Engineering
works on the Circle & District line at Victoria delayed my arrival
at the 2005 Red House Children's Book Awards. A 10 minute trip across
to the
Roof Gardens at Kensington High Street turned into a 60-minute heavy-traffic
bus trip. I guess, in retrospect, the C in the bus number C1 stands
for circular or circuitous, and had I had my wits about me I might
have jumped
off halfway round the circuit and arrived more quickly on foot.
Jacquline Wilson's rings and bangles shimmer as ashe
addresses guests at the start of the prizegiving
As it was,
I got there just as everyone was being asked to take their places for
lunch, and missed the author & illustrator book signings, which previously
has always delivered the best photo opportunities of the event. Hence,
in comparison with ACHUKA's previous reports from the CBA event, there
is a paucity of photos this year.
The Laureate wore glittery shoes for the 25th anniversary
of the Award
I had lunch
on a table with a party of children from York. I asked Liam, on my left,
what he would normally be doing on a Saturday. Either going to Gardening
Club at the allotments or meeting friends down the shops.
Liam, after presenting an award to Simon James
Liam with other members of his York Book Group
On my right
was a young man from Year 10 [far right in the photo above], dressed
in suit and tie. What are your interests? he was asked by someone else
on
the
table.
Scouts,
history,
church. He was a fan of The Recruit and had brought copies to
be signed. On the opposite side of the table, two girls and their librarian
chatted
away with Bob and Brenda Swindells.
Robert Muchamore and his Award presenters
Behind
me, Jacqueline Wilson shared a table with lucky members
of a book group from another region. And so it was at table after table,
with
shortlisted
authors/illustrators and other regular supporters of the award, such
as the Swindells and Jeremy Strong, along with the great & good of
children's publishing (Kate Wilson, Philippa Dickinson, editors, agents,
movers&shakers), all giving up a Saturday in midsummer to attend this
unique gathering.
A CBBC researcher taking notes
Liam, like
me, is vegetarian. Unlike me, he doesn't care for mushrooms. Which was
a shame, because the main course was tortilla filled with garlic flavoured
mushrooms. He was anxious about his role as prize presenter. Chris Meade
of Booktrust, sitting the other side of Liam, joined me in assuring him
that he wouldn't be called on to make a speech.
Lauren Child
Liam hadn't
heard of ACHUKA. I gave him a card and he took out a small notebook,
turned to a page headed Websites, and added the website address in hand.
I liked Liam a lot. I liked the fact that he was there. I liked the fact
that he had been chosen to come. I also liked the unpretentiously natural
comments by children in the video extracts. Yes, some of them were a
bit feeble in terms of critical acumen, but for those of us who work
in schools they were far more typical of children's verbal responses
than the pretentiously articulate contributions offered last year.
Eva Ibbotson on video
Last year,
Michael Morpurgo spoke via video. This year a number of shortlisted authors
couldn't be present, and it was good to hear from them (Julia Donaldson,
Eva Ibbotson, Eoin Colfer) via vide.
Julia Donaldoson on video
Eoin Colfer on video
Not only
was The
Recruit by Robert Muchamore the biggest suprise on the shortlist,
it went on to win the Books for Older Readers category, which made me
wonder why none of Darren Shan's titles have ever made it on to the CBA
shortlist. The Cherub series, of which The Recruit was the first
title, is picking up an avid following, with a website - www.cherubcampus.com
- that is a model of how a site can be used to nurture and sustain a
readership. Muchamore was there, enjoying the limelight, as well he might,
in a Cherub T-shirt, thanking his mum for bringing him doughnuts
while he worked, and thanking everyone else for coming.
Chris Paolini on video
The two
other category winners were Baby Brains by Simon James and Best
Friends by Jacqueline Wilson. I think everyone was expecting the
Laureate to win. In a brief launch address she had promised that during
her Laureateship she would do everything she could to get the 'entire
nation hooked on books' and said that she would welcome ideas on how
to do this. (She has two big ideas of her own.) Later, when accepting
the category winner award, she paid tribute to Nick Sharratt her collaborator
for some 14 years, saying she liked to think that they were indeed
now 'best friends'.
Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt with their presenters
Simon James giving his 'acceptance speech'
When Simon
James was declared the outright winner, he seemed genuinely overcome, in
the manner of a Hollywood actor accepting an Oscar, which helped give
the whole occasion a glitzy showbizzy climax, worthy of it being the
25th anniversary of the award.
Pat Thompson, the Award founder, summarising the shortlisted
titles and presenting reader comments in her inimitable style
Its founder
Pat Thompson revealed that this year a total of 128,000 votes had been
cast - 30,000 more than last year. The two prime aims of the award
remain what they have always been - to support publishers and authors,
and to involve as many children as possibile in reading for pleasure
and give them a voice.
Jackie Morris, just one of the many other illustrators
and authors at the event, besides the shortlisted ones
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