Books: children & YA

Michael Rosen today announced the winners of the 2009 Roald Dahl Funny Prize, administered by the Booktrust, at the Unicorn Theatre in London.

Booktrust and Blue Peter are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2010. These enormously popular and influential awards have been recognising and celebrating the best children's authors, the most creative illustrators and the greatest reads for children since 2000. Great Christmas stocking fillers!

Launched today – a collection of favourite poems chosen by celebrities in celebration of 25 years of The Children's Trust. Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has written the forward to The Walrus and the Carpenter.

According to a report by the European Commission, 62 per cent of Brits can't speak any other language. On European Language Day, Oliva Coates reviews Talk 2 French - one of the BBC's new language courses -  and polishes up her linguistic skills.

The Booktrust Early Years Awards, supported by the national Bookstart programme and their sponsors and the Unwin Charitable Trust, were announced on Wednesday 23 September 2009. These books make great presents.

Diana Harker's latest adventure book takes readers back to a Victorian age when children were seen and not heard. The novelty of having delicious food and living in a well-ordered house soon palls for Jane as she realises that all is not what it seems in the House of Secrets.

Founded in 2008 by Michael Rosen as part of his Children's Laureateship, the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, administered by the Booktrust, is the first prize of its kind - to honour those books that simply make children laugh and comedian David Walliams, best known for his grotesque comedy creations on the BBC series Little Britain, has been shortlisted for his debut book The Boy in the Dress, illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Nicole Burroughs reviews Sandra Boynton's Fifteen Animals with baby Eva.

Lesley Lodge and Sharon Bexley – with, respectively, a son and a daughter just off to university – review PWT founder Anne Coates’ latest book University A Survival Guide.

How to Build an A is aimed at children aged two and older: Catherine Crampton tried it out with her son, Philip, who is two and a half.

Looking for a sugar-free alternative Easter treat for a toddler then Good Egg by Barney Saltzberg is absolutely perfect, writes Alex Bell.

Naxos AudioBooks launches a new range of Naxos Young Adult Classics to make classic texts more accessible to a teenage audience. The first two in series are Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles.

It may be ten years since Michelle Magorian published Goodnight Mister Tom, but her latest award-winning novel Just Henry makes it worth the wait!

Fascinating facts that kids will love in a free booklet, Facteria The Little Book of Bacteria produced by Yakult.

Michelle Magorian Wins Costa Children's Book Award 2008 with her outstanding novel: Just Henry.

 

Ancient Egypt still fascinates for our children and this latest publication from the British Museum Press, Fun with Hieroglyphs by Catharine H. Roehrig, makes a great present and educational tool, writes Sue O'Neill.

Alvin Hall puts the fun into finance with a book written to explain money matters to the younger generation. Anne Coates is impressed and learned a few things during her reading of Show me the money.

Children's laureate Michael Rosen today announced the winners of the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize, which honours the funniest books for children: The Witch’s Children Go to School by Ursula Jones, illustrated by Russell Ayto and Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman.