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Swan Song by Gill Lewis

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Times Children’s Book of the Week 13 Feb 2021

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“This moving novel sensitively explores some of the pressures faced by teenagers and their potential impact on mental health.” BookTrst

A profoundly moving novel on the redemptive, healing power of nature from bestseller Gill Lewis.

Dylan is struggling. Since he started high school, everything has become too much to handle. Now he’s been expelled and is forced to move to the tiny village in Wales where his grandad lives. But when Grandad invites Dylan out on his boat to watch the Whooper swans return to their winter feeding ground, things begin to change. Grandad doesn’t judge or question; he just lets Dylan be. Out on the water, with no distractions or pressure, Dylan begins to feel like himself again. But when the swans and their home are threatened, and tragedy strikes at home, can Dylan keep going when it feels like everything is slipping out of control again?

The Valley Of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr

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Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month, January 2021
Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week 10 Jan 2021

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A debut that has generated a lot of pre-publication enthusiasm from fellow authors, including from Frank Cottrell-Boyce: “terrifically enjoyable”.

When Jimmy is evacuated to a small village in Wales, it couldn’t be more different from London. Green, quiet and full of strangers, he instantly feels out of place. But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree, and suddenly the valley is more frightening than the war. Who can Jimmy trust? His brother is too little; his best friend has changed. Finding an ally in someone he never expects, they set out together to uncover the secrets that lie with the skull. What they discover will change Jimmy – and the village – forever.

A mesmerising mystery about bravery and brotherhood from an outstanding new voice.

Cowgirl Is Tir na n-Og Winner

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Giancarlo

Cardiff-raised author, Giancarlo Gemin, has scooped the annual Tir na n-Og award with his debut book, Cowgirl.

The awards, organised by the Welsh Books Council, and sponsored by Cilip Wales, celebrate the best English-language title with an authentic Welsh background. The award was presented to Giancarlo Gemin at Swansea Central Library this evening, 14 May.

Cowgirl is the funny yet moving story of Gemma. Growing up on the embattled Mawr Estate in south Wales, all Gemma sees are burglaries, sadness and boredom. With a dad in prison and a mum who has given up hope, she’s holding out for better times ahead. With the abrupt arrival of Cowgirl, the big angry weirdo girl from school, everything in Gemma’s life starts to look different.

The panel of judges agreed that Cowgirl skilfully showed aspects of contemporary life in Wales, and is brimming with personality. Bev Bannon, Chair of the Tir na n-Og English-language panel stated of the winner, ‘Cowgirl is a great read and Giancarlo has done a superb job in developing that feel-good factor in the novel’.

Giancarlo Gemin, who is currently developing his second novel based on the Italian-run cafes of south Wales, stated, ‘I’m delighted to win the Tir na n-Og award – it’s great to win this important prize for my debut book, as it certainly encourages me to keep writing. I was very moved and proud to receive such an acknowledgement from my native country. Cowgirl was the first book I decided to set in Wales, and in writing it felt immediately at home.’

 

Shoo Rayner’s First Book For Firefly

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Prolific children’s book author and illustrator Shoo Rayner has turned his attention to Welsh culture, intertwining a primary school setting with ancient Celtic legends. Here, he tells Joanne Atkinson about Dragon Gold, dyslexia, and drawing on YouTube…

via The ‘how to draw stuff’ children’s author who became a YouTube sensation from his Mid Wales shed – Wales Online.

Tir na n-Og Awards 2014 Shortlists

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The Welsh Books Council has announced the titles on the shortlist of the prestigious Tir na n-Og Awards for 2014.

 

Best English-language Book Category

  • The Seven – Steve Gladwin (Pont)
  • The Wild West Show – Phil Carradice (Pont)
  • Welsh Cakes and Custard – Wendy White (illustrated by Helen Flook) (Pont)

 

The Tir na n-Og Awards were established in 1976 with the intention of raising the standards of children’s and young people’s books in Wales, and to encourage the buying and reading of good books. Three awards are presented annually by the Books Council and are sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Cymru/Wales and Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion.

 

The shortlists for the two Welsh-language categories have also been announced, and these are:

 

Best Welsh-language Primary Category

  • Ar Fferm Sgubor Wen – Caryl Lewis (Gwasg Gwynedd)
  • Dafydd a Dad – Manon Steffan Ros a Jac Jones (Y Lolfa)
  • Cwmwl dros y Cwm – Gareth F. Williams (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)

 

Best Welsh-language Secondary Category

  • Haciwr (Cyfres Pen Dafad) – Hywel Griffiths (Y Lolfa)
  • Diffodd y Sêr (Cyfres yr Onnen) – Haf Llewelyn (Y Lolfa)
  • Pedwar (Cyfres Mellt) – Lleucu Roberts (Y Lolfa)

 

The name of the winner of the English-language award will be announced at a special event at Cardiff Central Library during the CILIP Cymru Library and Information Conference on Thursday, 15 May 2014, and the winners of the Welsh-language awards at the Urdd National Eisteddfod, Meirionnydd, on Thursday, 29 May 2014.

Writer attacks falling literacy standards in Welsh schools

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A leading Welsh author has warned that a literacy crisis among TV-obsessed school pupils is threatening the future of children who are leaving primary education without the ability to write a legible sentence.

Award winning writer and former literary critic Jennifer Sullivan has described the alarming 20-year decline in standards as “depressing and upsetting.”

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Dr Sullivan has also called for more home involvement from parents, citing late night TV as a threat to literacy.

She said: “In one school I was asked if I had children, and where they lived.

“I said, three grown-up daughters, living in London, Essex and Northern Ireland.

“One small girl shrieked with excitement: ‘Oh, Miss, the one what do live in Essex (sic)? Is she famous? Is she on Towie (The Only Way Is Essex)? Oh, I want to be an Essex girl when I grow up!’

“I asked how come a nine-year-old was allowed to stay up to watch The Only Way Is Essex.

“‘I got a telly in my bedroom, Miss.’

“I asked how many other children had TVs in their bedrooms.

“Those children who did not have TVs or computer games consoles  in their rooms could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

“I asked them what time they actually went to sleep. Not one confessed to turning out the light before 10pm at the earliest and staff confirmed that children often dozed off in class.”

She added: “This battle for literacy must start with parents.

“Parents should be begged, as a first step – for the sake of their children’s immediate health and their future success – to remove televisions and games consoles from their children’s bedrooms.”

via Writer attacks falling literacy standards in Wales’ schools – Wales Online.