This year David Fickling Books has a total of titles nominated for the Carnegie / Greenaway Awards 2011. I’ve been lucky enough to have been given a selection of them to review and I am also giving away an extra set to one reader.
The selection includes a range of different age groups and covers subjects such as life on the edge of our solar system, kids with green fingers, meeting a half-sibling who turns out to be a giant, survival in a post-apocalyptic world, and the Mankiest Monster. I’ve read all of them and enjoyed all of them; they are all worthy winners.
Lob by Linda Newbery is the story of green-fingered Lucy who has a close relationship with her grandfather. She listens to his tales about Lob – a green man who helps out in the garden - and believed that he exists. But when her grandfather dies everything changes and she is taken away to the city. She wonders if Lob – the one constant in her life – will ever find her. It’s an engaging story, beautifully written that might just tempt your child outside into the garden.
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay is about Bernardo who is eight foot tall and journeys from the Philippines to be reunited with his half-sister Andi, who has long-awaited his return. But no-one told her about his height or that Bernardo is a hero having saved his village from major earthquakes. But what will happen once he is back in the UK and no longer there to protect those he has left behind? A moving story with a lovely multi-cultural angle, sad in parts but very readable.
WE by John Dickinson is a great introduction for children interested in science fiction. It tells the story of Paul Munro who is on a mission from which he can never return having been prepared mentally and physically to spend the rest of his life living on the edge of the solar system in a freezing, isolated world with just three others for company. Thought-provoking, cleverly written, intense and chilling. The book is not a light-hearted read but it will certainly make the reader think.
Morris the Mankiest Monster by Giles Andreae and Sarah McIntyre is a picture book for younger children about Morris who has not changed his t-shirt in years and is, in a word, disgusting. Kids will love the talk of dirt and dribble and fleas. Parents may squirm a bit. Billed as the most revolting children’s book of the year, I’d have to say it is. Open it if you dare, but don’t say you were not warned!
Johnny Swanson by Eleanor Updale is a murder mystery with an unlikely hero. Set in the 1920s Johnny lives with his mother Winnie after losing his father in the First World War. Unpopular at school and with a rent increase due on his home, he starts earning money by scamming people through newspaper advertisements. His scheme is working well until people become suspicious and then a local doctor, working towards a cue for TB, is murdered and Winnie arrested. Alone in the world Johnny has travels to Wales to get to the bottom of the mystery in an attempt to free his mother before it is too late.
X-Isle by Steve Augarde is a book for older children that adults will find equally gripping. It is the story of life in a post-apocalyptic world where floods have those that have not perished are doing what they can to survive. For many, hope lies on X-Isle where they believe they will find a better life away from fear and near-starvation. When Baz’s father sends him there, he enters a life of hardship and cruelty that seems relentless, but he is not alone and with the power of friendship and the bond that developed between the other boys on the island, there seems a way out. Or is there? Billed as Lord of the Flies for the new generation, this book is dark, disturbing, compelling and utterly brilliant.
To enter the giveaway and receive all six titles, simply leave a comment on this blog including the name of a book you would recommend.
The giveaway closes at midnight on Friday 18th February.
The winner will be selected at random and announced on Saturday 19th February.
One entry per person.
For an extra entry, tweet this giveaway.
The books will be sent directly from the publishers.
Disclosure: I received these books free of charge to review.
Update: Thanks to everyone who entered. I've announced the winner here.
I'd undoubtedly recommend My Naughty Little Sister by Dorothy Edwards. We're reading it at the moment and Threeva loves it!
Hoping we have more books to read when we win ;-)
Posted by: Domestic goddesque | February 11, 2011 at 02:22 PM
The Adventures of a Nose (Viviane Schwarz and Joel Stewart)is one of the cleverest and most imaginative children's book I've come across. A nose travels the world in search of his role - and finds a place where he can fit in by sticking out.
Posted by: Iota | February 12, 2011 at 02:45 AM
At the moment our favourite is the classic Very Hungry Caterpillar!
Posted by: Emma @ Mummy Musings | February 12, 2011 at 08:33 AM
Just read "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" with one of the kids I tutor. Great book for older kids and an interesting perspective on WWII.
Posted by: Jodi | February 12, 2011 at 03:10 PM
Recently re-read "Pardon Me, You're Stepping on My Eyeball" by Paul Zindel, and loved it as much as when I was a teen.
Posted by: Kelly | February 12, 2011 at 04:52 PM
For us it is Michael Rosens Sad Book. A real help during this hard time for both me and the boys
Posted by: Jen | February 14, 2011 at 01:54 PM
I don't think you can beat 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', it's simply magical!
Posted by: Di | February 15, 2011 at 11:36 AM
I would SO recommend 'Peepo!' by Janet and Alan Ahlberg. The illustrations are classic Britain and the story is poetic and simple, outlining a toddler's day with the line 'here's a little baby, one two three..'. DD wants it read to her when she wakes up, and before nap time and bed time. It's totally integrated into our routine!
Posted by: mummy@bodfortea | February 15, 2011 at 01:20 PM
We love Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear. As soon as the first line is spoken allowed my 6.5 month old twins are entranced. So well read is this book in our house that I can now recite it from memory at any given opportunity. Perfect for nappy changes, car journeys and calming tantrums. We are all bookwprms in this house and would love to win this giveaway.
Posted by: jennie | February 17, 2011 at 07:22 AM
I will always love Esio Trot by Roald Dahl!
Posted by: Catherine Miller | February 18, 2011 at 09:59 AM
Has to be the Gruffulo, it is so well written, we love it!
Posted by: ashleigh | February 18, 2011 at 10:06 AM
wow what great books!
At the moment we are a fan of 'Where the wild things are'.
Posted by: Mummiafelice | February 18, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Great to hear about a good mix of new books available for whole familes to share out - would love to take a closer, hands on look!
Managed to recently lure my daughter, aged 9, away from her beloved Enid Blyton. She's been studying myths and legends at school so when we came across 'Arthur High King of Britain' by Michael Morpurgo in a local Waterstones store it was a perfect opportunity to coax her into trying something different. She loved it and commented on how well written it was and, although it had several words which were new to her, she found it easy to read. In the book, King Arthur tells a series of stories about himself, Guinevere and the Knights of the round table to a boy that he rescues from drowning in the present day Scilly Isles.
Posted by: Avril | February 18, 2011 at 02:12 PM
"The Tiger who came to Tea" - I love reading it as much as my little ones love listening to it. I can never read it just once - they beg for "once more" !!
Posted by: Margaret | February 18, 2011 at 04:34 PM
I'd recommend Mog The Forgetful Cat. It's gorgeously illustrated, simply written and very cery funny!
Posted by: Kathryn MacKinnon | February 18, 2011 at 06:06 PM
'Across the Universe' by Beth Revis. It's a YA dystopian novel and opens with the main character (and her parents), being cryogenically frozen so that they may be reawakened 300 years later on another planet. Gripping from the word go!
Posted by: Rebecca Colby | February 18, 2011 at 08:53 PM
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is always great for very young children!
Posted by: Jane morfett | February 18, 2011 at 09:13 PM
Farmer Duck or Pumkin Soup are both picture books that I would highly recommend. For older teenagers I would highly recommend Markus Zusak's The Book Theif ( adults should read this too, I did!!)xx
have tweeted too (@medsdemon)
Posted by: sarah allcoat | February 18, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Gruffalo would be a book I would recommend, great giveaway
Have tweeted too @ellielucky x
Posted by: Lorna Peppiatt | February 18, 2011 at 11:43 PM