Book trust – ACHUKA Children's Books UK

ACHUKA was privileged to be invited to Book Trust’s presentation of the first Lifetime Achievement to Shirley Hughes yesterday, at the Orangery in Holland Park.

Michael Morpurgo agave an introductory speech (written in the mistaken assurance that Shirley would be wearing a hat, as she generally does to literary parties) which had just the right mix of humour and veneration. There were lots of ‘great & good’ people in attendance, including the new Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell. It was a particular pleasure for me to see Clare Hall-Craggs acting as Shirley’s chaperone as well as meeting up with, for the first time in years, Ted Dewan, both longtime ACHUKA friends. After the formalities, a local Y2 class were treated to a special live drawing session in an outside marquee. Shirley drew Alfie running and two illustrations based on comical rhymes, all undertaken in a charming non-performance-like way, so that it was as if we were watching her draw in a home setting. I wish my three grownup children and both grandchildren, all of whom have loved her books, could have been there.

The cupcakes featuring Shirley Hughes book jackets (pictured below) were made for the occasion by Bluebell Kitchen.

Shirley drawing Alfie

Chris Riddell sketching as Shirley draws

Lifetime Achiever Talks to new Laureate

specially commissioned cup-cakes

Clare Hall-Craggs speaking with Shirley towards the end of the event

A Wood Green primary is officially the best read school in the country.

Lordship Lane Primary School, in Ellenborough Road, came top of the more than 3,500 schools taking part in this year’s Read for My School competition.

The 350 pupils at the primary school worked their way through 10,160 books in 60 days – and that is despite three-quarters of the children having English as their second language.

Pupils were so keen to add to their total that they would use the school ICT suite at lunchtime to read books online.

And it took just 24 hours for pupils to hit the 1,000-book mark.

Jackie May, deputy head teacher and literacy co-ordinator at the school, said the pupils’ enthusiasm “took her breath away” – especially with a late surge taking the total into five figures.

Ms May said: “Every class teacher signed up children and it was a whole school effort – the younger children were really keen to get involved.

“We had weekly assemblies where we would reveal the new total and it generated early tension and excitement. I would give out certificates to the children who had read the most that week.

“In the last week we had reached 9,000 and I said ‘come on, we’ve got five days’ and they did it.”

The competition, now in its second year, was launched by learning charity Pearson with charities Booktrust and The Pearson Foundation, and support from the Department for Education.

via HARINGEY TODAY | NEWS | Wood Green primary is best read school in country | 2014.

Shirley Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award

Wood Green primary [Haringey] is best read school in country