Kid Ii
‘SHARING BOOKS IS A LOVELY WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOUR CHILD’
Julia Donaldson with her most famous creation, the Gruffalo
As the 2008 National Year of Reading gets underway, Kelly Apter talks to three women helping Scotland's kids develop a love of books
ompared to a stick that transforms into a goll‘
cluh. tennis racket or aeroplane control. the
hook seems a poor choice of entertainment. Btit when was the last time a Nintendo \\'ii helped a child overcome hullying. get through their parents' divorce or create a world inside their head‘.’
Books can help children make sense ot‘ the world. hut with so much electrical gratification availahle. picking one up isn't always top ol’ their agenda. Which is why events such as .-\ye Write? in (ilasgow and the Scottish Book 'l'rust‘s (‘hildren‘s l5estiva| in lidinhurgh haye such an important role to play. Alongside an extensive schools programme. the (‘hildren's l-‘estiyal is holding tour puhlic events. including an al‘tcrnoon with one of the l'K's most successful children's authors. Julia Donaldson.
Donaldson‘s proclivity t'or rhyming couplets hrings pleasure to all ages. 'l think sharing hooks is a lovely way to get to know your child.’ she says. ‘liven when they're very little you can have a good chuckle together or see how they react to sad things.~
()n a recent world tour. Donaldson found that children react to her stories in much the same way. 'People often say to me that their child knows my hooks oil by heart.‘ says Donaldson. ‘.-\nd somehody told me her son's lirst word was “(irul‘l‘alo‘f It makes me wonder at the power of publishing. that something can he appreciated all over the world..
Getting up close with an author is a great way to get children interested in hooks. something The Federation of Children's Book Groups is passionate ahout. Founded in liltifi hy Anne Wood. the woman
hehind the ’Il'lr'lu/lhivs. the Federation is a l'K-wide network of parents. teachers. authors and anyone interested in children‘s hooks. Teresa Lowe. ol the West of Scotland (‘hildren's Book (iroup in (ilasgow. regularly hrings authors and readers together. 'l think it‘s very important for children to meet authors.‘ says Lowe. "l‘hey' inspire children hecause ol'ten they've overcome lots even just to get puhlished. and have led such interesting lives.'
When it comes to huying hooks. it can he hard to know where to start. A new shop in lidinhurgh devoted entirely to children's hooks is helping customers hranch out. 'I try to stock hooks which are a hit more unusual.' says owner. Vanessa Rohertson. "People know they can huy' Hurry I’om'r cheaper on the internet. htit you can‘t sit a child in iront ot Ama/on and say "tind a hook" — whereas they can hrowse here and lind something newf
Based in Bruntsl‘ield. the (‘hildren's Bookshop stocks everything from hath hooks to teenage poetry. Rohertson is also offering schools the chance to procure tree hooks through an innovative loyalty scheme. ‘lt‘s so important to get children reading.‘ she say s. 'Because it they love hooks they‘ll never he lonely — they'll always have the ahility to find anything out and go anywhere in their head.'
Scottish Book Trust Children’s Festival, Sat 1-Fri 7 Mar; Aye Write! 7-15 Mar. See listings for details. West of Scotland Children’s Book Group, www.fcbg.org.uk; The Children’s Book Shop, 219 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh.
THE BEST KIDS STUFF
www.llst.oo.uklkids
picks
Ian Billings: Talking Pants! Stand-up comedy for kids from ChuckleViSion writer, Billings. Part of the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival. The Stand, Glasgow, Fri 7—Sun 9 Mar.
* Scottish Book Trust Children’s Festival Look out for four public events to complement the extensive schools programme. including Julia Donaldson, Ross Collins and Judy Paterson. Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sat l—Fri 7 Mar.
‘2: The Lost Happy Endings Over 100 primary school children perform an outdoor promenade performance in beautiful surroundings. based on the book by Carol Ann Duffy. Royal Botanic Garden. Edinburgh, Thu 6 8 Fri 7 Mar. 2%: Alex Nye Author Nye reads from her supernatural thriller. Chill, which won the 2007 Royal Mail Award for Scottish Children's Books (8—11 category). Part of Aye Write! Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 8 Mar.
>i= Gerry Anderson A real coup for the Aye Write! festival. as sci-fi legend. Anderson comes to Glasgow to talk about Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and more. Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 9 Mar.
>'r- A Town Called Storyville A fun workshop for 5—7-year-olds, creating characters and stories through movement, props, costume and music. Part of Aye Write! Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 9 Mar.
>i< Comical Characters Puppet Making Workshop A chance for kids to join in the fun at the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival, with this craft workshop. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, Glasgow, Sat 8 Mar.
2‘: retr‘ ’: Ma' 27,8 THE LIST 63