Our Lady's Abingdon Library News

The Best Children's Book of the Last 10 Years

2012-02-02T23:31:00.001Z

Blue Peter viewers can vote for the best children's book of the last decade. The shortlist is made up of the 10 bestselling children's fiction books of the last 10 years, with authors only appearing once:
Alex Rider Mission 3: Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
Candyfloss by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling
Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony Ross
Mr Stink by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
The Series of Unfortunate Events: Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket
Theodore Boone by John Grisham
Young Bond: SilverFin ─ A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson

More details on Blue Peter's website For the next three weeks, until 23 February, children under 16 can log on with their BBC iD and vote for their favourite.The winning book will be announced on Blue Peter on 1 March, on a special show tied in with World Book Day. The Blue Peter Book of the Year Award winner will also be revealed.

Author Visit 9 February

2012-01-29T22:18:00.003Z

Each year the Librarians of the three independent schools in Abingdon organise an author visit, and take turns at hosting the event. This year we have two writers, Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore, better known as 'The Two Steves'. All of Year 7 will enjoy hearing this entertaining duo on Thursday 9 February.

Costa Book Awards

2012-01-05T20:17:00.001Z

The Costa Category Winners have been announced ahead of the overall winner later this month.
The Children's category has been won by Blood Red Road by Moira Young, a story set in the future where the main character is searching for her kidnapped twin brother.
This year's Novel Award winner is Andrew Miller for his sixth book, Pure, about a young engineer charged with demolishing a Paris cemetery in 1785. Matthew Hollis has won the Biography Award with Now All Roads Lead to France: The Last Years of Edward Thomas. Carol Ann Duffy's has won the Poetry Award for The Bees, her first collection of new poems since becoming Poet Laureate. Christie Watson's Tiny Sunbirds Far Away won the First Novel category.
Each category winner receives, £5,000, with the Book of the Year taking the £30,000 prize.
More information
24 January - The Costa Book of the Year was won by Andrew Miller for Pure.

OLA House of Books

2011-11-21T22:07:00.001Z

The OLA House of Books which was started on World Book Day earlier this year was completed during the OLA Reading Festival.
This exciting installation by the Art Department was developed from an initial idea by the Library and involved the whole school in creating a structure made of books. Inspired by the work of prize-winning Canadians Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, who exhibited at Modern Art Oxford in 2009, OLA's construction is made of old books many of them individually wrapped. Each contributor has labelled their parcel (an old book) with details of their favourite book and a one-word description.

Recent book news

2011-11-16T22:11:00.001Z

The Guardian Children's Book Prize 2011 has been won by Andy Mulligan for Return to Ribblestrop

The Roald Dahl Funny Prize
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon is the winner of the seven to fourteen category, and the first in a series of books about Tom, an expert doodler and master of excuses.
Cats Ahoy! written by Peter Bently and illustrated by Jim Field, a rhyming picture book about pirate cats, won the funniest book for children aged six and under. Both category winners receive a prize of £2500.

The Costa Book Awards 2011
The shortlists for best novel, best first novel, best biography, best poetry collection and best children's book have been announced. Costa Children’s Book Award shortlist:
Flip by Martyn Bedford
The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans
Blood Red Road by Moira Young.
The Costa Book Awards recognises some of the most enjoyable books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland. Judges will name each category winner on 4 January. The winner in each category receives £5000, and then one of the five winning books is selected as the overall Costa Book of the Year, to be announced on 24 January. The winner will receive £30,000.

Book awards round up

2011-10-18T08:57:00.000+01:00

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize shortlist for 2011
My Name Is Mina, by David Almond
Return to Ribblestrop, by Andy Mulligan
Moon Pie, by Simon Mason
Twilight Robbery, by Frances Hardinge
The winner will be announced on Thursday 10 November. Established in 1967, the Guardian children's fiction prize is the only children's prize to be judged by writers. This year's judges are Julia Eccleshare, Michelle Paver, Julia Golding and Marcus Sedgwick. Previous winners include Alan Garner, Joan Aiken, Ted Hughes, Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson.

Richard and Judy’s Children’s Christmas Book Club 2011 is made up of twelve titles for mixed age groups and includes old and new favourites:
* Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Pop-Up Book, Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake
* Dear Zoo Noisy Book, Rod Campbell
* Egyptology, Emily Sands, Dugald Steer, Nick Harris and Helen Ward
* Farmyard Tales Wind-up Tractor Book, Stephen Cartwright
* Happy Christmas Boris!, Sam Lloyd
* The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters, Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg,
* Monstersaurus, Claire Freedman and Ben Cort
* Snuggle Bunny, Emma Goldhawk and Jon Lambert
* Paddington's Cookery Book, Michael Bond and R.W. Alley
* Pippi Longstocking Gift Edition, Astrid Lindgren and Lauren Child
* Puss in Boots, Stella Gurney
* See Inside: Noisy Castles, Katie Daynes and David Hancock
Further information

Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2011 shortlists
The Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen:
* Animal Tales by Terry Jones, illustrated by Michael Foreman
* The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
* The Get Rich Quick Club by Rose Impey
* Letters from an Alien Schoolboy by Ros Asquith
* Penny Dreadful is a Magnet for Disaster by Joanna Nadin, illustrated by Jess Mikhail
* The Wrong Pong by Steven Butler, illustrated by Chris Fisher
The Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under:
* Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere
* Cats Ahoy! by Peter Bently, illustrated by Jim Field
* First Week at Cow School by Andy Cutbill, illustrated by Russell Ayto
* Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson
* Marshall Armstrong is New to Our School by David Mackintosh
* A Place to Call Home by Alexis Deacon, illustrated by Viviane Schwarz

Forward Prize
Poet John Burnside has been named the winner of the £10,000 Forward Prize for his collection Black Cat Bone. The Scottish writer has been nominated for this prize four times. "Burnside's Black Cat Bone is at once a very direct and a very subtle book," said Sir Andrew Motion, chairman of the judging panel. The Forward Prizes were founded in 1992 and reward both established and up-and-coming poets. Irish poet Seamus Heaney received last year's prize for his collection, Human Chain.

Wales' first Young People's Laureate
Catherine Fisher, an award-winning author of fantasy novels for children, is named Wales' first Young People's Laureate. Specialising in myth and history, Fisher's futuristic novel Incarceron is available from the school Library.

OLA Visitor Theresa Breslin wins Young Quills prize

2011-10-13T22:27:00.004+01:00

OLA Visitor Theresa Breslin has won the Young Quills prize for historical fiction. Organised and awarded by the Historical Association and introduced two years ago in recognition of the important role fiction can play in introducing children and young people to history, the Young Quills are shortlisted by young people. Only historical fiction from the previous 12 months directly aimed at children and teenagers are included.
The winner in the teenage section (12+) is Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin, who was one of the guests at our recent OLA Reading Festival. The book is set in Spain during the fifteenth century, and had already been shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. The winner in the primary section (under 12 years ) for this year is ‘The Sacred Scarab’ by Gill Harvey, set in Ancient Egypt.

OLA Reading Festival 26-30 September

2011-09-21T20:36:00.001+01:00

During the week of 26-30 September OLA will be hosting a Reading Festival, with a selection of authors and poets coming to the junior and senior school to talk about their work. Here are the highlights for the Senior School.
Monday 26th: David Melling, children’s book illustrator, in the Art Department in the afternoon.
Tuesday 27th: Bernard O'Donohue, Whitbread Poetry Prize winner. Evening event for Sixth formers and adults. 6 pm - Refreshments. 6.30 pm - Poetry reading for about 30 minutes. 7 pm – Book signing. Parents, readers and poetry lovers welcome. All welcome.
Wednesday 28th : Katherine Rundell, young author of The Girl Savage and Oxford University academic. P.3: Year 7; P.5: Year 8. Lunchtime in the Library - available for questions about writing, and studying English at university.
Thursday 29th: Steve Wilson. Journalist and travel writer. P. 4 : Year 9, Non-Fiction writing and his travels across Africa on a motorbike; P7 - PSHE : Yrs 9 upwards, Journalism and P8 Q & A (optional, depends on teacher). Weather permitting Steve will arrive on his classic motorbike which will be in the Mall or outside reception and he will be ready to chat about it during lunch break.
Friday 30th September: Theresa Breslin. Prisoner of the Inquisition was shortlisted for this year’s Carnegie Medal, the prestigious award which she won in 1994 for Whispers in the Graveyard. P 1 & 2 : JS Yrs 3 & 4+ 150 visitors in CMA; P. 3 & 4: Yrs 9-10, Fact into Fiction and Power of Place; P. 6 & 7 Yr 8: Brisk beginnings.
The OLA Reading Festival also sees the construction of OLA's House of Books, which was started on World Book Day earlier this year. This exciting installation is being developed by the Art Department who are involving the whole school and will culminate in a structure made of books. Inspired by the work of prize-winning Canadians Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, who exhibited at Modern Art Oxford in 2009, OLA's construction will be made of old books individually wrapped. Each contributor has labelled their parcel (an old book) with details of their favourite book and a one-word description.

Welcome to a new year of reading

2011-09-08T23:43:00.000+01:00

Reading Olympics, the OLA Reading Festival and the Kids' Lit Quiz are some of the highlights happening this term.The holidays saw new shelving fitted in the Library so Fiction books in particular can be better displayed.More information about the Reading Festival, 26 - 30 September coming soon.

Summer Reading

2011-07-27T22:44:00.003+01:00

Circus Stars, the national Summer Reading Challenge for children, is running in most UK public libraries throughout the summer holidays, with incentives, activities and events designed to create a real buzz around children's reading. The challenge is simple - to read six or more library books over the summer.

How it works
- Children sign up for the Challenge at their local library where they receive their free starter pack.
- The Challenge invites children to read six library books of their choice throughout the holidays.
- Children collect rewards and receive incentives along the way to encourage them to complete the challenge.

The Circus Stars website is packed with games and activities to keep children engaged and motivated to keep reading, http://www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/, and there are linked activities to encourage families into libraries throughout the summer.

Incoming Year 7 pupils have also been challenged to read over the summer, and can produce their Circus Stars record or their OLA Summer Reading Challenge to gain their a commendation in September. All summer reading will count towards the OLA Reading Olympics - just remember to keep a list of what you read.

Exhibition at Imperial War Museum

2011-07-23T15:11:00.002+01:00

Once Upon A Wartime: Classic War Stories is a family-friendly exhibition at the Imperial War Museum which looks at some of the best-loved books written for children about conflict from World War I until the present day. It runs until 30 October 2011.

Once Upon A Wartime brings five stories of war dramatically to life. Adults and children can wander through life-size sets, peer into intricate scale models and explore the stories’ themes of loyalty, separation, excitement, survival and identity.

From the bleak landscape of no man’s land in War Horse to the imposing tower blocks of London’s gang warfare in Little Soldier, this exhibition is an immersive journey through the worlds of the books. Pull up a chair in Hepzibah’s kitchen where the scene is set straight out of Carrie’s War, discover the secret fortress from The Machine Gunners and listen to the footsteps above the cellar where the Balicki children find shelter in The Silver Sword.

Behind the scenes of the stories, see what inspired the authors to write their books, and find out about the historical context of each story through objects, photographs and films.

Information above taken from http://wartime.iwm.org.uk/

Regional Book Awards

2011-07-13T23:54:00.003+01:00

Recent regional book award results, where the winners have been chosen by school pupils who vote after reading the shortlisted books:
OXFORDSHIRE BOOK AWARD 2011
Primary Picture Book - Zog by Julia Donaldson & Axel Sheffler
Primary Book - Shadow by Michael Morpurgo
Secondary Book - Boy's Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman
HAMPSHIRE BOOK AWARD
Timeriders by Alex Scarrow, with Halo by Zizou Corder a close second.
GRAMPIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD
Joint Winners - Cathy MacPhail (for Grass)and Charlie Higson (for The Enemy)
REDBRIDGE CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD
Children's category - Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy
Teenage category - Boys Don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman.

Branford Boase Award 2011

2011-07-07T22:02:00.007+01:00

Out Of Shadows by Jason Wallace has won this year's Branford Boase Award, which is given each year to the most outstanding work of fiction for children by a first time novelist. Previous winning writers include Marcus Sedgwick, Meg Rosoff, Kevin Brooks and Mal Peet.
The other books on the 2011 shortlist were:
I Am The Blade by J.P. Buxton
When I Was Joe by Keren David
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
Unhooking The Moon by Gregory Hughes
The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh.
Out of Shadows also won this year's Costa Children's Book Award and was voted winner by the Carnegie shadowers at our joint schools' Abingdon Carnegie Forum.

Abingdon Carnegie Forum

2011-06-22T21:19:00.007+01:00

The joint schools' Abingdon Carnegie Forum took place at Abingdon Guildhall. Over eighty students attended, from the six secondary schools. They have been avidly reading the six books nominated for the prestigious children's book award, the Carnegie Medal. This event was the culmination of 10 weeks of reading and reviewing.

All over the country students have been shadowing the Carnegie Medal: reading the shortlist and posting their reviews on a special website. Fifteen students from OLA's Year 7 & 8 met other keen readers to discuss the shortlisted titles and, in nine mixed school groups, present a review of their favourite book in front of a panel of judges.

The judges had to decide which presentation would convince them to read that book, and also decided on the best book reviews. Prizes were given: book tokens, books and some edible prizes too. The students also voted for the Abingdon Carnegie winning book and shared a Carnegie cake.

OLA Book Review prizewinners:
Best Book Review for Out of Shadows - Anastasya
Highly Commended Book Review - Olivia

At the end of the Forum the chair of the judges, who were from the worlds of publishing, bookselling and education, spoke about how much they had enjoyed the day. They were impressed by the good understanding of the books shown in the reviews, the presentation of the shadower's own responses, whether positive or negative, and use of similes to express their opinions. Noting that all this reading and reviewing was conducted in their own free time the judges applauded the reviewers' good work and their often witty personal styles. The judges were persuaded by these reviews that they wanted to read Out of Shadows first.

OLA Best Contributor in Group winners:
These nominations were made by the group leaders for group work during the course of the day.
Best Contributor in Group - Isobel
Best Contributor in Group - Phoebe

Group presentations, lasting no longer than three minutes, took a variety of forms from advertisements to news reports and key scenes to a game show. The judges said what a high standard these were: witty, exciting, interesting to watch, involving all the students in each group, who took part enthusiastically. Hard though it was choose the judges decided that the Best Group Presentation should go to 'The Beggars' who convinced them that Prisoner of the Inquisition was the book to read.

Which book was voted by the shadowers as the Abingdon Carnegie Winner? It was Out of Shadows, with Prisoner of the Inquisition a close second. The official winner of the Carnegie Medal announced on 23 June - Monsters of Men.

Finally, a couple of comments from the Judges:
"I was startled by the excellence of the children's responses."
Fantastically organised and a really enjoyable day. The quality of reviews and presentations was amazing."

Scholastic Book Club

2011-06-12T14:38:00.001+01:00

I’ve just set up our Scholastic Book Club school group order online. This means you can now order all the books in your Book Clubs leaflet and many more at http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab and, what's more, you'll be able to have your books delivered to school for free.

You need to order your books by Thursday 23rd June 2011. After that date, I’ll confirm that all orders are in and the books will be delivered to school for me to hand out in class. For every £1 you spend 20p goes back to our school to spend on much-needed books for our library!

Take a look at what’s on offer here http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab – there are some great bargains with books costing as little as £1.99!
Please note some books are badged 13+

Red House Children’s Book Award 2011

2011-06-11T17:00:00.010+01:00

Michael Morpurgo's book Shadow is the overall winner of the Red House Children’s Book Award 2011
TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow won the Older Readers Category.
Yuck! That's Not a Monster! by Angela McAllister & Alison Edgson won the Younger Children's Category.
The Red House Children's Book Award is awarded annually in three categories, and judged entirely by children from shortlist to final overall Winner. Read more and see the top 50 titles each year published as the Pick of the Year list

The longlist for the Guardian children's fiction prize was recently announced. It is the only children's prize to be judged by writers. The eight titles, with the suggested ages, are:
My Name is Mina, by David Almond 9+
Small Change for Stuart, by Lissa Evans 8+
Twilight Robbery, by Frances Hardinge 11+
Momentum, by Sacci Lloyd 12+
Moon Pie, by Simon Mason 10+
Return to Ribblestrop, by Andy Mulligan 10+
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, by Annabel Pitcher 10+
Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout, by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman 7+
A shortlist is usually announced in September with the winner revealed in October.

The Orange Prize for Fiction has been won by Téa Obreht for her debut novel, The Tiger's Wife. The prize is awarded for the best novel of the year written by a woman. Obreht, aged 25, is the youngest-ever author to win the £30,000 prize.

Julia Donaldson - the new Children's Laureate

2011-06-07T18:27:00.006+01:00

The new Children's Laureate has been announced today. It is Julia Donaldson, the author of over 120 books and plays for children and teenagers, including some of the UK’s best-selling picture books, including The Gruffalo. Julia is the seventh Children's Laureate, and her term will last two years.

Book Reviewing

2011-05-28T23:02:00.006+01:00

As OLA's Carnegie shadowers are busily reading and reviewing books on the Carnegie Medal shortlist, a timely article by two children's book reviewers, who share their expert tips. Read Philip Ardagh's and Linda Buckley-Archer's advice.
Read OLA shadowers' reviews.

Vote for your favourite Harry Potter character

2011-05-23T21:18:00.003+01:00

Bloomsbury Publishing is launching a worldwide search to find the most favourite character from the Harry Potter books. Visitors can vote on their website. If your favourite character is missing from the list of 40 names, then you can add your favourite.
The poll runs until 26 August and the winning character will be announced on 30 August.
Children under 13 years of age must have the consent of their parent or guardian to vote.

Festival of Illustration

2011-05-17T22:40:00.003+01:00

Blackwell's Bookshop in Oxford is holding a Festival of Illustration this weekend.
There are family events on Saturday, plus an evening event on Friday for adults, tickets are free.
Friday:
7pm Festival of Illustration Panel Discussion: “What is Reading?”
Saturday:
11 am - Tony Ross and David McKee
1.30pm - Chris Wormell
3 pm - Katie Cleminson
5 pm - An Event for Adults David McKee and Mini Grey
Further Information from Blackwell's Bookshop

Girls Heart Books

2011-05-08T18:03:00.002+01:00

This is a new blog by writers who all write girls' fiction, from age 8 up to older teens, over 30 authors!
Every day there's a new post (including weekends) from a different author, including Susie Day, Leila Rasheed, Cathy Cassidy, Karen McCombie, Liz Kessler, Cathy Hopkins and our 'own' (former OLA pupil) Jo Cotterill.
Read more at http://girlsheartbooks.com/

Carnegie Tea

2011-05-01T09:55:00.004+01:00

Over 100 Carnegie Shadowers from schools in Abingdon met at Larkmead School to discuss first reactions to the six titles shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. After the all-important refreshments the mixed school groups found themselves playing a kind of pass-the-parcel game, which encouraged each of the to talk about the covers, blurbs and openings of the books. At this early stage they each voted for the one they thought would win - results here soon.

The CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2011:
BRESLIN, THERESA PRISONER OF THE INQUISITION
McCAUGHREAN GERALDINE THE DEATH DEFYING PEPPER ROUX
NESS, PATRICK MONSTERS OF MEN
ROSOFF, MEG THE BRIDE'S FAREWELL
SEDGWICK, MARCUS WHITE CROW
WALLACE, JASON OUT OF SHADOWS

Shadowing the Carnegie Medal

2011-04-08T13:05:00.002+01:00

What does Shadowing the Carnegie Medal involve?

• Reading Books. Past Carnegie Medal winners have become classics. These include The Borrowers, Watership Down, Skellig, Flour Babies, and Northern Lights. You will be reading future classics!

• Meetings. There will be ‘shadowing’ meetings in the Library on Mondays, at 4.05, where you can come to change your books, chat about the books you have read, write reviews and persuade others why your favourite should win the Medal.

• Writing Reviews. You post your review on a special shadowing website, where other ‘shadowers’ around the country are doing the same. We will also be discussing the books informally on our own OLA private wiki.

• Meeting Carnegie Shadowers from other schools and the Carnegie Forum. The six secondary schools in Abingdon have worked together over the Carnegie Medal for several years. We have three joint meetings: a 'tea' to introduce the books, a quiz a few weeks into the shadowing, and a joint Abingdon Carnegie Forum where 100 students from local schools discuss and vote for their Abingdon winner.

The shortlist of books for the Carnegie Medal was announced on Friday, 1 April and OLA Shadowers went home with books to read, enjoy and consider.

Mini Kids' Lit Quiz

2011-04-05T21:16:00.001+01:00

What colour is Hermione Granger's cat?
Who owned a faithful dog called Snowy?
Because his parents and uncle were dead Jack Starbright was asked to look after whom?
Which animal is missing from this famous line-up: Toad,Water rat, Badger and ....?

Twelve teams from OLA Senior and Junior school battled it out to answer questions such as these at OLA's annual Mini Kids' Lit Quiz. A fun-filled 40 minutes sped by in front of an audience of pupils, staff and parents, who also had a few questions thrown at them. Prizes were won - Highest scoring team, Best Junior School team, Best Buddies team, but everyone, whether spectator or participant, enjoyed themselves at the MIni KLQ. The international heats of the Kids' Lit Quiz, which started in the UK last November, are currently continuing in New Zealand.

Did you know the answers? Ginger, Tintin, Alex Rider, Mole.

Monday 4 April - Mini Kids' Lit Quiz

2011-03-24T19:50:00.001Z

On Monday 4 April, at 4.05 pm there will be a mini Kids' Lit Quiz in the school hall. Everyone is invited to participate in or watch this lively and enjoyable event.

This is a fun team quiz which will finish by 4.50, the end of 'coach study', in time for the late buses.

Make up a team of 6 - anyone can enter, you can even ask a teacher to join your team. OLA Junior School is fielding two teams.

Don't be afraid you won't know the answers - you WILL know the answers to many of the questions! It's a team effort, and answers are written down - no-one is put on the spot! There will be 5 rounds of 5 questions so even if you are not a great reader you should be able to answer most questions in a team.

There will be PRIZES but you will be surprised at how much entertainment the KLQ generates.

Please join us!

Oxford Literary Festival

2011-03-10T19:43:00.003Z

The Oxford Literary Festival runs from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th April, and the children's and young adults events offer a wide programme of events. Authors and illustrators include Anthony Browne, Anne Fine, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson, the current and previous Children's Laureates, as well as Eoin Colfer, Michelle Magorian, Justin Somper, Francesca Simon and Andy Stanton. Find out more http://www.oxfordliteraryfestival.com/#Childrens

Book award news

2011-03-07T21:22:00.004Z

Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St John is the Blue Peter Book of the Year. Set in St Ives it's the adventures of an 11-year-old amateur detective, Laura Marlin and her three-legged husky, Skye. More

2011 Shortlist Red House Children's Book Award. The prize is awarded annually in three categories and judged entirely by children from shortlist to final overall Winner. Children have been reading and reviewing books all year long and these are their favourite ten.
Books for Older Readers:
Trash by Andy Mulligan
The Kane Chronicles: the Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow
Books for Younger Readers:
The Great Hamster Massacre by Katie Davies
Time Train to the Blitz by Sophie McKenzie
Shadow by Michael Morpurgo
Books for Younger Children:
Gilbert the Hero by Jane Clarke and Charles Fuge
Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza by Holly Clifton-Brown
Yuck! That’s not a Monster! by Angela McAllister and Alison Edgson
Dragon Stew by Steve Smallman and Lee Wildish.

Bisto Children's Book of the Year Awards Shortlist. This is the leading annual children's book award to authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland. More
A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton
Dancing in the Dark by Peter Prendergast
Mac Rí Éireann le Caitríona Hasting agus Andrew Whiton
Prim Improper by Deirdre Sullivan
Taking Flight by Sheena Wilknson
The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
The Lunatics Curse by F.E. Higgins
The Owl and the Pussycat illustrated by Kevin Waldron
Tiny Little Fly illustrated by Kevin Waldron
Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers.

Hans Christian Andersen Award nominations
Every other year the Hans Christian Andersen Awards are given to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. John Burningham and Philip Pullman have been nominated by the UK section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) among an international field and the winner will be announced next year after detailed consideration by an international panel. More

5745

2011-03-03T22:13:00.000Z

5745 minutes of reading took place in the last quarter hour of the school day as everyone stopped to read as part of our celebration of World Book Day. That's about 95 hours!

World Book Day 2011

2011-03-01T22:37:00.003Z

We're celebrating World Book Day in a number of ways:
- House of Books installation! See below.
- Whole School Reading, 3.45 - 4.00 p.m. The three afternoon lessons are shorter by 5 minutes so everyone can stop and read. Stay with your teacher from period 8, but remember to bring something to read, or visit the Library earlier in the day;
- Read around the World: a huge selection of great reads on display on the shelf and online here;
- Fun activities based on fact-finding about countries;
- World Book Day voucher. All students will receive a £1 voucher which can be used towards book purchases in participating bookshops or towards an order from Cover2Cover magazine in school, return your order to the Library by 10 March; token valid until 27 March in shops;
- Launch of the Library's regular 'Best of OLA Library' delivered directly to your school email in-box and featuring some of the best reads and websites, hints and tips.

House of Books World Book Day sees the official launch of OLA's House of Books. This exciting installation is being developed with the Art Department who will involve the whole school and will culminate in a structure made of books. Inspired by the work of prize-winning Canadians Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, who exhibited at Modern Art Oxford in 2009, OLA's construction will be made of old books individually wrapped. Each contributor will label their parcel with details of their favourite book and a one-word description. Years 7 & 8 pupils have already contributed one brick each but more will accumulate as other year groups add theirs. Watch this space for reports of how the project is progressing, and the plan for the construction develops.

Classic War Stories

2011-02-27T17:01:00.005Z

Once Upon A Wartime: Classic War Stories for Children runs from 11 February to 30 October 2011 at the Imperial War Museum London.

Once Upon A Wartime delves into the pages of well-loved books, bringing five stories of war dramatically to life.

Adults and children can wander through life-size sets, peer into intricate scale models and explore the stories’ themes of loyalty, separation, excitement, survival and identity.

From the bleak landscape of no man’s land in War Horse to the imposing tower blocks of London’s gang warfare in Little Soldier, this exhibition is an immersive journey through the worlds of the books. Pull up a chair in Hepzibah’s kitchen where the scene is set straight out of Carrie’s War, discover the secret fortress from The Machine Gunners and listen to the footsteps above the cellar where the Balicki children find shelter in The Silver Sword.

Behind the scenes of the stories, see what inspired the authors to write their books, and find out about the historical context of each story through objects, photographs and films.

Information above taken from http://wartime.iwm.org.uk/

Carrie's War, The Machine Gunners, The Silver Sword, War Horse and Little Soldier are all available for loan from the school library.

Michael Morpurgo

2011-02-20T16:26:00.002Z

Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's most popular children's authors, and a previous Children's Laureate. He has written over 120 books and more recently become a household name among adults following the hugely successful dramatisation of his book War Horse, which is now being made into a film by Stephen Spielberg.

As part of the BBC's Year Of Books, this year’s Richard Dimbleby Lecture was given by Michael Morpurgo, who explored the increasingly urgent issue of children’s rights and the wrongs that young people have to endure.

Follow the link on his website http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/news/ to watch the lecture on BBC iPlayer, where you can also listen to extracts of Michael’s books and watch videos of Michael Morpurgo talking about his new book Shadow, including an exclusive reading.

Once Upon A Wartime, a new exhibition which opened at the Imperial War Museum London earlier this month, delves into the pages of well-loved books, bringing five stories of war dramatically to life, including War Horse. Find out about what inspired Michael to write War Horse, see behind the scenes of the story, explore the historical context of the story through fascinating objects, photographs and films.

Julia Golding and 600 children

2011-01-29T23:42:00.002Z

Successful children's author Julia Golding will be guest of Our Lady’s Abingdon on 9 February. During the day around 600 local children will hear her talk about her books and where she finds her ideas.

This event, jointly organised by the Librarians from Our Lady’s Abingdon, Abingdon and St Helen & St Katharine schools, aims to invite children from local primary and secondary schools who may not have the opportunity to meet an author. Children will hear one of the writer's three talks during this 6th annual Joint Schools' Author Visit.

In the morning Julia will 'be' Joss Stirling – her pen name for a teen title that she has recently published called Finding Sky, a paranormal romance and thrilling adventure story, and will also be talking about her book Wolf Cry. In the afternoon session Julia will talk to our younger guests about writing fantasy focussing on Glass Swallow and also mentioning The Ship Between the Worlds and Dragonfly.
Local book shop Mostly Books will be running a a book shop all day.

Costa and Marsh Awards

2011-01-27T23:18:00.002Z

Poet Jo Shapcott has won the 2010 Costa Book of the Year for her collection Of Mutability and cheque for £30,000. This is the second year in a row that a collection of poetry has won the overall prize.

The Marsh Award for Children's Literature in Translation is awarded to the translator of a children's book into English. Awarded every two years, this year's award went to Martin Cleaver for his translation of Letters to Anyone and Everyone by Toon Tellegen, whose animal stories are best sellers in the Netherlands. Read more in Books for Keeps.

Sherlock Holmes sequel

2011-01-25T21:54:00.001Z

Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider children's series, has been commissioned to produce an official Sherlock Holmes sequel for adult readers.
Read more

Crime Central - crime fiction for teen readers

2011-01-24T21:53:00.005Z

Crime Central is a new blog aimed at teenagers who like crime fiction. The authors contributing write, "Ever noticed a teen crime section in bookshops, alongside the paranormal romances and the picture books? No? Well, you're not alone. Although crime fiction is HUGE for adults, somehow it never seems to get the attention it deserves for teens.
So we've set up this blog to showcase the best in crime writing for teens. We are authors Anne Cassidy and Keren David from London, and Gillian Philip and Linda Strachan from Scotland, and we're going to put books about crime for teens in the spotlight." There is also a competition to win a signed book by Anne Cassidy.
Visit Crime Central

Author Jo Cotterill visits OLA

2011-01-11T20:17:00.008Z

Former OLA pupil Jo Cotterill, who is now an established children's author, visited Our Lady's Abingdon to talk to Years 7, 8 and 9 about her life at the school, her acting and teaching career, and now her writing. Hugely entertaining, and illustrated with photos, Jo gave the groups an insight into her life and book writing. Lunchtime was spent in the Library autographing her Sweet Hearts books, and chatting to each of her new fans.
Sweet Hearts home page

Scholastic Book Club

2011-01-07T17:40:00.003Z

I’ve just set up our latest Scholastic Book Club school group order online. This means you can order your book choices from the Book Clubs leaflet (which I'll be handing out in the next few days) and from a wider selection at http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab and, what's more, you'll be able to have your books delivered to school for free. They can also be delivered to your home.

For delivery to school you need to order your books by Friday 21 January 2011. For every £1 you spend 20p goes back to the library to spend on books. Take a look at what’s on offer – there are some great bargains with books costing as little as £1.99! Please note that some books are badged 13+.

Costa Children's Book Award

2011-01-05T20:10:00.003Z

The Costa Children's Book Award has been won by Jason Wallace for Out Of Shadows. Set in newly-independent Zimbabwe in the 1980s, this is a compelling, thought-provoking novel about race, bullying and the need to belong: recommended to older readers.
By winning the category, the author received a cheque for £5000. The Costa Book of the Year is selected from the five Category Award Winners. The overall winner receives a further £30,000.

New Year Honours

2010-12-31T11:27:00.003Z

Congratulations to recent OLA visitor Wayne Mills who has been awarded the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education in the Queen's New Year Honours list 2011.

Wayne launched the Kids' Lit Quiz™ in New Zealand in 1991 concerned that his children’s school prize givings never included awards for keen readers. He wanted to make children who love books as highly valued as school sports stars in his sports-mad country, with national TV coverage, trophies and trips to compete in exciting venues to spur them on. The competition has been spreading around the world, is hugely popular in the UK and is launching in Canada in February.

The New Zealand Order of Merit, established in 1996, is awarded to those “who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and the nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions, or other merits”.

Wayne Mills is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland in the Faculty of Education. In March 2008 he was awarded the Margaret Mahy Medal in New Zealand for his substantial and distinguished contribution to both national and international literature and literacy.

Treasure Island and classic books

2010-12-18T15:50:00.006Z

Following Year 7's visit to the theatre to see an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island we had a discussion in the Library about what we mean by a classic. We looked at the definition in the Oxford English Dictionary (my favourite reference book) and then thought about classic books, suggesting titles. A list of classic books arranged by genre was given out to paste into English exercise books. All the books on the list are available for loan from the school library, and of course, make a great Christmas present or gift for a child at any time of the year.
Season's Greetings!

The 2011 Blue Peter Book Awards Shortlist

2010-12-07T20:46:00.002Z

The 2011 Blue Peter Book Awards Shortlist is:
Best Book With Facts:
Do Igloos Have Loos? by Mitchell Symons
How the World Works by Christiane Dorion
What You Need To Know Now: The World in Facts, Stats, and Graphics by Joe Fullman et al.
Most Fun Story with Pictures:
Alienography by Chris Riddell
Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman
Lunatics and Luck (The Raven Mysteries) by Marcus Sedgwick, illustrated by Pete Williamson
Favourite Stories:
Dead Man's Cove (A Laura Marlin Mystery) by Lauren St John
A Web of Air (Mortal Engines) by Philip Reeve
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
The panel of adult judges selected the shortlist which will now be judged by Blue Peter viewers. They will decide both the winners in each category, and the overall winner of Blue Peter Book of the Year 2011.

KLQ Quiz Master visits OLA

2010-12-05T14:03:00.003Z

Wayne Mills, the KLQ Quiz Master, visted OLA before he flew back to New Zealand. He attended the lunchtime Debating Society taster session 'Fairytales should be banned - they delude young children', and then spent the afternoon in the Library recommending books (see the list here), and giving out prizes for a correct answer to a spot question. He never asks a quiz question on a book unless he has read it, and his enthusiasm for reading is infectious, so by the end of his sessions I was very busy issuing books for loan!

Kids' Lit Quiz - UK Final

2010-12-01T20:30:00.005Z

The UK Final of the Kids' Lit Quiz took place yesterday in Oxford Town Hall, an exciting afternoon where some of the best readers in the UK were being rewarded for reading. Children’s author, actor and comedian Charlie Higson, creator of the Young Bond series and new zombie thriller series The Enemy along with 30 children's authors came to cheer on their readers. The winners were Cockermouth School with Bristol Grammar coming second after a nail-biting play-off. Both teams are invited to New Zealand in 2011 for the 20th Anniversary International KLQ Celebration.

Roald Dahl Funny Prizes and Costa Shortlists

2010-11-19T21:02:00.004Z

Authors Louise Rennison and Louise Yates have won this year's Roald Dahl Funny Prizes with Withering Tights (7-14 year-olds) and Dog Loves Books (0-6 year-olds).
More information

Costa Book Awards 2010 Shortlists
The Costa Book Awards is one of the most prestigious and popular literary prizes in the UK and recognises some of the most enjoyable books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.
The shortlists have been announced for the five categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book. The winner in each category will receive £5,000, and one of those five books will be selected as the overall winner of the Book of the Year and receive a further £30,000.
Costa Children's Book Award
* Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
* Annexed by Sharon Dogar
* Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
* Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace
Costa First Novel Award
* Witness the Night by Kishwar Desai
* Coconut Unlimited by Nikesh Shukla
* The Temple-Goers by Aatish Taseer
* Not Quite White by Simon Thirsk
Costa Novel Award
* Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty
* The Blasphemer by Nigel Farndale
* The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell
* Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Costa Biography Award
* How to Live A Life of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell
* My Father's Fortune by Michael Frayn
* The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
Costa Poetry Award
* Standard Midland by Roy Fisher
* The Wrecking Light by Robin Robertson
* Of Mutability by Jo Shapcott
* New Light for the Old Dark by Sam Willetts
The award winners in all five categories will be announced on 5 January and the 2010 Costa Book of the Year on 25 January 2011.
Full details

Kids' Lit Quiz

2010-11-17T20:59:00.004Z

The Oxfordshire and Berkshire Heat of the Kids' Lit Quiz saw OLA teams come 4th and 12th in a field of 42 teams. Well done! Their knowledge of books was tremendous and shows that reading is always a winner.
Authors supporting the KLQ at this heat were Lucy Coates, Jo Cotterill, Susie Day, M.G. Harris, Marie-Louise Jensen, and Mark Robson. A bookshop selling their books meant they were kept busy signing in the interval and after the event.
Thank you to Oxford High School for the venue, and congratulations to their team, which goes on to the the UK Final at the end of the month.
From the Quiz Master's blog: Two records were set - one UK and one World. There were 42 teams tonight the largest ever in the UK and to top that off a new world record score was established by Oxford High School when they scored 97.5. (The previous record was 95). Obviously this school went on to win and their number two team was second. Third place was tight and required a sudden death play-off between St Gregory the Great School and The Cherwell School. It was won by St Gregory. It was a very busy exciting afternoon, the literary brain-power was awesome. The Mayor of Bicester commented as he awarded the trophy that the competition was of an exceptionally high standard and that he was looking forward to attending the UK Final in Oxford on November 30th.(http://kidslitquiz.blogspot.com/)

Scholastic Book Club

2010-11-02T21:48:00.001Z

I’ve just set up our latest Scholastic Book Club school group order online. This means you can order your book choices from the Book Clubs leaflet (which I'll be handing out this week) and from a wider selection at http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab and, what's more, you'll be able to have your books delivered to school for free.

You need to order your books by Thursday 18th November 2010 and the books will be delivered to school for me to hand out. For every £1 you spend 20p goes back to the library to spend on books.

Take a look at what’s on offer at http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab – there are some great bargains with books costing as little as £1.99! Please note that some books are badged 13+.

Selecting OLA's teams for the Kids' Lit Quiz

2010-10-10T11:18:00.002+01:00

Preliminary rounds to select OLA's two Kids' Lit Quiz teams have been taking place for all pupils in Year 7 and Year 8. Higher scorers have been invited to a second round taking place in their own time, outside lessons. Once we have a squad, members will need to confirm their availability to take part before we finalise the teams.

This year the Oxfordshire and Berkshire Heat will be taking place on Tuesday 16 November, 2.30 - 5.30 p.m. It’s a great spectator event and super entertainment: put the date in your diary now! The winning team from this heat will go through to the UK Final taking place later in the month, on Tuesday 30 November this year in Oxford, in the Town Hall, 1.30 - 4 p.m.

First children's story book with 3D animation

2010-10-08T21:51:00.004+01:00

The world's first interactive 3D animation story book for children is on sale in Finland. The 3D animation story book for children looks just like any picture book, but with special small black squares on some pages which indicate the interactive 3D animation. Once a web camera faces the black square, 3D-animation cartoon figures and pictures will appear on the computer screen. See a picture.

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2010 winner

2010-10-08T21:38:00.005+01:00

Michelle Paver has won this year's Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for Ghost Hunter, the sixth and final book in her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series.
It's relatively rare for a book late in a series to win a major prize but it was aunanimous choice by the judges who said it is "a towering achievement, as a whole as well as in terms of the individual books."
The shortlist for the £1500 prize included Maurice Gleitzman's Now, Gregory Hughes's Unhooking the Moon and Eva Ibbotson's The Ogre of Oglefort. Michelle Paver now joins a distinguished line of past winners, which includes Ted Hughes, Jacqueline Wilson, Anne Fine and Philip Pullman.
The Guardian children's fiction prize was founded in 1967 and is unique in that it is judged by children's authors themselves, and can only be won once by any single author.
More information and author interview.

Booktrust Teenage Prize

2010-09-24T08:28:00.004+01:00

Launched in 2003 to recognise and celebrate contemporary fiction written for teenager, the Booktrust Teenage Prize is judged by a mixed panel of adults and teenagers. The shortlist for the 2010 prize is:

The Enemy by Charlie Higson
Halo by Zizou Corder
Nobody’s Girl by Sarra Manning
Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace
Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick
Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes.
The winner will be announced on 1 November.
More information

Guardian children's fiction prize shortlist

2010-09-24T08:18:00.003+01:00

The shortlist for the Guardian children's fiction prize has been announced.

Ghost Hunter by Michelle Paver
The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson
Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes (also shortlisted for the Booktrust teenage prize)
Now by Morris Gleitzman.

The judging panel includes last year's winner Mal Peet and authors Linda Buckley-Archer and Jenny Downham. The winner will be announced on October 8.
More information

Summer Reading

2010-09-07T22:40:00.002+01:00

Welcome back! What have you read during the last two months?

Over the holiday I hope many of you will have enjoyed spending some of your leisure time reading. New Year 7s - bring in your OLA Summer Reading Challenge or your Space Hop record for a commendation. Year 8s and 9s - a book review will earn you a commendation. Bring it or email it to the Library.

This term in the school library: the start of the Reading Olympics and reading buddies, book clubs, Kids' Lit Quiz heats, book chains, a book swap, 'poetree',and, of course, much more reading.

Reading! Reading! Reading!

2010-07-08T08:23:00.005+01:00

This is the time of year when reading is on the summer agenda. All the classes which come regularly into the Library have been recommending books to each other, and to me. I have been encouraging loans of books over the summer so that pupils will keep reading. I have also used their suggestions to add to my own lists of recommendations which this year will be put in their English exercise books, and be more easily available for future reference. Year 11 suggestions, with a wide-ranging selection suggested by UVI leavers and many subject staff, have been put in the end of term mailing - look out for the pale blue sheet.

Abingdon Carnegie Forum - 23 June

2010-06-28T23:02:00.002+01:00

Twenty-one keen readers from OLA had a wonderful day at Abingdon Guildhall to reward their reading and reviewing of the books nominated for the Carnegie Medal, the prestigious children's book award, whose past winners include The Borrowers, Watership Down, Tom’s Midnight Garden and Northern Lights. Joining with other readers from the six secondary schools in Abingdon they discussed the eight books on the shortlist and then concentrated on their favourite title, preparing a short visual review to convince a panel of judges to read ‘their’ book.

This successful reading partnership of the six state and independent schools has been running for 10 years, and has lead to joint book quiz sessions, author talks and culminates in an annual Abingdon Carnegie Forum organised by the schools’ Librarians, with over 130 teenagers, Librarians, English teachers and guest judges participating in a day to celebrate reading.

This year the six schools had special cause to celebrate as Marcus Sedgwick, one of the shortlisted authors came to Abingdon to speak to the Carnegie shadowers, following a writing workshop earlier in the day with Year 9 at OLA. At the end of the afternoon the Shadowers voted for their winning book, which was Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson with just one vote separating it from The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness. All eight books were outstanding in their own way and fully deserved their place on the Carnegie Medal shortlist.

The winner of the Carnegie Medal, announced the following day, was The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which joins the ranks of the best in children's literature.

Marcus Sedgwick and Carnegie shadowing

2010-06-15T21:52:00.004+01:00

Marcus Sedgwick, shortlisted for the prestigious children's book award the Carnegie Medal will be at Our Lady's Abingdon on Wednesday 23 June to lead a writing workshop with Year 9. He will then move on to Abingdon Guildhall to speak to over 100 Carnegie shadowers from local secondary schools at the Abingdon Carnegie Forum. Read reviews by OLA shadowers - there are some excellent ones, and they all make you want to read the books!

2010 Orange Prize for Fiction winner

2010-06-09T22:16:00.002+01:00

Barbara Kingsolver has won the 15th Orange Prize for Fiction with The Lacuna. The Orange Prize for Fiction is awarded to the woman who, in the opinion of the judges, has written the best, eligible full-length novel in English. The winner receives £30,000,and a limited edition bronze figurine called the 'Bessie'.

Vote for the Puffin of Puffins

2010-06-07T21:51:00.004+01:00

What's your favourite Puffin?
The publisher Puffin is celebrating its 70th birthday and has chosen 7 modern classics, one from each decade it has been publishing, and wants you to choose your favourite.
* The Family from One End Street by Eve Garnett - 40s
* Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - 50s
* Stig of the Dump by Clive King - 60s
* Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl - 70s
* Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian - 80s
* The Hundred Mile-an-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong - 90s
* Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer - 00s
If you haven't read some of these entertaining and inspirational children's books then come along to the Library and borrow them.
Voting has opened and will close on 16 June, and the winning book will be announced on 17 June.

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2010 - Longlist

2010-06-01T20:00:00.002+01:00

Prisoner of the Inquisition, by Theresa Breslin.
Now, by Morris Gleitzman.
Unhooking the Moon, by Gregory Hughes.
The Ogre of Oglefort, by Eva Ibbotson .
Sparks, by Ally Kennen.
Lob, by Linda Newbery.
Ghost Hunter, by Michelle Paver.
White Crow, by Marcus Sedgwick.

The Guardian children's fiction prize will be awarded in September.

Red House Children's Book Award 2010 Winners

2010-05-25T08:43:00.004+01:00

Judged entirely by children from shortlist to final overall winner, the votes have been counted and the winners of the Red House Children's Book Award 2010 are:
Overall Winner:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Category Winners
Younger Readers:
Mondays are Murder by Tanya Landman
Younger Children:
Bottoms Up! by Jeanne Willis & Adam Stower
Well done to our five keen readers who read and voted for their favourite among the shortlisted titles for the Older and Younger Readers categories. The books are available for loan from the Library.
For more reading ideas see the Pick of the Year for Older Readers.

Book awards news

2010-05-19T22:42:00.003+01:00

Forty years after it was first published, Troubles, by J G Farrell, has been announced as the winner of the Lost Man Booker Prize - a one-off prize to honour the books published in 1970, but not considered for the prize when rules about publication dates changed.

The Branford Boase Award was set up to encourage new writers and is given each year to the most promising work of fiction for children by a first time novelist. The books on the shortlist for the 2010 award are:
Devil’s Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Life, Interrupted by Damian Kelleher
Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera
Big and Clever by Dan Tunstall
Numbers by Rachel Ward
Paradise Barn by Victor Watson

Puffin celebrates 70 years

2010-05-11T20:30:00.003+01:00

Puffin Books are celebrating 70 years of publishing for children. To celebrate this anniversary year the publisher has set up Happy Birthday Puffin site. Both websites feature writers new and old, beloved by generations of readers, plus opportunities to read, listen or watch Puffin's latest news.

Shadowing News

2010-04-26T22:25:00.004+01:00

The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people. Shadowing involves school students reading the books, assessing them using the same criteria that the judges will use, and writing a review.

Many schools have, like us at Our Lady's Abingdon, set up a shadowing book group, and meet regularly to change books, exchange views and opinions, and write reviews. The reviews are posted on a special website.

On Tuesday we will meet with students from other local schools, and take part in a Carnegie ‘Tea’, here at OLA, for initial reactions to the shortlisted books, and tips on reviewing books. As usual cake will play an important part in helping our critical skills!

Friday 23 April - International World Book Day

2010-04-21T21:55:00.003+01:00

We will be celebrating International World Book Day on Friday with a number of fun activities in school, all with PRIZES!

1. Decorate-a-Door-as-a-Book. This popular and delightful competition will be judged at 1 pm, and to make sure the judges see all the doors I need to have the entry forms by the end of Friday morning break.
2. There will be a Match the Book Cover to the Book competition in the Library
3. Dress up as a Book Character at lunchtime in the Library. Character parade starts at 1.30 in the Library.

It is also St George's Day, the feast day of St George, patron saint of England as well as of Catalonia in Spain. The origins of World Book Day come from Catalonia, where roses and books are given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 80 years ago on the feast day of their patron saint, and the anniversary of the great Spanish writer Cervantes who wrote Don Quixote.
It is also the anniversary of William Shakespeare, a fitting day to celebrate books and reading.

Orange Prize 2010 shortlist

2010-04-20T20:33:00.002+01:00

The shortlist for the 2010 Orange Prize for Fiction has been announced. The authors and titles are:
Rosie Alison The Very Thought of You
Barbara Kingsolver The Lacuna
Attica Locke Black Water Rising
Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall
Lorrie Moore A Gate at the Stairs
Monique Roffey The White Woman on the Green Bicycle.

The Orange Prize for Fiction is awarded to the woman of any nationality who, in the opinion of the judges, has written the best full-length novel in English during the previous year. The winner will be announced on 9 June.
More information

Shadowing the Carnegie Medal

2010-04-18T15:14:00.004+01:00

Our first meeting is on Monday 19 April at 4.15 in the Library.

What does Shadowing the Carnegie Medal involve?

• Reading Books. Past Carnegie Medal winners have become classics. These include The Borrowers, Watership Down, Skellig, Flour Babies, and Northern Lights. You will be reading future classics!

• Meetings. There will be ‘shadowing’ meetings in the Library on Mondays, at 4.15, where you can come to change your books, chat about the books you have read, write reviews and persuade others why your favourite should win the Medal.

• Writing Reviews. You post your review on a special shadowing website, where other ‘shadowers’ around the country are doing the same. We will also be discussing the books informally on our own OLA private wiki.

• Meeting Carnegie Shadowers from other schools and the Carnegie Forum. The six secondary schools in Abingdon have worked together over the Carnegie Medal for several years. We have three joint meetings: a 'tea' to introduce the books, a quiz a few weeks into the shadowing, and a joint Abingdon Carnegie Forum where 100 students from local schools discuss and vote for their Abingdon winner.

The shortlist of books for the Carnegie Medal will be announced this Friday, 23 April, which is International World Book Day. As well as finding out the titles on the shortlist there will be other fun activities which everyone can join.

Twilight novella to be free on internet

2010-04-15T12:13:00.002+01:00

Stephenie Meyer, the author of the enormously popular Twilight books, is to let fans have access to the 192-page novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, a spin-off from Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight series. The Twilight series has sold 100 million copies worldwide and this instalment will be published simultaneously in Britain and America on 5 June, and then two days later will become available to read for free online, but not downloadable, until July 5.
Meyer said she was allowing it to be read for free online "as a special thank you to fans", according to a spokesman.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7538597/Twilight-novella-to-be-free-on-internet.html

Hetty Feather - Best Blurb Awards

2010-04-14T08:55:00.004+01:00

The winners have just been announced for the Best Blurb Awards. Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson came a close second behind The Other Hand by Chris Cleave, coming joint second with The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom. This was the inaugural award for 2009 books.
London, 1876 and Hetty Feather is just a tiny baby when her mother leaves her at the Foundling Hospital. The Hospital cares for abandoned children - but Hetty must first live with a foster family until she is big enough to go to school. Life in the countryside is hard but with her 'brothers' Jem and Gideon, she helps in the fields and plays imaginary games. Together they sneak off to visit the travelling circus and Hetty is mesmerised by the show, especially Madame Adeline and her performing horses. But Hetty's happiness is threatened once more when she is returned to the Foundling Hospital. The new life of awful uniforms and terrible food is a struggle for her. But now she has the chance to find her real mother. Could she really be the wonderful Madame Adeline? Or will Hetty find the truth is even more surprising?
Available for loan from the school library in the Junior Fiction section.

Orange Best of the Best

2010-04-05T22:42:00.000+01:00

A youth panel is to choose a "best of the best" to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Orange Prize for Fiction.

The six teenagers will read all the past Orange Prize winners from 1996's A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore (Penguin) to last year’s winner Home by Marilynne Robinson (Virago). The 14 books will be whittled down to a shortlist of four before a final judging meeting to decide on the Best of the Best.

The four girls and two boys, aged between 17 and 18, were selected from entries sent to the Spinebreakers website for teenage readers. Last year’s youth panel shadowed the existing judges to read and choose their own shortlist and winner.

The longlist for the Orange Prize for Fiction was announced on 17 March.The shortlist for the Orange Award for New Writers will be announced on 13 April, followed by the Fiction shortlist on 20 April. The winners of both will be announced at a ceremony on 9 June.

Information from http://www.thebookseller.com/news/114965-youth-panel-to-pick-orange-best-of-the-best.html

Hans Christian Andersen Award 2010

2010-03-24T23:30:00.003Z

David Almond is the 2010 winner of this prestigious international award, which had a shortlist of 28 writers. The International Board on Books for Young People gives this award every other year to a living author and illustrator whose complete works are judged to have made lasting contributions to children's literature: "In awarding the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for writing to David Almond, the jury has recognized the unique voice of a creator of magic realism for children. Almond captures his young readers' imagination and motivates them to read, think and be critical. His use of language is sophisticated and reaches across the ages." The illustrator award went to Jutta Bauer from Germany. The prize is named after the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, and winners receive a gold medal from the Queen of Denmark.
More information

Monday 22nd - Mini Kids' Lit Quiz

2010-03-21T22:40:00.003Z

On Monday 22nd March, at 4.15 pm there will be a mini Kids' Lit Quiz in the school hall. Everyone is invited to participate in or watch this lively and enjoyable event.

This is a fun team quiz which will finish by 4.50, the end of 'coach study'.

Make up a team of any size and give yourselves a name - anyone can enter, you can even ask a teacher to join your team. OLA Junior School is fielding three teams.

Don't be afraid you won't know the answers - you WILL know the answers to many of the questions! It's a team effort, and answers are written down - no-one is put on the spot! There will be 5 rounds of 5 questions on: fairy tales, animals, characters from classics, blurbs & beginnings and picture books, so even if you are not a great reader you should be able to answer most questions in a team.

There will be MANY PRIZES but you will be surprised at how much entertainment the KLQ generates.

Please join us!

Oxford Literary Festival 20-26 March

2010-03-19T17:47:00.005Z

The Oxford Literary Festival, which will feature more than 250 writers, runs from Saturday 20 March to Sunday 28 March. Novelists, biographers, historians, poets, critics, politicians, soldiers, public servants, scientists, and medics will be joined by artists, philosophers, theologians, architects, engineers, botanists, environmentalists and children's writers and illustrators.
Speakers at the Children’s Events this year include Malorie Blackman, Frances Hardinge & Philip Pullman, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ali Sparkes & Harriet Goodwin, William Nicholson, Anthony Horowitz, Cressida Cowell, Mal Peet & Meg Rosoff, Geraldine McCaughrean & Philip Reeve, Louise Rennison, Catherine Rayner, Chris Riddell & Axel Scheffler.
Throughout the festival, tickets will be available from the festival box office at Christ Church.
More information:
http://www.oxfordliteraryfestival.com

Caroline Lawrence - The Western Mysteries

2010-03-15T22:48:00.006Z

Caroline Lawrence, who has visited OLA twice, is the author of the Roman Mystery series, and the final book of the series is The Man from Pomegranate Street, now out in paperback. Her latest book is a volume of Roman Mysteries short stories, called The Legionary from Londinium and other Mini Mysteries and has some stories that go between the main books.
But as hinted during her most recent visit she is now working on a new series called The Western Mysteries. In her blog she writes, 'For the past three years I've secretly been working on a new series: The Western Mysteries.' The following is from Caroline's new Western Mysteries Blog:
"The Western Mysteries will be set in wild and woolly Virginia City in the fall of 1862.
Why 1862?
Back east the American Civil War is in its second year.
Out West the Silver Boom is taking over from the Gold Rush.
And in the final days of September, a dusty prospector walks into the offices of the Territorial Enterprise Newspaper to take up a position as a 'local' reporter. His name is Sam Clemens but within half a year he will begin writing under the name 'Mark Twain'. But Mark Twain isn't the only exciting thing about Virginia City in 1862. There are also gamblers, miners, con-artists, hurdy girls, prospectors & gunmen galore.

Here are some of the original ideas I had for The Western Mysteries.
1. The series will be for children aged 8 - 14+
2. The detective will be a loner: the western hero is always a loner.
3. The detective will be a kid.
4. The detective will own a Smith & Wesson seven-shooter.
5. Real historical figures will appear in the books.
6. The bad-guys will be gunfighters, tricksters & newspapermen.
7. The mysteries will be based around real historical events.
8. The books will be told in the first person.
9. My detective will love black coffee and layer cake.
10. I am going to have a lot of fun writing these books.

Here are some of the things which have made it into the first book:
1. A hero like nobody you've ever met before.
2. A terrifying, sadistic bad guy...
3. ...and his two side-kicks.
4. A terrible massacre, apparently by Indians.
5. An exciting stagecoach chase.
6. A beautiful hurdy girl, a Chinese boy & a handsome gambler.
7. Shootouts galore and some Bowie knife action, too.
8. A Pinkerton detective. Kind of.
9. A heart-stopping showdown in a deep mine shaft.
10. An ending that promises more."
(4 February entry)
The first book is due to be published next year.

Blue Peter Book of the Year

2010-03-04T19:05:00.005Z

The Blue Peter Book awards were announced today.
Frozen in Time written by Ali Sparkes has won the Blue Peter Book of the Year award. It's available for loan from the school library and can be found in the Junior Fiction section.
There are three categories in the Blue Peter Book awards:
Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things won Most fun story with pictures,
Why Eating Bogeys is Good For You won Best book with facts and
Frozen In Time won Book I couldn't put down, and was voted the favourite to win Blue Peter Book of the Year.
More information

World Book Day

2010-03-04T18:30:00.002Z

Since we had the excitement of World Maths Day yesterday I decided some time ago that at OLA we'll celebrate International World Book Day next month instead. On 23 April we'll have a variety of activities, some favourite ones and some new.

This week all students have received a £1 World Book Day voucher which can be used towards book purchases in a variety of ways: as a £1 token in participating bookshops or orders from Cover2Cover magazine in school, or exchanged in bookshops for one of the six specially produced books.

Red House Children's Book Award 2010 Shortlist

2010-02-28T18:03:00.006Z

Books have been nominated by children across the country, and these are the top ten books published in 2009, chosen by them!
The Older Reader category shortlist:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Ausländer by Paul Dowswell
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
The Younger Readers category shortlist:
Angel Cake by Cathy Cassidy
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
Mondays are Murder by Tanya Landman
The Younger Children's shortlist:
A Very Strange Creature by Ronda Armitage & Layn Marlow
Crunch Munch Dinosaur Lunch! by Paul Bright & Mike Terry
The Baby Dragon-Tamer by Jan Fearnley
Bottoms Up! by Jeanne Willis & Adam Stower
Voting to select the top books closes 1 May. You need to have read all 3 books in any section to vote 1, 2, 3.
Reads of the year 2010
After taking out the Top Ten, which become the shortlist for the 2010 award, these are 40 recommended books, chosen by children as their favourites.

Great Expectations - whole school reading during 2010

2010-02-24T22:22:00.004Z

Our Lady's Abingdon shares its 150th anniversary with Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. It was published in instalments, starting in 1860, and the aim is to read the book over the year, about five chapters each month. Monthly instalments are on the Library pages on the school intranet. We are now up to Chapter 15. There are also printed copies, including abridged and play versions, available for loan from the Library. As the book is out of copyright there are also web versions available.

Michael Foreman

2010-02-17T20:48:00.001Z

Read an interview with one of Britain’s best loved illustrators Michael Foreman in Write Away online magazine. He talks about his books, his ongoing collaboration with Michael Morpurgo, and a career which spans five decades. He has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, and is the subject of an exhibition at the National Army Museum.

Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2010

2010-02-16T15:23:00.003Z

The winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2010 is The Great Hamster Massacre by Katie Davies. The Great Hamster Massacre is the story of a young girl's life and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the untimely death of her beloved pet.

Anthony Browne, Children's Laureate, who announced the winner, described the book as “a funny and touching story told very convincingly and honestly from the point of view of a young girl."

Davies, a former literary agent who has also written and performed comedy sketches for BBC Radio 4’s One programme, said: “I’m as happy as I am surprised. I keep catching sight of myself in shop windows, grinning like an idiot. I haven’t won anything since the St Helen’s C of E sack race in 1985. Thanks very much to Waterstone’s, and to everyone who helped me write it.” She beat stiff competition from the other books on the shortlist:
Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
The Seven Sorcerers by Caro King
The Toymaker by Jeremy De Quidt, et al.
Meteorite Strike by A.G. Taylor
Desperate Measures by Laura Summers

Last year's winner was The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison.
More information.

Marcus Sedgwick

2010-02-04T17:55:00.002Z

Award winning author Marcus Sedgwick visited Abingdon and spoke to over 800 local children about his books and where he finds his ideas. This entertaining event, jointly organised by the Librarians from Our Lady’s Abingdon, Abingdon and St Helen & St Katharine schools, was the 5th annual Joint Schools' Author Visit, with the aim to also invite children from local schools who may not have the opportunity to see a ‘big name’ author.

In the morning there were two talks to secondary students featuring his vampire novel My Swordhand is Singing. All of OLA's year 8 and year 9 found out about the background research and reading which had gone into creating this terrifying tale.

In the afternoon children from local primary and prep. schools were introduced to his new and funny series The Raven Mysteries, and found out how he planned his books. There was plenty of time to ask questions, and some took part in a mini play featuring the characters from the Raven Mysteries.

Next year's event will take place at Our Lady's Abingdon.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

2010-02-02T22:42:00.003Z

It's the 21st century and a teenager discovers he's the descendant of a Greek god. He sets out on an adventure to settle an on-going battle between the gods. Based on the book Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan this film is released in the UK on 12 February, and rated PG.

Cat tales

2010-02-01T08:27:00.001Z

Following the runaway success of the story of Dewey the library cat from Iowa USA, the story of Casper the commuting cat from Plymouth (UK) is to be told.

Dewey: The Small-town Library-cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron (available for loan from the school library at 636.8 MYR) tells the story of an adorable library cat whose antics kept library users in stitches. On the coldest morning of the year, Vicki Myron found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the night drop box of the library where she worked, and her life — and the town of Spencer, Iowa — would never be the same.

Casper became an international celebrity last year after it was revealed that he regularly caught the No 3 bus from his home in Plymouth for the 11-mile (18km) round trip into the city centre. The 12-year-old black and white cat would queue patiently with other commuters and, if there was a spare seat on the bus, would curl up and fall asleep. Casper, who had been making the journey for several years, was killed by a car last week and New York publishers Simon and Schuster intend to publish a book telling his life story.

More information

Author visit - Marcus Sedgwick

2010-01-24T18:02:00.002Z

Year 8 and Year 9 pupils will enjoy listening to author Marcus Sedgwick on Thursday 4 February. He is coming to Abingdon for this year's Joint Schools' Author Visit, organised by the Librarians of the three independent schools. This is an opportunity to also invite students from other local schools and Marcus will do two other session including groups from local primary schools. Mostly Books will be selling books which can be autographed on the day.
Please return permission slips and advance book orders as soon as possible.
http://www.marcussedgwick.com/

Closing date for Scholastic Book Clubs order changed

2010-01-18T20:48:00.002Z

Because of recent snow days I’ve changed the closing date of our Scholastic Book Clubs School Group Order to Thursday 28 January. You can add an order at any time up until that point and benefit from free post and packing when your order is delivered to school. There are books on sale from £1.99! Go to: http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab

Great Expectations - whole school reading during 2010

2010-01-11T16:59:00.009Z

Our Lady's Abingdon shares its 150th anniversary with Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. It was published in instalments, starting in 1860, and my aim is that as many students and adults associated with the school read the book over the year, with book group discussions for anyone interested. There are 59 short chapters so five chapters will appear, in monthly instalments, on the Library pages on the school intranet. There are also printed copies, including abridged and play versions, available for loan from the Library.
Start reading Chapters 1- 5 now!
As the book is out of copyright there are also web versions available.

Bodleian Library Winter Exhibition

2010-01-10T22:38:00.002Z

Crossing Borders: Hebrew Manuscripts as a Meeting-place of Cultures
Exhibition Room, Bodleian Library (free, open every day)
The Bodleian Library winter exhibition, running until 3 May 2010, tells the story of how together Jews, Christians and Muslims have contributed to the development of the book. It illustrates the cultural exchange, the social interaction and the religious toleration between Jews and non-Jews in the Muslim and the Christian worlds during the late Middle Ages. The exhibition draws on the Bodleian Hebrew holdings, one of the largest and most important collections of Hebrew manuscripts in the world.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
* The Kennicott Bible, the most beautifully and extensively illustrated manuscript among Spanish Bibles of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; and
* The Michael Mahzor: the earliest illuminated Jewish prayer book for the Festivals, produced in Germany in 1258. The prayer book was illuminated by a Christian, who - not familiar with the Hebrew script- painted the first illustration upside down.
More details and opening hours.

Patrick Ness - Costa Children's Book Prize Winner

2010-01-06T17:27:00.004Z

Some links to recent interviews with this popular teen author:
-Patrick Ness' s Diary
-BBC report including a 4-minute interview (scroll down the page)
-YAReads.com Author interview.

Costa Book Awards 2009 Category Winners

2010-01-05T08:05:00.003Z

This year's Category Award Winners are:
Costa Children's Book Award Winner
Patrick Ness - The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking, Book Two)
Costa Novel Award Winner
Colm Toibin - Brooklyn
Costa First Novel Award Winner
Raphael Selbourne - Beauty
Costa Biography Award Winner
Graham Farmelo - The Strangest Man
Costa Poetry Award Winner
Christopher Reid - A Scattering

Each category-winning author receives £5,000. The 2009 Costa Book of the Year will be announced on Tuesday 26 January 2010.
Click here to read more.

Reading Club magazine

2009-12-18T10:34:00.003Z

All year 7 and 8 received a copy of OLA Book Magazine out this week. This pamphlet, by year 7 reading club members and other contributors, was put together by VI Form club leaders. It features a Christmas word search, book reviews, book quizzes, Twilight saga crossword, maze, Harry Potter word search, name the characters, Eoin Colfer author profile, Jacqueline Wilson quiz, sudoku, book recommendations, and cut out your own bookmark. Great entertainment and well done to all!
Happy Christmas and keep reading every day!
Mrs Hickford

Costa Book Awards 2009 Shortlists

2009-12-09T19:39:00.002Z

The Costa Book Awards is one of the most prestigious and popular literary prizes in the UK and recognises some of the most enjoyable books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.
The shortlists have been announced for the five categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book. The winner in each category will receive £5,000, and one of those five books will be selected as the overall winner of the Book of the Year and receive a further £25,000.
Costa Children's Award
* Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd
* Troubadour by Mary Hoffman
* The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
* Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera
Costa First Novel Award
* The Finest Type of English Womanhood by Rachel Heath
* John the Revelator by Peter Murphy
* Beauty by Raphael Selbourne
* The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw
Costa Novel Award
* Family Album by Penelope Lively
* Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
* The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson
* Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Costa Biography Award
* The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius by Graham Farmelo
* The Music Room by William Fiennes
* Coda by Simon Gray
* Dancing to the Precipice by Caroline Moorehead
Costa Poetry Award
* Angels Over Elsinore by Clive James
* One Eye'd Leigh by Katharine Kilalea
* Darwin: A Life in Poems by Ruth Padel
* A Scattering by Christopher Reid

The award winners in all five categories will be announced on Tuesday 5 January and the 2009 Costa Book of the Year on Tuesday 26 January 2010.
Full details.

Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009

2009-12-02T21:19:00.000Z

Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book has won the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009, which is aimed at older readers. It tells the story of Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens, a child abandoned in a graveyard after the vicious murder of his parents and sister by The Man Jack. Raised and educated by the ghosts that live there, Bod encounters terrible and unexpected menaces in the horror of the pit of the Sleer and the city of Ghouls. It is in the land of the living that the real danger lies as The Man Jack is determined to find Bod and finish him off.
Taken from: http://www.booktrust.org.uk/show/feature/Home/Booktrust-Teenage-Prize

UK Final of Kids' Lit Quiz

2009-11-24T22:20:00.004Z

The 2009 National Final of the Kids' Lit Quiz will take place on Friday 27 November at Oxford Town Hall. The winning teams from the 15 Regions, including Oxfordshire & Berkshire Winners from Wheatley Park School, will be competing for the coveted KLQ National Cup, and prizes which include magazine subscriptions, books, book tokens and a place in the KLQ World Final 2010.
This exciting event will begin with a local actor Nicholas Atkinson introducing comedian HARRY ENFIELD and then KLQ Quizmaster WAYNE MILLS. As well as the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Cllr Mary Clarkson and two other local Mayors, many local dignitaries and publishers will be there to support the teams together with the following authors:
PHILIP ARDAGH - TIM BOWLER - DAVID CALCUT - LUCY COATES - ELEN CALDICOTT - GILLIAN CROSS - SUSIE DAY - FIONA DUNBAR - STEVE FEASEY - ECHO FREER - ALAN GIBBONS - JULIA GOLDING - GABY HALBERSTAM - DENNIS HAMLEY - MG HARRIS - MARY HOFFMAN - MARY HOOPER - JULIA JARMAN - CATHERINE JOHNSON - ELIZABETH KAY - RUPERT KINGFISHER - JOSH LACEY - AMANDA LEES - MARIE LOUISE JENSEN - BEVERLY NAIDOO - LINDA NEWBERY - ANDREW NORRISS - MARK ROBSON - CRAIG SIMPSON & ELEANOR UPDALE.
Waterstones will be selling their books and there will be an opportunity for book signing. There will also be KLQ Souvenir MUGS on sale at a cost of £6 each.
A special Celebration Tea will be held in the Assembly Room for all the teams, authors and invited guests.
Well done to Wheatley Park School, Oxfordshire & Berkshire Regional Winners, who are now UK 2009 Kids' Lit Champions! The team will represent the UK at the Kids' Lit Quiz World Final on 14 August 2010 taking place during the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Kids' Lit Quiz

2009-11-15T12:50:00.007Z

Our two OLA teams have been selected, and are ready to take part in the Oxfordshire and Berkshire regional heat of the international Kids' Lit Quiz on Monday 23 November. The heat will be taking place in Oxford at the Newman Rooms, Rose Place, St Aldates. Over 30 teams of four children in Years 7 & 8, and this year some from Year 6 also, will be answering 100 questions in 10 rounds. No-one knows what the questions will be, but the rounds will be themed. Previous categories have included poetry, authors, titles, settings, characters, and nursery rhymes. The KLQ is hugely entertaining, not only for the keen readers taking part, but also for the spectators who also have the chance of winning a prize in between each round. Children's authors Ann Evans, Susie Day, Dennis Hamley, Elizabeth Kay, MG Harris, Lucy Coats and Mark Robson will also be at the quiz, and will play as a team. A book shop selling a selection of their books will also be available.
Congratulations to the team from Whealtey Park School who won the Heat and go to through to the UK Final.
Children's writer Helena Pielichaty attended the Yorkshire heat and wrote up a hilarious report on her blog: http://www.helena-pielichaty.com/blog/2009/11/roundhay-school-rocks-in-kids-lit-quiz/

Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009

2009-11-11T22:56:00.003Z

For children aged six and under, the winning book was Mr Pusskins Best in Show by Sam Lloyd. For children aged seven to fourteen, the winning book was Grubtown Tales: Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky by Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Jim Paillot.
Mr Pusskins Best In Show is the story of a grumpy but loveable cat who just has to get his paws on a trophy for the Best-Looking Pet at the beauty show. Grubtown Tales: Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky is the story of a town of oddballs plotting to rid Grubtown of the disgusting Manual Org, whose breath smells of ‘two-thirds of a pickled raw herring, a pickled onion, 11 gherkins and one jar of sandwich spread (one month past its sell-by date)’! The winners were presented with a cheque for £2,500 and a bottle of wine from Roald Dahl’s personal wine cellar.
Read more.

Snow Goose by Paul Gallico

2009-11-10T20:32:00.003Z

According to a BBC poll The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico is the neglected classic most deserving of rediscovery. Originally published in 1940 as a newspaper short story, The Snow Goose is the work of American writer Paul Gallico (1897-1976). The story is about a painter and a young girl who seeks his help in caring for an injured bird. There are two copies available in the Library, one of them beautifully illustrated by wildlife artist Peter Scott.
Listen to an extract.
More information.

The 2010 Blue Peter Book Awards Shortlist

2009-11-08T23:20:00.003Z

The 2010 Blue Peter Book Awards Shortlist is:
Best Book With Facts:
Usborne Lift-the-flap Picture Atlas by Alex Frith & Kate Leake
Tail-End Charlie by Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom
Why Eating Bogeys is Good for You by Mitchell Symons
Book I Couldn't Put Down:
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 by Harriet Goodwin
Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes
Most Fun Story with Pictures:
Peter the Penguin Pioneer by Daren King
Spells by Emily Gravett
Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things by Guy Bass & Pete Williamson
The panel of adult judges included the Editor of Blue Peter, a children's librarian and Matt Haig, who won Blue Peter Book of the Year 2009 for Shadow Forest. These books will now be judged by Blue Peter viewers. They will decide both the winners in each category, and the overall winner of Blue Peter Book of the Year 2010. The awards will be announced on a special Blue Peter in March 2010 to coincide with World Book Day and an extract from each of the nine shortlisted titles will be dramatised for the show.

Book Swap

2009-11-05T22:38:00.001Z

All this week there has been a Book Swap in the Library.

How does it work?
- Bring in a book in reasonably good condition that you no longer want, which is suitable for your age group
- Receive a token in exchange
- Exchange that token for another book.
No money changes hands.

Each day there will be different books, depending on what people bring, so it's worth a visit every day. You can also keep your token for the next Book Swap (or I can keep it for you).

Scholastic Book Club

2009-11-03T20:46:00.001Z

I’ve just set up our latest Scholastic Book Club school group order online. This means you can order your book choices from the Book Clubs leaflet (which I'll be handing out this week) and from a wider selection at http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab and, what's more, you'll be able to have your books delivered to school for free.

You need to order your books by Tuesday 17th November 2009 and the books will be delivered to school for me to hand out. For every £1 you spend 20p goes back to the library to spend on books.

Take a look at what’s on offer at http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/olab – there are some great bargains with books costing as little as £1.99! Please note that some books are badged 13+.

Selecting OLA's teams for the Kids' Lit Quiz

2009-10-23T18:02:00.002+01:00

Preliminary rounds to select OLA's two Kids' Lit Quiz teams have been taking place for all pupils in Year 7 and Year 8. Higher scorers will be invited to a second round taking place in their own time, and they will need to confirm their availability to take part.

This year the Oxfordshire and Berkshire Heat will be taking place at the Newman Rooms on Monday 23 November, 2.30 - 5.30 p.m. It’s a great spectator event and super entertainment: put the date in your diary now! The winning team from this heat will go through to the UK Final taking place later the same week, on Friday 27 November this year also in Oxford, in the Town Hall, 1.30 - 4 p.m.

New books

2009-10-22T16:45:00.004+01:00

Recently published books include:
Mal Peet's novel, Exposure which has won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize;
Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson, historical fiction for younger readers;
David Benedictus' Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, an authorised Sequel to Winnie the Pooh;
Eoin Colfer's And Another Thing, the sequel to Douglas Adams's Hitchhikers Guide;
Terry Pratchett's Unseen Academicals, his 37th Discworld novel, a fantasy series which can be read in any order;
1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up edited by Julia Eccleshare.

Our Lady's Abingdon Library News

The Best Children's Book of the Last 10 Years

Author Visit 9 February

Costa Book Awards

OLA House of Books

Recent book news

Book awards round up

OLA Visitor Theresa Breslin wins Young Quills prize

OLA Reading Festival 26-30 September

Welcome to a new year of reading

Summer Reading

Exhibition at Imperial War Museum

Regional Book Awards

Branford Boase Award 2011

Abingdon Carnegie Forum

Scholastic Book Club

Red House Children’s Book Award 2011

Julia Donaldson - the new Children's Laureate

Book Reviewing

Vote for your favourite Harry Potter character

Festival of Illustration

Girls Heart Books

Carnegie Tea

Shadowing the Carnegie Medal

Mini Kids' Lit Quiz

Monday 4 April - Mini Kids' Lit Quiz

Oxford Literary Festival

Book award news

5745

World Book Day 2011

Classic War Stories

Michael Morpurgo

Julia Golding and 600 children

Costa and Marsh Awards

Sherlock Holmes sequel

Crime Central - crime fiction for teen readers

Author Jo Cotterill visits OLA

Scholastic Book Club

Costa Children's Book Award

New Year Honours

Treasure Island and classic books

The 2011 Blue Peter Book Awards Shortlist

KLQ Quiz Master visits OLA

Kids' Lit Quiz - UK Final

Roald Dahl Funny Prizes and Costa Shortlists

Kids' Lit Quiz

Scholastic Book Club

Selecting OLA's teams for the Kids' Lit Quiz

First children's story book with 3D animation

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2010 winner

Booktrust Teenage Prize

Guardian children's fiction prize shortlist

Summer Reading

Reading! Reading! Reading!

Abingdon Carnegie Forum - 23 June

Marcus Sedgwick and Carnegie shadowing

2010 Orange Prize for Fiction winner

Vote for the Puffin of Puffins

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2010 - Longlist

Red House Children's Book Award 2010 Winners

Book awards news

Top Reads

Puffin celebrates 70 years

Shadowing News

Friday 23 April - International World Book Day

Orange Prize 2010 shortlist

Shadowing the Carnegie Medal

Twilight novella to be free on internet

Hetty Feather - Best Blurb Awards

Orange Best of the Best

Hans Christian Andersen Award 2010

Monday 22nd - Mini Kids' Lit Quiz

Oxford Literary Festival 20-26 March

Caroline Lawrence - The Western Mysteries

Blue Peter Book of the Year

World Book Day

Red House Children's Book Award 2010 Shortlist

Great Expectations - whole school reading during 2010

Michael Foreman

Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2010