UK Final of Kids' Lit Quiz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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+.