The Costa Book Awards category winners have been announced.
The Children's winner is Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell
The Fiction winner is Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The First Novel winner is The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer
The Biography winner is The Pike: Gabriele D'Annunzio, Poet, Seducer and Preacher of War by Lucy Hughes-Hallett
The Poetry winner is Drysalter by Michael Symmons Roberts.
Originally launched as the Whitbread Book Awards in 1971, the awards celebrate books published in the last year. Category winners each receive £5,000,and the overall winner is decided from these five winners, who will receive the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year 2013 Award on 28th January.
Winner: The Shock of the Fall by debut author and mental health nurse Nathan Filer won win the title of 2013 Costa Book of the Year.
06 January 2014
12 December 2013
Katherine Rundell, OLA visitor, shortlisted for Blue Peter Award
Rooftoppers, launched at OLA on World Book Day 2013, has been shortlisted for the Blue Peter 2014 Best Story Award. We wish Oxford-based author, Katherine Rundell the very best of luck.
Rooftoppers is one of three books on the shortlist and the winner will be announced live on Blue Peter’s World Book Day edition on 6 March 2014, during which judge Marcus Sedgwick, who will be visiting OLA the very next day, will present the winners with their Awards.
More Book News
BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS 2014 – shortlists
Best Story
Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve, illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
Whale Boy by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Joe McLaren
Best Book with Facts
Marvellous Maths by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Thomas Flintham
Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders: World War II by Tony Robinson, illustrated by Del Thorpe
The World in Infographics: Animal Kingdom by Jon Richards, illustrated by Ed Simkins
More than 200 children from 10 schools across the UK will now read the six shortlisted books and vote for their favourites in each category. The two winning books will be announced live on the Blue Peter programme scheduled for World Book Day on 6 March 2014, during which judge Marcus Sedgwick will present the winners with their Awards.
THE COSTA BOOK AWARDS
The Costa Book Awards (originally launched as the Whitbread Book Awards in 1971) celebrate books published in the last year over five categories; First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book by UK and Ireland resident authors.
Category winners each receive £5,000, and will be announced on 6th January. An overall winner is decided from these five winners, who will receive the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year 2013 Award on 28th January 2014.
The 2013 Costa Children’s Book Award shortlist:
Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery
The Hanged Man Rises by Sarah Naughton
Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
More information about the full shortlist.
STAN LEE EXCELSIOR AWARD
This book award is for graphic novels and manga - where kids aged 11-16 choose the winner by rating each book as they read it
The 2014 shortlist:
Indestructible Hulk: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu (Marvel)
Quantum and Woody: The World’s Worst Superhero Team by James Asmus and Tom Fowler (Valiant)
The Judas Coin by Walter Simonson (DC)
Aliens: Inhuman Condition by John Layman and Sam Kieth (Dark Horse)
Earth 2: The Gathering by James Robinson and Nicola Scott (DC)
Sherlock Bones (Volume 1) by Yuma Ando and Yuki Sato (Kodansha)
Captain America: Castaway in Dimension Z by Rick Remender and John Romita Jr. (Marvel)
The Halloween Legion by Martin Powell and Thomas Boatwright (Dark Horse)
The Awards Ceremony will be in July 2014.
More information
Rooftoppers is one of three books on the shortlist and the winner will be announced live on Blue Peter’s World Book Day edition on 6 March 2014, during which judge Marcus Sedgwick, who will be visiting OLA the very next day, will present the winners with their Awards.
More Book News
BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS 2014 – shortlists
Best Story
Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve, illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
Whale Boy by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Joe McLaren
Best Book with Facts
Marvellous Maths by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Thomas Flintham
Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders: World War II by Tony Robinson, illustrated by Del Thorpe
The World in Infographics: Animal Kingdom by Jon Richards, illustrated by Ed Simkins
More than 200 children from 10 schools across the UK will now read the six shortlisted books and vote for their favourites in each category. The two winning books will be announced live on the Blue Peter programme scheduled for World Book Day on 6 March 2014, during which judge Marcus Sedgwick will present the winners with their Awards.
THE COSTA BOOK AWARDS
The Costa Book Awards (originally launched as the Whitbread Book Awards in 1971) celebrate books published in the last year over five categories; First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book by UK and Ireland resident authors.
Category winners each receive £5,000, and will be announced on 6th January. An overall winner is decided from these five winners, who will receive the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year 2013 Award on 28th January 2014.
The 2013 Costa Children’s Book Award shortlist:
Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery
The Hanged Man Rises by Sarah Naughton
Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
More information about the full shortlist.
STAN LEE EXCELSIOR AWARD
This book award is for graphic novels and manga - where kids aged 11-16 choose the winner by rating each book as they read it
The 2014 shortlist:
Indestructible Hulk: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu (Marvel)
Quantum and Woody: The World’s Worst Superhero Team by James Asmus and Tom Fowler (Valiant)
The Judas Coin by Walter Simonson (DC)
Aliens: Inhuman Condition by John Layman and Sam Kieth (Dark Horse)
Earth 2: The Gathering by James Robinson and Nicola Scott (DC)
Sherlock Bones (Volume 1) by Yuma Ando and Yuki Sato (Kodansha)
Captain America: Castaway in Dimension Z by Rick Remender and John Romita Jr. (Marvel)
The Halloween Legion by Martin Powell and Thomas Boatwright (Dark Horse)
The Awards Ceremony will be in July 2014.
More information
02 December 2013
Kids' Lit Quiz – the sport of reading!
OLA teams from Years 6 and 7 took part in the Oxfordshire and Berkshire heat of the international Kids’ Lit Quiz (KLQ) in Oxford.
The teams worked hard to answer 10 rounds of 10 questions on subjects as diverse as Foxes and Characters from Legend. None of the themes or questions was known in advance, and there was serious concentration and quiet conferring when the questions were being read out.
The event was opened by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, with the Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council and the Mayor of Wallingford also present for the whole quiz. 10 children’s authors also played the quiz (though their scores didn’t count of course!). Although OLA didn’t win, they played with zeal; over 40 school teams took part. The winning team plays against the other regional winners in the KLQ National Final in London this week.
Well done to our team members for their enthusiasm – when it comes to reading , everyone’s a winner!
The teams worked hard to answer 10 rounds of 10 questions on subjects as diverse as Foxes and Characters from Legend. None of the themes or questions was known in advance, and there was serious concentration and quiet conferring when the questions were being read out.
The event was opened by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, with the Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council and the Mayor of Wallingford also present for the whole quiz. 10 children’s authors also played the quiz (though their scores didn’t count of course!). Although OLA didn’t win, they played with zeal; over 40 school teams took part. The winning team plays against the other regional winners in the KLQ National Final in London this week.
Well done to our team members for their enthusiasm – when it comes to reading , everyone’s a winner!
21 November 2013
Recent book award news
GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S FICTION AWARD
This was won by Rebecca Stead for Liar & Spy.
The Guardian children's fiction prize is awarded annually to fiction written for children aged eight and above, and is the only children's fiction award selected by fellow writers. The winning author receives a cheque for £1,500. Last year the prize was opened up to writers outside the UK, and New York author Rebecca Stead is the first American writer to win the prize.
Previous winners of the prize include Mark Haddon for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson and The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce.
ELEANOR FARJEON AWARD
David Almond, writer of Skellig and My Name is Mina and other children’s books, has won the Eleanor Farjeon award for "outstanding contribution to the world of children's books".
The prize, now in its 47th year, is voted for by members of the Children's Book Circle, an informal association of children's book professionals including editors, writers and booksellers. The award is named in memory of Eleanor Farjeon, best known for writing the hymn ‘Morning Has Broken’, and the author of children's books
The Eleanor Farjeon award recognises an outstanding contribution to children's literature and can be awrded to an individual or organisation. Previous winners include the children's book illustrator Quentin Blake and Malorie Blackman, author of the Noughts & Crosses trilogy, who is the current Children's Laureate.
RED HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD
The children of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups have been busy reading all year and now their favourites have been selected as the shortlist for the 2014 Red House Children’s Book Award.
The shortlisted books are in three categories:
Books for Older Readers
• Killing Rachel – Anne Cassidy
• The 5th Wave – Rick Yancey
• W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin – Eoin Colfer
Books for Younger Readers
• The Land of Neverbelieve – Norman Messenger
• Atticus Claw Breaks The Law – Jennifer Gray
• Claude In The Country – Alex T Smith
Books for Younger Children
• Superworm – Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Walter and The No Need To Worry Suit – Rachel Bright
• How To Hide A Lion – Helen Stephens
• Hippospotamus – Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross
There is a dedicated website www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk where any child can vote there for their favourite book until January 18 2014.
ROALD DAHL FUNNY PRIZE
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize, which was launched in 2008 aims to promote laughter and humour as a feel-good factor when reading, to draw attention to funny books as readable and enjoyable books and to reward authors and illustrators who write and illustrate books using humour.
The Prize has two categories:
* The funniest book for children aged six and under
* The funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen
The winner of each category will receive £2,500, which will be presented at an awards ceremony in December. Over 200 children, selected from schools around the UK, will help judge the award. Their votes will be combined with those of the judging panel to find the two winning books for 2013.
The shortlist
The funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen:
* The Grunts All at Sea by Philip Ardagh and Axel Scheffler
* My Parents are Out of Control by Pete Johnson
* Pants are Everything by Mark Lowery
* Geek Girl by Holly Smale
* Fish-Head Steve by Jamie Smart
* I Am Still Not a Loser by Jim Smith
The funniest book for children aged six and under:
* Weasels by Elys Dolan
* Spaghetti with the Yeti by Charlotte and Adam Guillain and Lee Wildish
* Troll Swap by Leigh Hodgkinson
* Monkey Nut by Simon Rickerty
Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo! By Amy Sparkes and Sara Ogilvie
* Noisy Bottoms by Sam Taplin and Mark Chambers
This was won by Rebecca Stead for Liar & Spy.
The Guardian children's fiction prize is awarded annually to fiction written for children aged eight and above, and is the only children's fiction award selected by fellow writers. The winning author receives a cheque for £1,500. Last year the prize was opened up to writers outside the UK, and New York author Rebecca Stead is the first American writer to win the prize.
Previous winners of the prize include Mark Haddon for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson and The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce.
ELEANOR FARJEON AWARD
David Almond, writer of Skellig and My Name is Mina and other children’s books, has won the Eleanor Farjeon award for "outstanding contribution to the world of children's books".
The prize, now in its 47th year, is voted for by members of the Children's Book Circle, an informal association of children's book professionals including editors, writers and booksellers. The award is named in memory of Eleanor Farjeon, best known for writing the hymn ‘Morning Has Broken’, and the author of children's books
The Eleanor Farjeon award recognises an outstanding contribution to children's literature and can be awrded to an individual or organisation. Previous winners include the children's book illustrator Quentin Blake and Malorie Blackman, author of the Noughts & Crosses trilogy, who is the current Children's Laureate.
RED HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD
The children of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups have been busy reading all year and now their favourites have been selected as the shortlist for the 2014 Red House Children’s Book Award.
The shortlisted books are in three categories:
Books for Older Readers
• Killing Rachel – Anne Cassidy
• The 5th Wave – Rick Yancey
• W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin – Eoin Colfer
Books for Younger Readers
• The Land of Neverbelieve – Norman Messenger
• Atticus Claw Breaks The Law – Jennifer Gray
• Claude In The Country – Alex T Smith
Books for Younger Children
• Superworm – Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Walter and The No Need To Worry Suit – Rachel Bright
• How To Hide A Lion – Helen Stephens
• Hippospotamus – Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross
There is a dedicated website www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk where any child can vote there for their favourite book until January 18 2014.
ROALD DAHL FUNNY PRIZE
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize, which was launched in 2008 aims to promote laughter and humour as a feel-good factor when reading, to draw attention to funny books as readable and enjoyable books and to reward authors and illustrators who write and illustrate books using humour.
The Prize has two categories:
* The funniest book for children aged six and under
* The funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen
The winner of each category will receive £2,500, which will be presented at an awards ceremony in December. Over 200 children, selected from schools around the UK, will help judge the award. Their votes will be combined with those of the judging panel to find the two winning books for 2013.
The shortlist
The funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen:
* The Grunts All at Sea by Philip Ardagh and Axel Scheffler
* My Parents are Out of Control by Pete Johnson
* Pants are Everything by Mark Lowery
* Geek Girl by Holly Smale
* Fish-Head Steve by Jamie Smart
* I Am Still Not a Loser by Jim Smith
The funniest book for children aged six and under:
* Weasels by Elys Dolan
* Spaghetti with the Yeti by Charlotte and Adam Guillain and Lee Wildish
* Troll Swap by Leigh Hodgkinson
* Monkey Nut by Simon Rickerty
Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo! By Amy Sparkes and Sara Ogilvie
* Noisy Bottoms by Sam Taplin and Mark Chambers
24 September 2013
Ratcliffe Library - the new name for the OLA school Library
The school Library was officially renamed today in honour of OLA alumnus Bertram Ratcliffe, who was awarded the Military Cross for his daring escape in World War One.
His story was told today by Principal Mr Oliver, who recounted the achievements of this Old Boy of Our Lady's Convent School. Born in 1893 and living to the ripe old age of 98, Captain Ratcliffe was known as a writer as well as for his military career. From Abingdon he went onto Harrow and Sandhurst, finishing his training just in time for the outbreak of World War One.
As a young second lieutenant, he took part in the Battle of the Aisne, being among the first British soldiers to be wounded when he was shot through the lung. Taken prisoner as an officer he was treated with old world courtesy and was operated upon by a German surgeon who restored the use of his right arm. He was imprisoned in Ingolstadt Castle, where he was able to exchange correspondence with his family and even receive parcels, such as racquets and balls.
A friend back home tried to send him a map of Bavaria welded inside a sardine tine, but it was never sent as it was reported to the police. However his mother did manage to smuggle a compass hidden in a tin of Harrogate toffees. These items are kept in the Special Collection of the Brotherton Library , Leeds University, named after Ratcliffe's uncle, who endowed that library.
In 1917 the opportunity to escape came when he was being transferred to another prison further north. He jumped from a moving train and using the compass kept walking for 36 hours, and eventually crawled under the frontier wire into Holland.
Making newspaper headlines Betram Ratcliffe was invited to tell his dramatic tale by King George V at Windsor castle, and he was later awarded the Military Cross.
Although he went on to do many other things Bertram Ratcliffe never forgot his happy time at the school and gave a large sum to equip a ‘Ratcliffe Library’ in 1948, set up school prizes and was generous in many ways.
With the anniversary of the Great War approaching this has been an opportunity to honour Bertram Radcliffe’s memory and exploits by naming the Library of the Senior School as the Ratcliffe Library. Guest of honour the Hon. Sir Thomas Boyd Carpenter, the County President of the Royal British Legion cut the ribbon following Mr Oliver's talk to older pupils in the school.
Read the report in the local press here.
Additional information from Children of Mercy: the story of the schools of Our Lady's Convent Abingdon by Penny Roker, 2000.
His story was told today by Principal Mr Oliver, who recounted the achievements of this Old Boy of Our Lady's Convent School. Born in 1893 and living to the ripe old age of 98, Captain Ratcliffe was known as a writer as well as for his military career. From Abingdon he went onto Harrow and Sandhurst, finishing his training just in time for the outbreak of World War One.
As a young second lieutenant, he took part in the Battle of the Aisne, being among the first British soldiers to be wounded when he was shot through the lung. Taken prisoner as an officer he was treated with old world courtesy and was operated upon by a German surgeon who restored the use of his right arm. He was imprisoned in Ingolstadt Castle, where he was able to exchange correspondence with his family and even receive parcels, such as racquets and balls.
A friend back home tried to send him a map of Bavaria welded inside a sardine tine, but it was never sent as it was reported to the police. However his mother did manage to smuggle a compass hidden in a tin of Harrogate toffees. These items are kept in the Special Collection of the Brotherton Library , Leeds University, named after Ratcliffe's uncle, who endowed that library.
In 1917 the opportunity to escape came when he was being transferred to another prison further north. He jumped from a moving train and using the compass kept walking for 36 hours, and eventually crawled under the frontier wire into Holland.
Making newspaper headlines Betram Ratcliffe was invited to tell his dramatic tale by King George V at Windsor castle, and he was later awarded the Military Cross.
Although he went on to do many other things Bertram Ratcliffe never forgot his happy time at the school and gave a large sum to equip a ‘Ratcliffe Library’ in 1948, set up school prizes and was generous in many ways.
With the anniversary of the Great War approaching this has been an opportunity to honour Bertram Radcliffe’s memory and exploits by naming the Library of the Senior School as the Ratcliffe Library. Guest of honour the Hon. Sir Thomas Boyd Carpenter, the County President of the Royal British Legion cut the ribbon following Mr Oliver's talk to older pupils in the school.
Read the report in the local press here.
Additional information from Children of Mercy: the story of the schools of Our Lady's Convent Abingdon by Penny Roker, 2000.
20 September 2013
OLA Festival of Reading continues
The OLA Festival of Reading continues with five more events in the week of 23 - 27 September, with one open to the public on Thursday evening.
Monday 23rd September: Mark Robson, best-selling fantasy fiction author and former RAF pilot
Lessons 1 & 2: ‘Devil’s Triangle’ for Years 7 – 10 in CMA
Lessons 3 & 4/7 & 8: Workshops on Developing Fictional Characters for Year 9, half year group in each workshop in Room 22
Meet the author
As well as his three sessions Mark Robson will be in the Library at lunchtime to answer any questions you have on the RAF, his books, writing & reading, etc.
Tuesday 24th: Mercy Day
Mr Oliver on OLA Alumnus ‘Bertram Ratcliffe and the First World War’
9 am – 10 am for Years 10 & 11 in CMA
Followed by VIP Visitor Sir Thomas Boyd Carpenter, County President of the Royal British Legion, to cut the ribbon for re-naming of the Library as the Ratcliffe Library in honour of Bertram Ratcliffe, awarded the Miltary Cross for his daring escape from a prisoner of war camp in World War I, and who endowed the school's first Ratcliffe Library in 1948.
Thursday 26th: Julie Hearn, Carnegie shortlisted local writer of historical fiction.
Lessons 1 & 2: ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ for Year 8 in CMA
Lessons 4 & 5: ‘Emily and Hazel’ and the Suffragette Movement for Year 9 in CMA
Lessons 7 & 8: ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ for Year 7 in CMA
Thursday 26th: Bernard O’Donoghue, Whitbread Poetry Prize winner. 'An Evening of Irish Poetry' – All welcome
6 pm Refreshments from 5.30 pm. No need to book.
Friday 27th: H. L. Dennis, author of the Secret Breakers series, exciting adventures mixing fact and fiction and code breaking
Lessons 1 & 2: 'Weaving Fact and Fiction' for Year 7 in CMA
Lessons 3 & 4: 'Code Cracking' for Year 9 and Year 10 in CMA
1.30 pm: 'Weaving Fact and Fiction' - OLA welcomes 300 children from local primary schools to enjoy a session with this exciting new writer.
Monday 23rd September: Mark Robson, best-selling fantasy fiction author and former RAF pilot
Lessons 1 & 2: ‘Devil’s Triangle’ for Years 7 – 10 in CMA
Lessons 3 & 4/7 & 8: Workshops on Developing Fictional Characters for Year 9, half year group in each workshop in Room 22
Meet the author
As well as his three sessions Mark Robson will be in the Library at lunchtime to answer any questions you have on the RAF, his books, writing & reading, etc.
Tuesday 24th: Mercy Day
Mr Oliver on OLA Alumnus ‘Bertram Ratcliffe and the First World War’
9 am – 10 am for Years 10 & 11 in CMA
Followed by VIP Visitor Sir Thomas Boyd Carpenter, County President of the Royal British Legion, to cut the ribbon for re-naming of the Library as the Ratcliffe Library in honour of Bertram Ratcliffe, awarded the Miltary Cross for his daring escape from a prisoner of war camp in World War I, and who endowed the school's first Ratcliffe Library in 1948.
Thursday 26th: Julie Hearn, Carnegie shortlisted local writer of historical fiction.
Lessons 1 & 2: ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ for Year 8 in CMA
Lessons 4 & 5: ‘Emily and Hazel’ and the Suffragette Movement for Year 9 in CMA
Lessons 7 & 8: ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ for Year 7 in CMA
Thursday 26th: Bernard O’Donoghue, Whitbread Poetry Prize winner. 'An Evening of Irish Poetry' – All welcome
6 pm Refreshments from 5.30 pm. No need to book.
Friday 27th: H. L. Dennis, author of the Secret Breakers series, exciting adventures mixing fact and fiction and code breaking
Lessons 1 & 2: 'Weaving Fact and Fiction' for Year 7 in CMA
Lessons 3 & 4: 'Code Cracking' for Year 9 and Year 10 in CMA
1.30 pm: 'Weaving Fact and Fiction' - OLA welcomes 300 children from local primary schools to enjoy a session with this exciting new writer.
18 September 2013
Michelle Paver enchants her audience of 300
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A packed school hall at OLA, with children from seven schools, listened with glee as they heard Michelle Paver regretting that she hadn't tried the seal's eyeballs offered to her on one of her research trips. This author travels far and wide to find out how her characters would have lived and reacted, from swimming with dolphins and hearing the clicks and whistles as soon as she put her head in the water to spending time with wolves, a particular passion of hers. The lively question and answer session ranged from the author's use of mythological gods to uses for hare's skull. The end result - a happy bunch of children, an author delighted with her audience, a sell-out for the local bookshop, and a satisfied librarian.
OLA press release
Michelle Paver's website
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