The Donut Diaries of Dermot Milligan: Revenge is Sweet

Calling all Children's Reading Groups! Are you fans of the gloriously funny and disgusting Donut Diaries or you new to the series? Or do you just love DONUTS?! Email Harriet at hvenn@randomhouse.co.uk to get a Donut Diaries' activity pack, including how to host your very own Donut Olympics, donut recipes, donut decoration sheets and more. You can even send in your donut designs for your chance to win a set of the books!

Continue reading The Donut Diaries of Dermot Milligan: Revenge is Sweet

Storytime with Jenny Sullivan

Award winning Welsh author Jenny Sullivan will be visiting Rhydypennau Library, Cardiff on Friday 2nd March at 2pm to deliver an extra special Storytime to preschool children.

This is a free event and booking is essential. To reserve a place telephone 029 2075 4657 or email rhydypennaulibrary@cardiff.gov.uk

www.cardiff.gov.uk/libraryevents

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Mistress of the Storm & Heart of Stone

Mistress of the Storm and the sequel Heart of Stone by M L Welsh are stories of adventure, magic and friendship. Set in a blustery coastal town and featuring Verity, a feisty girl heroine and her two friends they are perfect for boys and girls aged 9-11. If you would like to receive copies of Mistress of the Storm for your reading group please contact
lbennett@randomhouse.co.uk

http://veritygallant.co.uk/

Continue reading Mistress of the Storm & Heart of Stone

Bournemouth Festival of Words

We are looking for authors to complement our Festival's philosophy of ensuring that everyone who loves words can attend the Festival particularly those who face physical or financial barriers to doing so. Authors who have triumphed over adversity would be of particular interest as well as children's authors or those writing humour.

Continue reading Bournemouth Festival of Words

The Bliss Bakery trilogy - Book 1

"It was the summer Rosemary Bliss turned ten that she saw her mother fold a lightning bolt into a bowl of batter and learned - beyond the shadow of a doubt - that her parents made magic in the Bliss Bakery." - A delicious new novel for girls, the first in a trilogy.
For reading group proofs, email Rosi on rosi.crawley@harpercollins.co.uk

Continue reading The Bliss Bakery trilogy - Book 1

Gwas y Neidr

Cardiff Central Library presents
FREE LIVE MUSIC with
Gwas y Neidr

Continue reading Gwas y Neidr

Coventry Book Festival ( title tbc)

11-16 June 2012

Coventry's first book festival will inspire reading and creative writing in the whole community. Events for adults, teenagers and children will be held in schools and community venues throughout the week culminating in large celebration event on Saturday 16th June. The Inspiration Book Awards ceremony will be on June 13th so there is an opportunity for winning authors (winners announced on Feb 15th) attending that to do other events while in Coventry. Please note that the date coincides with Birmingham Young Reader's festival schools week and so there is the opportunity for authors to do both festivals in one trip to the West Midlands! Please contact me as soon as possible with your suggestions to ensure you do not miss this cost effective opportunity

Continue reading Coventry Book Festival ( title tbc)

Charlie Fletcher - Far Rockaway

Charlie Fletcher, author of the Stoneheart Trilogy, is available for school and library events to promote his latest book, Far Rockaway, in the West Country.

Cat Manno and her grandfather Victor made a pact that one day, just for the hell of it, they'd take the subway and stay on the A-train until the very end of the line where the last narrow spit of land runs out into the ocean at Far Rockaway. This isn't that day.

On the first page Cat is knocked down by a speeding fire truck whilst crossing 55th St and 3rd Ave in Central Manhattan. She wakes up in a world made from all the books her grandfather used to read to her, peopled by some of the most memorable heroes of classic adventure fiction, brought vividly back to life. Cat must earn their friendship and help as she begins an odyssey and epic quest to find the mythic Castle at the World's End. And the name of that distant, mythic, wave-tumbled fastness? It is, of course, the castle of Far Rockaway ...

If you enjoy reading good books - swashbuckling adventures with sword fights and pirates - then Far Rockaway is the book for you. Join Cat as she embarks on the journey of a lifetime!

To set up an event, please contact Corinne Gotch at corinne.gotch@hachettechildrens.co.uk

Continue reading Charlie Fletcher - Far Rockaway

The Phoenix Files: Arrival

Luke is having a rough year. When his parents split up, his mum drags him to Phoenix, a brand-new town in the middle of nowhere. Luke is fairly unimpressed, until he uncovers a plot to wipe out the human race! 100 days remain until the end of the world ... not something Luke thought would ever be HIS problem.

Phoenix Files: Arrival is the first in an action packed new series for ages 9+ and perfect for fans of Joe Craig and Charlie Higson's Young Bond series. Scholastic have 20 copies of

The Phoenix Files to give away. Email Catherine Alport (calport@scholastic.co.uk) if you are interested in copies for your reading group.

Continue reading The Phoenix Files: Arrival

Get Active

Race down to your library.
Get Active at Cardiff Central Library.

Get into Libraries. Get into Sport. Get into Play. Get inspired!

Join sports stars Jamie Baulch, Nathan Stephens, The Blues and The Devils.

Get free Sports Tasters and follow the Active Fit Squad. Freestyle Football, Karate, Street Dance, Table Tennis and much more.

Wednesday 2nd November
10am to 4pm

For more details contact 029 2038 2116 or email centrallibrary@cardiff.gov.uk

Libraries Fortnight 1-14 November 2011

Continue reading Get Active

Capital Reads: A Festival of Words

Capital Reads: A Festival of Words
Saturday 22nd October, 9.45am - 5.00pm
Cardiff Central Library, The Hayes, 029 2038 2116

Drop by and join in our events including:

• Meet the author: award-winning adult, children, and teenage authors throughout the day, including Kristina Taylor, Shelagh Weeks, Maggie Harris, Richard Gwyn, Clare Potter, Damian Harvey, and Lucy Christopher
• Reading Groups - be a fly on the wall!
• Creative writing
• Poetry and prose performances in English, Welsh, Arabic, Urdu and Punjabi
• Activities for children including stories and a make your own comic workshop
• eBook demonstrations

For more information including a detailed timetable of activities, please visit
www.cardiff.gov.uk/libraryevents

In partnership with: Cardiff Libraries, Welsh Government, St. David's Hall, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Short Books, Macmillan Children's Books, Bookgroup.info, and BVSNW (Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales).

Continue reading Capital Reads: A Festival of Words

Author Available: Trilby Kent, Smoke Portrait

Trilby Kent is available for library events, reading groups sessions and readers' days. Children aged 10+. Trilby would also be happy to talk to classes of students.

To set up an event, please contact eminervini@almabooks.com and for more info about the book, please visit http://www.almabooks.com/stones-for-my-father-p-384-book.html

Stones for My Father deals with the second Boer war, and gives quite an uncompromisingly critical appraisal of the English repression of the Boers at the beginning of the twentieth century. It's the story of a young girl and of his family, and their trials as they are pushed away from their farm and imprisoned in a concentration camp.
The author is a descendant of the Boer war hero Danie Theron.

Continue reading Author Available: Trilby Kent, Smoke Portrait

Sunny

Looking for something to help turn story time into a great art lesson?

We have two copies of Sunny to give away along with these great activity sheets (enough for a class of 30)

A mixture of black and white and colour, these are great for cutting out, sticking and collage work!

Please e-mail ellen.john@hachettechildrens.co.uk with your details!

Continue reading Sunny

History Day, Cardiff Central Library

Celebrating our local history at Cardiff Central Library.

A programme of free local history talks and information stands.

Enter our history competition - full information can be found on the Library blog - page 35 at http://cardifflibraries.blogspot.com to win a great prize.

For more information, contact: centrallibrary@cardiff.gov.uk or call 029 2038 2116.

Continue reading History Day, Cardiff Central Library

Off the Page Stirling Book Festival

10t - 17 September 2011

Sixth off the page Stirling Book Festival with a range of authors and events.Christopher Brookmyre, Mark Billingham, Nicola Morgan, stuart MacBride and some of the adult authors with Barry Hutchison, Cathy Cassidy and Catherine Forde for the Young People.

Continue reading Off the Page Stirling Book Festival

Reader Development Day for all the family, Cardiff

22 October

We will be holding a Reader's Development day for adults and children alike in October. At the daytime event we will be offering advice on reading groups, Dads and lads (reading with your children), Ethnic and Welsh language titles, creative writing, author talks, reading group meetings, children's groups and many extra opportunities. In the evening event we will have quizzes and fun events plus a headliner author will talk. If you are interested in being involved, have any freebies to give away, books to promote or your talents to offer, please contact Susanna.

Continue reading Reader Development Day for all the family, Cardiff

Circus skills workshop

Circus fun at Walsall libraries. Juggling, stilt walking and plate spinning are among the circus skills children can have a go at alongside Boo Boo The Clown's Entertainment on Tuesday 2nd August at Streetly Library, Blackwood Road, and Pheasey Library, Collingwood Drive, Walsall. Both events are free and run from 11.00am - 12.30pm at Pheasey Library and 2.00pm - 3.30pm at Streetly Library.

Continue reading Circus skills workshop

Circus skills workshop

All the fun of the circus will be coming to Brownhills and Walsall Wood Libraries in Walsall on Wednesday 27th July with youngsters able to have a go at everything from juggling to stilt walking and plate spinning.

Tymoni from Boo Boo The Clown's Entertainments will be at Brownhills Library, Chester Road North, Walsall at 11.00am - 12.30 and at Walsall Wood Library, Coppice Road, Walsall, at 2.00pm - 3.30pm. Both events are free.

Continue reading Circus skills workshop

Circus skills workshop in Walsall

Summer Reading Challenge circus skills workshop at Brownhills Library, Parkview Centre, Brownhills, Walsall, on Wednesday 27th July, 11.00am - 12.30pm. Children can learn juggling, stilt walking, diablo and plate spinning. Tel: 01922 650730 to book a place.

Continue reading Circus skills workshop in Walsall

The Magical Detectives and the Forbidden Spell

The second book in the thrilling Magical Detectives series is out this month. Author, Brian Keaney, is available for author events.

In a locked museum in the middle of the night a thief appears from nowhere, steals a priceless clay tablet from Ancient Babylon and then disappears. In the village of Harford a senior British diplomat is found strangled in his bed. And in the sleepy little town of Bridlington Chawley an internationally-famous hypnotist knocks on the door of Spinoza's Second-Hand Bookshop.

What is the connection between these three events? That's the mystery that the Magical Detectives have to solve.

The Magical Detectives and the Forbidden Spell is the second book in the Magical Detective Agency series. The first book has been chosen for the Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge

For more information, or to orgnise an event, please contact Sarah Bennett

Continue reading The Magical Detectives and the Forbidden Spell

Andy Seed - Yorkshire author of All Teachers Great and Small - available for events

Andy Seed has crystallised his experiences as a primary school teacher in the Yorkshire Dales into the memoir All Teachers Great and Small.

Andy is an experienced public speaker and would like to visit libraries in the Yorkshire region (and beyond) to tell readers about his brilliant memoir.

Andy's entertaining talks encompass many facets:
• the nostalgic real life events which feature in his book
• the challenges of writing memoirs
• How he got published and top tips for aspiring authors

Please contact maura.brickell@headline.co.uk for details.

Continue reading Andy Seed - Yorkshire author of All Teachers Great and Small - available for events

Author wanted for Black history month october 2011

The brand new Woolwich Centre Library in the London borough of Greenwich will be dedicating the languages section to the late Cllr Kanta Patel during Black history month. We are looking for a gujerati author to give a talk.

Please contact sarah.davis@greenwich.gov.uk for details.

Continue reading Author wanted for Black history month october 2011

Circus skills workshop

To celebrate the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge, Boo Boo The Clown's Entertainments will be at Aldridge Library, Rookery Lane, Walsall, on Saturday 16th July, 10.00am - 12noon. Children can learn skills such as juggling, stilt walking, diablo and plate spinning. Contact 01922 655569

Continue reading Circus skills workshop

Authors wanted for World Book Day week

We're looking for authors to come to Leicester on World Book Day week. We can afford to contribute to their fees and travelling.

We run very sucessful author programmes which have been nationally recognised. Take a look at our website www.leicester.gov.uk/libraries

Email chris.hodgson@leicester.gov.uk for details.

Continue reading Authors wanted for World Book Day week

Dragonese Day

To celebrate the release of the 9th title in the bestselling How to Train Your Dragon series; How to Steal a Dragon's Sword, Hodder Children's Books are launching Dragonese Day on 6th October 2011!

To mark this exciting national event, we have created a downloadable teacher's pack full of fun and educational activities. The activities included in this pack are suitable for cross-curricular teaching for children between the ages of 5 and 11, covering topics such as Vikings and Dragons and curriculum links including History, Geography, Drama, Art and Literacy.

The objectives and curriculum links for each resource are clearly laid out in each section and the pack is suitable to be used for a full half term of lessons!

Register for your pack here

Continue reading Dragonese Day

The Breakfast Club by Kate Costelloe

Hachette Children's Books have 250 copies of _The Breakfast Club_ to give away. It's a brand new book for 9+ girls filled with fashion, fun and friendship.

Billie, Lexie, Ella and Natalie are all 14 years old, living in the fashionable and hip Notting Hill Gate. They're as different to each other as all four of Sex and City friends, but that's what makes them such good friends. Lexie's the sporty, practical tomboy, Ella's ever-so-sligthly ditzy, but creative fashionista, with a heart of gold; Nat's the witty, self-depracting hopeless romantic and Billie's the resident musician and Lily Allen in the making. Each of them have their own set of issues - whether it's school, parents or boys... and support is there, every week at their weekly breakfast catch up in their favourite cafe. 

Continue reading The Breakfast Club by Kate Costelloe

Fun dictionary activity sheets

Oxford University Press has created some colourful and inventive activity sheets to inspire children to have fun with words which can be found on our webpage.

Compiled by author/poet John Foster, these resources include Anagram Antics, Riddle-Me-Ree, and Spot the Synonym.

Continue reading Fun dictionary activity sheets

Sky Hawk publicity material

Something lives deep within the forest . . . something that has not been seen on Callum's farm for over a hundred years. Iona and Callum make a pact to keep the magnificent bird of prey secret and safe. From the glittering lochs of Scotland to the mangrove swaps of the Gambia, Sky Hawk is an inspiring story about the importance of the natural world, and the power of friendship and hope.

We have Sky Hawk posters and postcard packs to give away. There are also some fantastic reading group notes available on the OUP website.

Please email tradepublicity.uk@oup.com.

Continue reading Sky Hawk publicity material

Sweet Hearts Event

20 - 24 June 2011

Jo is author of the Sweet Hearts series and in June we will be doing a promotional tour to celebrate the publication of the third Sweet Hearts book, Sweet Hearts: Forget Me Not. Jo's event is a very humorous and lively presentation on how a book comes to be published. Most children (and even adults) don't really know what the publishing process involves. Jo goes through the whole process including pitching to publishers, editing and cover design, using the Sweet Hearts series as an example. Jo is a former teachers and actress and is very entertaining and normally has the kids giggling away.

If you would be interested in having Jo come to your school to do an event between 20 - 24 June (or at a later date), please email Louise Vallant. As this is a promotional tour, there will be no fee for the event.

Continue reading Sweet Hearts Event

Launch of Acorn Grow!

Acorn Grow is now LIVE!!!!! Our first digital product is alive and kicking. For further information please visit the Raintree website, or go directly to Acorn Grow and see what you think.

Continue reading Launch of Acorn Grow!

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 2: RODRICK RULES will hit the silver screen on 27th May! FREEBIES FROM PUFFIN

May 2011

In this sequel to 2010's smash hit, Greg Heffley, the kid who made "wimpy" cool is back in an all-new family comedy based on the best-selling follow-up novel by Jeff Kinney. As he begins seventh grade, Greg and his older brother - and chief tormentor - Rodrick must deal with their parents' misguided attempts to have them bond.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid trailer:

To celebrate the film release Puffin have bookmarks, mini posters, door hangers and games up for grabs!! Email kirsten.grant@uk.penguingroup.com with your preferred quantity by May 19th

Continue reading DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 2: RODRICK RULES will hit the silver screen on 27th May! FREEBIES FROM PUFFIN

Meet Ally Kennen at the launch of her new book, Quarry!

5 February

Drop in to Waterstone's in Taunton and meet local author Ally Kennen, and hear her talk about her brand new Teen Chiller, QUARRY!

Saturday 5th February
2pm to 4pm

Waterstone's Taunton
The County Hotel, East Street
Taunton TA1 3LU

For more information, please contact Catherine Alport

Continue reading Meet Ally Kennen at the launch of her new book, Quarry!

The Memory Cage

Alex's beloved grandfather is sick. His memory is failing, and Alex's parents want to put him in a home. Alex has promised Grandad that he won't let that happen. But Alex has broken promises before. When he was growing up in the Bosnian War, he swore that he would protect his brother. It was a promise that he couldn't keep. Alex can't fail again. But the only way to save Grandad could shatter the family ... and it may also tear Alex apart.

This is a brilliant debut from Ruth Eastham and perfect for reading and discussion groups of 10+.

Continue reading The Memory Cage

Goldseekers

In 17th century Cornwall, Jude's mother was called a witch. Now her son is a 'finder', born with a rare and strange power. Jude can sense the presence of gold wherever it is hidden. But this is a talent as dangerous as it is precious - especially when he leaves his childhood home after his parents' sudden deaths. Captured by a sinister one-eyed sea-captain, he is plunged into terrifying magical adventures on the magnificent, mysterious Cornish coast.

Proofs for this fantastic new novel from Jane Johnson are available for reading groups and libraries. Email Catherine Alport to request copies.

Continue reading Goldseekers

Diary of a Parent Trainer

Katie Sutton is an undiscovered genius. She has mastered the art of controlling and operating the strange species of grown-up. But when her mum starts dating AWFUL Stuart, Katie isn't sure of what to do ... her mum is behaving completely out of character, and Katie's tried and tested methods are no longer working. Katie needs to take drastic action to gain control over her grown-up again ... and fast!

Proofs for this fantastic debut novel are available for reading groups and libraries. Email Catherine Alport to request copies.

Continue reading Diary of a Parent Trainer

FREE 2010/2011 Year Planner

Orion Children's Books; Bringing books to life!

Brighten up your library walls with Orion Children's Books' FREE 2010/2011 YEAR PLANNERS in two different designs, featuring characters from Orion Books for older and younger children. Please email Louise.Heskett@orionbooks.co.uk to receive these fun and helpful posters.

To preview the posters, just click HERE for the KS2 planner and HERE for the KS3.

The adventure also continues online at our new resource area for teachers and librarians. Go to http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/promotions/resources-for-teachers to download a range of resources and activities for all ages.

To sign up to the new ORION STAR newsletter, visit www.orionbooks.co.uk/newsletters.

It's time to have some fun with reading!

Continue reading FREE 2010/2011 Year Planner

Bella Donna Activity Sheets

Piccadilly Press has fun activities available for download here for Ruth Symes' Bella Donna books. The activites include inventing spells, wordsearches and pictures that need some creative colouring in. Perfect for readers, teachers and librarians.

For more information visit: http://www.belladonnaonline.co.uk/

Continue reading Bella Donna Activity Sheets

Ciaran Murtagh available for author events

Ciaran Murtagh is the author fo four books for children aged 6 and over published by Piccadilly Press - Dinopants, Dinopoo, Dinoburps and Dinoball.

As well as writing children's books and high profile children's TV programmes, Ciaran is a brilliant and very funny performer and is keen to get out and about talking to children in schools, libraries and bookshops.

Visit www.ciaranmurtagh.com for more information.

Continue reading Ciaran Murtagh available for author events

Philip Caveney

January 2011 - April 2011

The wonderful author of the highly popular SEBASTIAN DARKE series has written a prequel - A BUFFALOPE'S TALE. Perfect for 9 - 11 year olds. "Unputdownable!" CBBC Newsround

Contact laura@bookguild.co.uk

Continue reading Philip Caveney

Mo-Bot High creator Neill Cameron available for events

October 2010 onwards

Neill Cameron, creator of the Giant Robot Action Schoolgirl Comedy epic Mo-Bot High, is available for events with children aged 7-12 for a HOW TO MAKE (AWESOME) COMICS WORKSHOP (max 30) and for an ILLUSTRATED TALK for larger audiences of ages 12+

Mo-Bot High is published by David Fickling Books as part of the brilliant Comic Book Library.

To set up an event with Neill please contact neill@neillcameron.com and for more info on him and Mo-Bot High please visit: http://www.neillcameron.com

Continue reading Mo-Bot High creator Neill Cameron available for events

New library opening in North Yorkshire - authors, illustrators etc wanted

From January 2011 onwards

North Yorkshire County Council is opening a new library in the small community of Starbeck in partnership with day services to adults with learning disabilities. We will be celebrating the new library from January 2011 onwards and are looking for authors, illustrators or publishers who will support us with events, goody bags, or anything else! For more information about the development, please visit our website (www.northyorks.gov.uk/starbeck), our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/starbeckhub), or contact Karen Thornton (karen.thornton@northyorks.gov.uk)

Continue reading New library opening in North Yorkshire - authors, illustrators etc wanted

Monkey Nuts - authors available for events

September 2010 onwards

The Etherington Brothers, creators of the wonderful and whacky Monkey Nuts, are available for events with boys and girls age 8+ and are happy to speak to audiences from 10-200.

Monkey Nuts is published by David Fickling Books as part of the brilliant Comic Book Library.

To set up an event with The Etheringtons please contact theetheringtonbrothers@hotmail.co.uk and for more info on them and Monkey Nuts please visit: http://theetheringtonbrothers.blogspot.com

Continue reading Monkey Nuts - authors available for events

Author available - Melanie Welsh

Melanie Welsh, author of the magical 'Mistress of the Storm' published by David Fickling Books is available for events with boys and girls age 9+ and is happy to speak to audiences from 10-200.

The Bookseller described 'Mistress of the Storm' as 'A really gripping magical debut with a strong girl heroine.'

To set up an event with Melanie please contact melanie@veritygallant.co.uk and for more info on Melanie and the book please visit www.veritygallant.co.uk

Continue reading Author available - Melanie Welsh

Author events available with Dinah Capparucci

Dinah Capparucci is the author of the brilliant Warning! series, published by Scholastic Children's Books, and is available for events with mixed audiences aged 7+.

Dinah's events are hilarious (she was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2008) and informative - best suited to audiences of 30-40 children.

If you are interested in an event with Dinah and want to find out more information about her and her books, contact Catherine on calport@scholastic.co.uk

Continue reading Author events available with Dinah Capparucci