launch – ACHUKA Children's Books UK

Versify Bus Launch

April 5, 2019 By achuka Leave a Comment

This week has seen the launch – with a bus tour – of Versify, Kwame Alexander’s new imprint with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in the US.

“I get asked what will make Versify different from other imprints,” says Kwame Alexander. “The truth is we are not reinventing publishing. It’s the same ingredients in our kitchen as everyone else’s: we want to publish books for children that are smart and fun, that inform and inspire, that help children imagine a better world. My goal is just to make sure there are more chefs in the kitchen, more voices in the room, that create unique and intelligent entertainment that electrifies and edifies young people. So yes, I too am looking for the next Mo Willems and Jacqueline Woodson. It’s just that I plan to look far and wide in places unseen to most. As Langston Hughes said, ‘Life is a big sea full of many fish. I let down my nets and pull.'”

The inaugural list [shown above] includes This Undefeated, a picture book that pays tribute to the sacrifices and triumphs of African-Americans, written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by acclaimed artist Kadir Nelson; The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, a middle-grade modern day Phantom Tollbooth, written by founding member of We Need Diverse Books, Lamar Giles; ¡Vamos! /Let’s Go! the first in a new bilingual picture book series by Pura Belpre award-winning illustrator Raúl the Third; and White Rose, a young adult novel in verse that tells the true story of Nazi resistance leader Sophie Scholl, by YARN Poetry Editor Kip Wilson.

MISFIT Launch Event, Waterstones Brighton

February 26, 2018 By achuka Leave a Comment

Waterstones

I had to leave this event half-way through audience questions and as I did so someone in the second row became overwhelmed while asking something about abusive relationships. Charli Howard jumped from her seat and gave the woman a warm hug.

Earlier, sitting between a tremendously engaging Juno Dawson (presenter of the panel) and the effervescent second guest, chef, food presenter and writer Gizzy Ersskine (aka in her schooldays as Jizzy Foreskin we were told) Charli came across as the quieter, least demonstrative of the three. This may have been because it was a Sunday evening and the final event of a gruelling week of promotion and publicity, but I think it more likely that it was an accurate representation of her personality – just a thoroughly nice person not into bigging herself up but willing to let others hold centre stage.

Had I been able to linger longer I’d have asked her about something I noted in my review of her highly-recommended memoir, MISFIT: the curious contrast between the laddish and adventurous adolescence and the apparently servile compliance after she had started modelling.

Juno Dawson, whose highly anticipated YA novel CLEAN is due out in April, was a revelation as a presenter – engaging, wittily impromptu and with just the right mix of humour and seriousness.

Waterstones

Rising Stars Poetry Launch Event

November 23, 2017 By achuka Leave a Comment

Back rowing, standing: Jay Hulme (Rising Stars poet), Riya Chowdhury (Rising Stars illustrator), Joelle Taylor (consultant and Artistic Director of SLAMbassadors UK), Janetta Otter-Barry (Publisher, Otter-Barry Books), Franziska Liebig (Company Manager, Pop Up Projects), Judith Escreet (Art Director, Otter-Barry Books ), Amina Jama (Rising Stars poet) and Victoria Adukwei Bulley (Rising Stars poet) Front row, seated: Joe Manners (Rising Stars illustrator), Abigail Cook (Rising Stars poet), Dylan Calder (Director, Pop Up Projects) and Ruth Awolola (Rising Stars poet) / Photograph by Joel Ford

Five début poets from diverse backgrounds, all aged 26 and under, performed work from the new collection Rising Stars, New Voices in Poetry, to a crowded room of booksellers, librarians, poets, festival programmers, critics and friends at Gerry’s Kitchen, Theatre Royal Stratford East, London on 21st November.

The poetry anthology for 10-14 year olds is an exciting collaboration between Otter-Barry Books and Pop Up Projects, supported by Arts Council England’ Grant for the Arts programme. Illustrations in the book are by final year students from Birmingham City University’s illustration course.

Joelle Taylor, founder and Artistic Director of SLAMbassadors UK, mentored all the poets and was consultant for the book. She said: “Rising Stars is a unique addition to the young poetry canon, with an anthology that addresses the vast diversity of people within the UK. Written by some of the brightest emerging poets in the country, the book tackles everyday issues from Afro hair to impending divorce with a delicacy and empathy rarely found. Finally, here is poetry that readers can see their faces in.”

Janetta Otter-Barry, Publisher, Otter-Barry Books said: “ We are immensely proud to publish this ground-breaking poetry collection for young readers.”

Dylan Calder, Director, Pop Up Projects added: “All children need to see themselves in the pages of the books they read. Whatever it is you discover in this eloquent collection, have no doubt that between these pages you’ll encounter some of the brightest lights in poetry today – alongside outstanding first-time illustrators. Truly, these are the stars to watch out for.”

Rising Stars: New Young Voices in Poetry is published by Otter-Barry Books, £6.99, ISBN 9781910959374

Book launch on Arran this weekend

September 28, 2017 By achuka Leave a Comment

Waterstones
THE Third book in the Thumble Tumble series of children’s books will be launching this Saturday on Arran.
Written by Angela Proctor, Thumble Tumble and the Eagalach Cup, is the latest in a popular series and you can meet the author too in Brodick this weekend.
The book continues the little witches adventures and centres on a crazy game of Thistle Pixie Football (Eagalach) which really rattles Mogdred!
The family fun starts at 11am until 1pm Saturday, September 30 in Brodick Hall.

via Book launch on Arran this weekend | Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.

Children’s author platform Authorfy to launch in April

January 20, 2017 By achuka Leave a Comment

as reported in The Bookseller – more infor on authorfy.com

A new online platform connecting children’s authors and schools will launch this April.
The platform, called Authorfy, was set up by Melanie Taylor-Bessent, who runs the Little Star Writing company, which offers creative writing workshops in London and Surrey. Authorfy will act as a hub connecting writers and children in schools, as well as providing resources such as creative writing activities.
…
Authorfy will help schools promote creative writing by providing resources, worksheets and activities based on an author’s books. The site will feature a ‘parent page’ and teacher newsletters, as well as click-through links so users can buy the books.
The site will raise money by charging schools a yearly subscription fee, as well as selling advertising slots to publishers.
The advantage for authors is that they will be able to promote their work to large groups of children at the same time, said Taylor-Bessent. “Imagine hundreds of thousands of children watching an author video at once then working through resources, worksheets and activities based on their books for a few weeks afterwards. It would give authors a captive audience and promote their work in a high-impact, engaging way that appeals to the YouTube generation.”
She will run competitions such as book giveaways and book visits to schools and has appointed five authors as official “ambassadors” – Cressida Cowell, Laura Dockrill, Abi Elphinstone, Piers Torday and SF Said – to promote the business.

via Children’s author platform Authorfy to launch | The Bookseller.

Leafy The Pet Leaf Launch – Ardagh & Elwick

September 21, 2016 By achuka Leave a Comment

‘LEAFY the Pet Leaf’, the first of four contracted Ardagh & Elwick ‘Little Adventurers’ picture books was launched at the Kings Road branch of Waterstones.

As the photos show [see gallery below], Elwick’s longtime studio mate Sarah McIntyre was (as always) suitably attired for the occasion.

Published by Walker Books, the series stars Finnegan, Sprat, Floss and Peanut who meet weekly in a top-secret shed HQ. In the first title Sprat can’t seem to find his cat, Shadow, anywhere. And he absolutely has to have a pet – it’s bring in a pet day! Instead, he finds a leaf, draws a little face on it and…Ta-Da! Sprat has a pet: Leafy! But can you really have a leaf as a pet? There will be an activity idea and information page with every story in the series, aimed at encouraging immersive play.

As part of the book’s promotion, Ardagh & Elwick have been on the road giving highly interactive presentations to groups of participating young children.

From an event in Birmingham [photograph from a public posting on Philip Ardagh’s Facebook page]:

Jinks And O’Hare Funfair Repair Launch

September 19, 2016 By achuka Leave a Comment

Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre celebrated the launch of their fourth collaboration Jinks and O’Hare Funfair Repair (Oxford University Press, £8.99) in London’s Southbank on Friday 16th September and announced the first #PicturesMeanBusiness Talk Show to be held at the Imagine Children’s Festival in February 2017.

Jinks and O’Hare Funfair Repair is set on Funfair Moon amongst the dodgems, the Space Twizzler and the Switchback of Doom.

The first #PicturesMeanBusiness Talk Show will be curated and hosted by Sarah McIntyre for an audience of children age 8+, inviting illustrators onto the sofa for an event of collaborative live drawing and interviews. At an age when many readers start to move away from pictures in books, McIntyre and guests will demonstrate why pictures and visual literacy remain relevant and important for all ages and all readers, including reluctant and dyslexic readers.

Reeve and McIntyre’s books have become synonymous with celebrating the ways in which words and pictures both complement and elevate each other. As co-authors Philip and Sarah work collaboratively on all aspects of their books, placing words and pictures on equal footing, a concept central to Sarah McIntyre’s #Pictures Mean Business campaign.

Otter-Barry Books Launch (with photos)

June 9, 2016 By achuka 1 Comment

A new imprint has been born.

One committed to creating a diverse list that will include traditional tales as well as new stories and, cheeringly, a strong emphasis on poetry.

The guest list at last night’s launch, held at the October Gallery in Holborn, included a host of poets and illustrators, alongside a mix of authors, agents and reviewers that spoke volumes for the high standing and reputation already enjoyed by Janet Otter-Barry courtesy of her previous publishing experience (notably with Frances Lincoln).

She told the assembled guests that the idea of setting up a company had come to her as far back as 1988. “I remember suggesting to my then fiancée David Ross, now my husband, how about we set up a publishing company together. For some reason he wasn’t keen!”

She feels that having acquired better market knowledge and experience, NOW is at last the right time to do this, “to set up Otter-Barry Books as a new independent children’s publisher.”

“We all know that children’s books have proved amazingly resilient to challenges from other media, and I do passionately believe that children’s books are here to stay and will never be taken over by digital media whether it’s apps or ebooks. Families do love beautiful books and they love sharing physical books. And schools love books too. So do libraries.”

ACHUKA is delighted that the new list will be championing poetry.

“I was very clear from the start that I wanted to include poetry on my list, and my colleagues have fully supported that and have shared my enthusiasm. Children love poetry, we know that. We also have so many fantastic poets in the UK who are brilliant at performing and workshopping poetry. We need to get more poetry out there, more poets into schools and festivals, more poetry into bookshops.”

Three cheers for that!

Otter-Barry recognises that hers is a small company right now, publishing about 12 hardbacks per year plus 2 to 4 poetry titles. “But we will grow,” she promises.

Guests at the launch event were shown the first six picture books already published (on 5 May).

Mother and daughter partnership Joyce and Polly Dunbar’s I Will Not Wear Pink.

Nandana Sen’s Kangaroo Kisses.

Nicola Colton’s illustrations for James Carter’s Zim Zam Zoom

Karin Littlewood’s IMMI

Princess and the Castle

Jackie Morris’s The Seal Children with a fabulous new cover treatment

Otter-Barry has two poetry titles coming in August: Dinosaurs and Dinner Ladies from debut poet John Dougherty and the beautiful Adder Bluebell Lobster from the award-winning poet Chrissie Gittins

Slideshow (sometimes needs clicking to kickstart)

Frances Lincoln Picture Book Launch – T-Veg (the story of a carrot-crunching dinosaur)

September 18, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

Having attended the launch for Katherina Manolessou’s first picture book, Zoom Zoom Zoom, it was a pleasure to be invited to the launch of T-Veg, written by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by Katherina and published by Frances Lincoln.

The venue was the same as for that earlier launch party, Material Bookshop & Gallery.

Katherina’s artwork from the book is being exhibited by the gallery and is on show until 20th September.

An unexpected pleasure at this launch was an appearance by one of my favourite comedians, Sally Phillips (of Smack The Pony fame), who performed a full reading from the book, after separate talks from Rachel Williams, the publisher, and then the author and illustrator.

The launch was really well attended and after the talks a long queue formed for signing the book, which was being sold at a specially reduced price of £10 for the event.