleshare, children's books editor for ''The Guardia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dick King-Smith
Ronald Gordon King-Smith OBE (27 March 1922 – 4 January 2011), was an English writer of children's books, primarily using the pen name Dick King-Smith. He is best known for ''The Sheep-Pig'' (1983). It was adapted as the movie ''Babe'' (1995) and translations have been published in fifteen languages. He was awarded an Honorary Master of Education degree by the University of the West of England in 1999 and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours. Early life, military service King-Smith was born on 27 March 1922 in Bitton, Gloucestershire and grew up in the West Country, his father was Captain Ronald King-Smith DSO MC, who ran several paper mills. King-Smith was educated at Beaudesert Park School and Marlborough College. He was a soldier in World War II, serving with the Grenadier Guards in Italy, and a farmer for 20 years before he became a teacher at Farmborough Primary School and author. King-Smith's first book was ''The Fox B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hazel Townson
Hazel Townson (12 April 1928 – 11 October 2010) was an English children's-literature author. She had over seventy books published from 1975 onwards, including in countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, France and Japan. Townson released three series of books — The Lenny and Jake series (between 1981 and 1997), Tiger Young Readers' series (1989–1992) and The Speckled Panic series (1982–1995). Her final release, two years before her death in 2010, was ''Deathwood Damian Strikes Again''. Career Hazel Townson began her writing career with ''Punch'' magazine, for which she was a regular contributor for many years. The magazine invited her to write reviews of children's books, which would eventually lead to her writing her own material. She also worked as Chief Assistant Librarian for part of Greater Manchester, a role that included responsibility for libraries in 110 schools, eleven public children's libraries, and four colleges. Her first book, entitled ''Looking for Lo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vivian French
Vivian June Isoult French (born 1945) is a British writer of picture book texts, novels, plays, and non-fiction for children and young adults. She has written more than 250 books – including the picture book ''Oliver's Vegetables'' (1995), The Tiara Club series of chapter books illustrated by Sarah Gibb (2005) and ''The Most Wonderful Thing in the World'' (2015) illustrated by Angela Barrett. Life Vivian French was born in Bedfordshire and educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Exeter University. She has worked as an actor, for the National Book League, and as a community drama worker. As well as writing story books for young children, she has written plays and poetry. According to data from the Public Lending Right, French was the 36th most borrowed author, and the 20th most borrowed children's author, from UK public libraries in 2011–2012. A tutor in the Illustration Department at Edinburgh College of Art, Vivian is also co-founder of Picture Hooks, a mentoring ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ann Jungman
Ann Jungman (born 1938) is an author of children's literature. She was born in Highgate, North London of German Jewish refugees. She studied Law at Exeter University before training as a primary school teacher. Professional life She founded Barn Owl Books in 1999, an independent publishing company that re-releases out-of-print children's books, publishing 8 books a year. Her first book, ''Fang the Fiery Dragon'', was published in 1972. She is probably best known for her series of books about Vlad the Drac. She wrote her 2004 book ''The Most Magnificent Mosque'', set in Medieval Spain, because she "wanted to show that there had been a tolerant society in Europe a long time ago, and that the Muslims had been in Europe for a long time and had left a great legacy. There is no reason why Jews, Christians and Muslims can’t live side by side". Campaigning She is a member of Jews for Justice for Palestinians and the Independent Jewish Voices Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nicholas Fisk
David Higginbottom (14 October 1923 – 10 May 2016), pen name Nicholas Fisk, was a British writer of science fiction books, mainly for children. His works include ''Grinny'', ''You Remember Me'', ''Space Hostages'', and ''Trillions''. He also wrote the ''Starstormers'' series of novels. Fisk died in May 2016 at the age of 92. Early life Fisk was born in London. His father, William, author of ''Frightfulness in Modern Art'' (1928), was an artist and art teacher. His mother was the sister of the Irish actor Micheál Mac Liammóir. He was educated at Ardingly College, West Sussex. Books ''Space Hostages'' A group of children are kidnapped by a critically ill Flight Lieutenant aboard a top secret spacecraft. Left to command the ship alone, they struggle to return safely home. The book explores the dynamics of the global cold war and interpersonal relationships between the children. Published in 1967. ''Trillions'' A mysterious shower of tiny crystals fall all ov ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian Whybrow
Ian Whybrow (born 3 May 1941) is a British writer of children's books, first published in 1989. He has written over 100 books for children, has been translated into 27 languages and is published in 28 countries. His books are humorous and range from picture books to novels, short stories and poetry. Penguin Books. Early life Whybrow was born on 3 May 1941 in Gillingham, , and grew up in and |
Hilary Mantel
Dame Hilary Mary Mantel ( ; born Thompson; 6 July 1952 – 22 September 2022) was a British writer whose work includes historical fiction, personal memoirs and short stories. Her first published novel, ''Every Day Is Mother's Day'', was released in 1985. She went on to write 12 novels, two collections of short stories, a personal memoir, and numerous articles and opinion pieces. Mantel won the Booker Prize twice: the first was for her 2009 novel ''Wolf Hall'', a fictional account of Thomas Cromwell's rise to power in the court of Henry VIII, and the second was for its 2012 sequel ''Bring Up the Bodies''. The third instalment of the Cromwell trilogy, ''The Mirror and the Light'', was longlisted for the same prize. Early life Hilary Mary Thompson was born on 6 July 1952 in Glossop, Derbyshire, the eldest of three children, with two younger brothers, and raised as a Roman Catholic in the mill village of Hadfield where she attended St Charles Roman Catholic Primary S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fludd (novel)
''Fludd'' is a novel by Hilary Mantel. First published by Viking Press in 1989, it won the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize that year. The novel is set in 1956, in Fetherhoughton, a dreary and isolated fictional town somewhere on the moors of northern England. The people of the town seem benighted, but are portrayed by Mantel with sympathy and affection. The plot centres on the Roman Catholic church and convent in the town and concerns the dramatic impact of the mysterious Fludd, who is apparently a curate A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'') ''of souls'' of a parish. In this sense, "curate" means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy w ... sent by the bishop to assist Father Angwin, a priest who continues in his role despite privately having lost his faith. The novel presents an uncompromisingly harsh view of the Roman Catholic Church, portraying a vividly cruel mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Norman Mailer
Nachem Malech Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007), known by his pen name Norman Kingsley Mailer, was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, activist, filmmaker and actor. In a career spanning over six decades, Mailer had 11 best-selling books, at least one in each of the seven decades after World War II—more than any other post-war American writer. His novel ''The Naked and the Dead'' was published in 1948 and brought him early renown. His 1968 nonfiction novel '' Armies of the Night'' won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction as well as the National Book Award. Among his best-known works is ''The Executioner's Song'', the 1979 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Mailer is considered an innovator of "creative non-fiction" or "New Journalism", along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S. Thompson, and Tom Wolfe, a genre which uses the style and devices of literary fiction in factual journalism. He was a cultural commentator and critic, expre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Why Are We In Vietnam?
''Why Are We In Vietnam?'' (''WWVN'') is a 1967 novel by the American author Norman Mailer. It focuses on a hunting trip to the Brooks Range in Alaska where a young man is brought by his father, a wealthy businessman who works for a company that makes cigarette filters and is obsessed with killing a grizzly bear. As the novel progresses, the protagonist is increasingly disillusioned that his father resorts to hunting tactics that seem dishonest and weak, including the use of a helicopter and taking credit for killing a bear. At the end of the novel, the protagonist tells the reader that he is soon going to serve in the Vietnam War as a soldier. ''WWVN'' contains vivid descriptions of Alaska; polarizing, obscene, and stream-of-consciousness narration; and shifting points of view. Mailer uses the narrative to implicitly answer the question the novel's title asks: it demonstrates the attitudes and actions of America that landed it in Vietnam. Its experimental style alienated many rea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
