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Caterpillar Cake: Read-Aloud Poems to Brighten Your Day by Matt Goodfellow ill. Krina Patel-Sage

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ACHUKA Book o the Day 27 Aug 2021

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A simply delightful collection of new poems for the very young. A must-have for anyone involved in early years education. Single-poet collections of this kind usually have four or five stand-out poems with the remainder a bit so-so. That’s not the case here. There’s only one somewhat weak poem in this book—a short counting poem which seems out of place with others in the collection, but maybe I’m missing something. The other 15 are superb and it’s hard to pick a favourite but I particularly liked ‘Hide and Seek’:

hide in a slipper
hide in a shoe
hide in a bottle
of PVA glue

Hardback picture-book poetry collections don’t come along very often, so treasure this one. Highly recommended for childminders, nurseries, Reception classes and, of course, parents of young children.

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Winners of the 2021 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition Announced

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Winners of the 2021 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition Announced

Ahead of this coming Thursday’s announcement of the winner of the Branford Boase Award for a first children’s novel, six young writers aged between 9 and 17 have been named the winners of the  Henrietta Branford Writing Competition for Young People which runs in conjunction with the main award and aims to encourage writers of the future.

Entrants were asked to complete a story begun by last year’s Branford Boase Award winner, author Liz Hyder. Liz often finds inspiration in graveyards – so many names waiting to be reused – and her opening paragraph, written in the graveyard of St Leonard’s Church, Ludlow, near to her home, caught the imagination of hundreds of young people.

Entrants followed Liz’s advice to take their story where they wanted, and the six winners are therefore very different but all of an exceptionally high standard. Prue Goodwin, lecturer in literacy and children’s books, judges the competition, which is now in its 22nd year, and declared the entries, ‘without a doubt, the best collection of stories’ that she has received.

The winners are:

Gracie Beirne aged 15 years from Fleetwood, Lancashire for Remember

Pascale Connors aged 10 years from London, for Last Days of Summer

 Finn Else-McCormack aged 17 years from London, for Endings

 Isabella Greenaway aged 15 years from Rickmansworth for Dear Tom

 Leonardo Teodoro aged 12 years from London for Twisted Time

 Euan Wood aged 9 years from Edinburgh for The Book of Crows.

You can read all the winning stories on the Branford Boase Award website and hear Prue Goodwin talking about the winners and their writing.

The judges also wanted to highlight the following talented young writers, whose stories are Highly Commended:

Lucie Bellamy age 8 years Cardiff

Lola Morgan age 13 years Milton Keynes

Jafar Alani age 12 years Potters Bar

Florence Johnson age 11 years Charles Kingsley Primary, Eversley

Elodie Dunn age 10 years Newton St Cyres

Darcey Prince age 9 years Wantage

Aishwarya Kozhikkottu Mundakkaparambil age 12 years Harrow

Millie Hargate age 14 years Great Sankey High School, Warrington

Maybelle Yang age 11 years London

Dhriti Mehrotra age 11 years Isleworth

Collette Foster age 16 years Bristol

Erica Cload age 12 years Inverness

The winners each receive signed copies of the books on the shortlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award.

The winner of the 2021 Branford Boase Award will be announced on Thursday 15 July as part of a special public event/celebration presented by the LoveReading LitFest.

Mirabelle Breaks The Rules by Harriet Muncaster

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Another witchy adventure from the world of Isadora Moon.

Mirabelle’s mum is a witch, her dad is a fairy, and she is a bit of both. When Mirabelle goes off to witch school she promises not to cause any mischief . . . But then potions class goes a bit wrong and flying practise is a disaster. Soon enough, Mirabelle finds herself getting up to some seriously mischievous behaviour. Hopefully, with the help of her best friend, Carlotta, she can put everything right before home time.

See also Isadora Moon Goes On Holiday

Zeki Loves Mummy – Zeki Books 4 by Anna McQuinn ill. Ruth Hearson

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“A joyful celebration of the bond between a child and their mother. Each word and every illustration is crafted to invite the reader into special moments shared. The perfect picturebook for early readers.” CLPE

Share the delight of a day with Zeki and his mummy! From when he wakes up in the morning, Zeki and his mummy fill their days with giggling, building dens, yoga, cycling, snacking, splashy painting and reading. At the end of the day, Mummy’s hugs are the comfiest.

Alanna Max is an indpendent UK publisher of “naturally inclusive” books.

The Kitten Next Door – Animal Stories 47 by Holly Webb ill.Sophy Williams

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Sophia loves cats but her parents think she and her sister are too young to have one of their own. So when a tiny kitten creeps through the fence from next door’s garden, Sophia immediately falls in love with her.
Then Sophia hears that her neighbours are moving away. She won’t get to see Willow any more! To her surprise, though, the little kitten is left behind. Can Sophia convince Mum and Dad to give Willow a new home?

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The Wizard in the Wood – The Dragon In The Library by Louie Stowell ill. Davide Ortu

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Kit, Josh and Alita are heading back to school – and they’re excited to discover that they’re getting a brand new library, which also means getting their own wizard librarian… and a dragon! But when something VERY BAD happens at the new library, it’s up to Kit and her friends to save the world one more time. The third instalment in the funny, exciting, magical, and action-packed Dragon in the Library series, brilliantly illustrated throughout by Davide Ortu.

Have you read the other books in the series? Look out for:
The Dragon in the Library
The Monster in the Lake

Flickr: 20 Under 20

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Wanting to recognize some of the most talented young photographers in its community, Flickr has announced 20under20, an annual award that honors 20 of the “world’s most extraordinary young photographers on Flickr.”

To select the winner’s of this year’s award, the photo sharing service enlisted the help of four Flickr photographers: Lou Nobel, Cuba Gallery, and Rosie Hardy and Bernardo Hernandez(Flickr’s head honcho). The judges evaluated 1000 photographers over four months for creativity, technical talent, and overall portfolio strength.

Meet the photographers.

  • Battle by Evan J AtwoodFinding Warmth. by Evan J AtwoodWeaving. by Evan J AtwoodUntitled. by Evan J Atwood

    Evan Atwood

    Evan James Atwood currently lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, and took an interest in photography exploring self-portraiture through a 365 project in 2012. This experience nurtured a passion for the visual arts and a fascination with expressing the darker range of human emotions. His work, however, often contains a strong element of hope and depicts simple moments with a cinematic quality.

  • Wild youth by Rachel BaranSomewhere else by Rachel BaranOctober by Rachel BaranLearning to live free again by Rachel Baran

    Rachel Baran

    Rachel Baran is a fine art photographer whose work centers around conceptual self-portraits. Even though Baran has received no formal training in photography or graphic design, her work has been recognized internationally on blogs such as My Modern Metropolis and on multiple book covers, and even taken her overseas under commission, displaying her photographic techniques at the Festival Week-end Au Bord D’Leau music festival in Sierre, Switzerland this past summer.

  • Sunrise Dream by olivia beeA Quiet Moment With The Sea by olivia bee by olivia beeStill Floating by olivia bee

    Olivia Bee

    Olivia Bee is a 20-year-old photographer and director from Portland, Oregon, who is based in Brooklyn, New York. She is intrigued by the beauty of everyday life and how the beauty of memories (real or imagined) touches us. Her portfolio includes portraits (The New York Times Magazine, TeenNick), lifestyle (Converse, Adidas, Nike), and fashion (Hermès, Harper’s Bazaar, Numero, Vogue.com, Roger Vivier).

  • Once and for all, they abandoned what they knew by Deltalex. by Deltalex.Brittany by Deltalex.Seabound by Deltalex.

    Alex Benetel

    Alex is from Sydney, Australia, and became interested in photography after taking a visual design course. She has since been published in Russia’s Harper’s Bazaar, showcased her work in Sydney, and has been fortunate enough to travel, meet and collaborate with other artists. Alex’s work captures mysterious yet dreamlike worlds, filled with oddities that encompass aspects of reality.

  • at war with myself by Oliver Charlestides by Oliver Charlesvideo games by Oliver CharlesCloud catcher. by Oliver Charles


    Oliver Charles

    Oliver Charles’ interest in photography began at a young age, and he has since built a collection of work which expresses the surreal and often dark stages of human emotion. Oliver juxtaposes dreaming and reality by capturing people in dreamlike scenarios but located in natural environments. Oliver is currently based in London, where he is studying digital photography at Ravensbourne College.

  • 320/365 by alexcurrie196/365: butterflies in my stomach by alexcurrie109/365: is there even anything out there by alexcurrie101/365: in rain or shine by alexcurrie

    Alex Currie

    Alex Currie is a photographer and filmmaker from Buffalo, New York. His photographs focus on conveying a story in a single frame and evoking a strong emotional connection with the viewer.

  • by SILVIA GRAV by SILVIA GRAV by SILVIA GRAV by SILVIA GRAV

    Silvia Grav

    Silvia Grav was born in Basque Country. She started in fine arts, but was frustrated and left during her second year to devote herself to improving her photography on her own. Since then, she has appeared in several major magazines and blogs, continuously working on artwork for various musicians and has been involved in various new projects.

  • back by fiddleoaksummer tales by fiddleoakclifftop by fiddleoakbest day ever. by fiddleoak

    Zev Hoover

    Zev Hoover is a 15-year-old lad with a camera. He tries to capture the beauty in loneliness, the beauty of being a very small person in a very big place. In addition to exhibits, there have been blogs, books, newspaper and magazines articles, and a BBC documentary on his work. When not taking pictures, he likes designing, building, flying and oftentimes crashing large foam-board remote-controlled airplanes equipped with cameras.

  • guided by a beatin' heart by INDPNDTflipside by INDPNDTletting go by INDPNDTriverside by INDPNDT

    Katharina Jung

    Katharina is a fine-art and portrait photographer from Hermeskeil, Germany. Since February 2013, she converts her daydreams into images. After finishing her diploma as a media designer in June 2014 she will go to Bali and travel thorugh New Zealand with her camera.

  • Seeing Clear by Lissy Elle LaricchiaThe Anatomy of Wings by Lissy Elle LaricchiaGolden Hours by Lissy Elle LaricchiaYou Are Small: A Message From the Universe by Lissy Elle Laricchia

    Lissy Laricchia

    Lissy (Elle) Laricchia is a 20-year-old photographer from Ontario, Canada (but currently resides in New York City), with a large online presence of over 80,000 followers. Her work predominantly centers around feelings of nostalgia and feeding her inner child. Her photos have appeared in fashion, photography, and literary magazines, on book and album covers, in stores, and have inspired a music video. They have also been exhibited internationally.

  • impact by brianoldham by brianoldham by brianoldhama waiting game by brianoldham

    Brian Oldham

    Brian Oldham is a freelance fine-art photographer, specializing in the surreal and conceptual realms. Brian grew up, and still lives and works, near Los Angeles.

  • by Laurence,Winter by Laurence,5 am by Laurence,Marie-Jeanne by Laurence,

    Laurence Philomene

    Laurence Philomene is a Montreal-based freelance photographer. She started taking pictures and posting them online when she was 14 and hasn’t stopped since, developing her own dreamy, pastel-hued aesthetic. Nowadays, you can find her at home playing with dolls, taking care of her birds, napping and taking pictures that explore themes of gender identity, femininity, girlhood, and color.

  • by greg pths by greg pths by greg pths by greg pths

    Greg Ponthus

    Greg Ponthus is a photographer who grew in the countryside of Lyon, where he lived in golden light and grassy hills. He moved from France two years ago to attend an art school in Brussels. He stole his first camera from his dad when he was 15 or so and immediately started shooting people he lived with.

  • by B erta by B erta by B erta by B erta

    Berta Vicente Salas

    Berta Vicente is a Spanish photographer who started taking pictures of her friends at the age of 14. She continues to learn and explore, and currently exhibits her work in art galleries in Barcelona, London and Paris.

  • The Helpers by Nicholas ScarpinatoThe Keepers by Nicholas ScarpinatoUntitled by Nicholas Scarpinato by Nicholas Scarpinato

    Nicholas Scarpinato

    Nicholas Scarpinato is a photographer based out of Richmond, VA. From an early age he was trained in classical painting, sculpture, and drawing but later found photography and filmmaking to be his passion. He currently studies photography and filmmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University.

  • by alexstoddardSlip away. by alexstoddardHer time in Maine. by alexstoddardMaiden. by alexstoddard

    Alex Stoddard

    Alex Stoddard was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and spent his childhood in the deep south. He began taking self-portraits at the age of 16 in the woods behind his home in Georgia, and this stirred in him the need to create and express himself through the craft of photography. Through his work, Alex creates dark and fantastical tales that capture the drama and fragility of the human experience.

  • by David UzochukwuI will learn to love the skies I'm under. by David Uzochukwu[Week 49] Listening to voids tales. by David UzochukwuFilmstill #2 by David Uzochukwu

    David Uzochukwu

    David Uzochukwu was born in December 1998 in Innsbruck, Austria. He delved into photography at the age of 10, and focused on self-portraiture and fine art photography after having fallen in love with the craft.

  • by Chrissie WhiteThink Happy Thoughts, and You'll Fly by Chrissie WhiteTelluride Airport by Chrissie White by Chrissie White

    Chrissie White

    Chrissie White is a photographer from Seattle who is always searching for magic in the nature that surrounds us all. Her childhood was spent exploring snow covered mountains and sailing through the glittering sea, which has greatly influenced her passion for adventure. When she isn’t seeing new places, she likes to dream of faraway worlds where anything is possible.

  • 0 0 by wiissa by wiissa by wiissa by wiissa

    wiissa

    Vanessa and Wilson are a photography duo from Miami, Florida. They met when they were 14 and 15-years-old, and have been together since. They shoot exclusively film, and love lots of color, sunshine and the seventies.

  • by Lauren Withrow by Lauren Withrow by Lauren Withrow by Lauren Withrow

    Lauren Withrow

    Lauren Withrow was born in Texas and began photographing at the age of 15. Growing up in a small southern town, Withrow finds inspiration in the vast landscapes and dirt roads within the Texas countryside. Withrow’s focus is on cinematic portraiture and is currently in development of her first film.

https://www.flickr.com/20under20

Mark Zuckerberg’s sister defends her sequence of children’s books

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Mark Zuckerberg’s sister has defended her decision to publish two children’s books encouraging people to stay away from social media – even if it doesn’t with her brother’s business plan.

Randi Zuckerberg, 31, worked at Facebook in its formative years, serving as marketing director for six years before leaving in 2011 to strike out on her own…

Since leaving Facebook in 2011 she has formed Zuckerberg Media, a media and production company that so far has a failed Silicon Valley reality show under its belt, had a child and produced the two books based on her ruminations on lifestyle and technology.

via Mark Zuckerberg’s sister defends her series of children’s books encouraging people to DISCONNECT from social media | Mail Online.

Observer Reviews – Picture Books

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Picture Books

reviewed by Kate Kellaway

Many children’s picture books aim to quieten childish terrors – it goes with the territory – offering the equivalent of a soothing nightcap before bedtime. But in this summer’s crop (mainly for the under-5s), reassurance comes with several new slants.

via Picture books for children – reviews | Books | The Observer.

Granta list celebrates fresh crop of British novelists | Books | The Guardian

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Granta has released its 2013 list of the 20 most promising young British novelists under 40, and for the first time there is a majority of women. It is also an extremely international list: the writers’ backgrounds include China, Nigeria, Ghana, the US, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Naomi Alderman (born 1974), author of books including The Liars’ Gospel and designer of computer games.

Tahmima Anam (1975), whose Bengal Trilogy charts Bangladeshi history from the war of independence onwards.

Ned Beauman (1985), who was longlisted for the Man Booker prize for The Teleportation Accident.

Jenni Fagan (1977), whose debut, The Panopticon, was published 2012. She is also a poet.

Adam Foulds (1974) won the Costa poetry prize for his poem about the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. His novels include The Quickening Maze, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker.

Xiaolu Guo (1973) was shortlisted for the Orange prize for A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers.

Sarah Hall (1974) has won and been shortlisted for many awards for her novels, which include How To Paint a Dead Man.

Steven Hall (1975) has published one novel, The Raw Shark Texts, which won the Somerset Maugham award.

Joanna Kavenna (1973), whose books include Come to the Edge, won the Orange prize for new writing.

Benjamin Markovits (1973) turned from professional basketball playing to writing, including a trilogy on the life of Lord Byron.

Nadifa Mohamed (1981) was born in Somalia and won the Betty Trask award for her debut, Black Mamba Boy.

Helen Oyeyemi (1984) is the author of three novels including White is for Witching.

Ross Raisin (1979) is the author of God’s Own Country, shortlisted for the Guardian first book award, and Waterline.

Sunjeev Sahota (1981) is working on his second novel, The Year of the Runaways.

Taiye Selasi (1979) has just published her debut, Ghana Must Go.

Kamila Shamsie (1973) has written five novels; the most recent, Burnt Shadows, was shortlisted for the Orange prize.

Zadie Smith (1975) is the author of four novels. The latest is NW. She was on the Granta list in 2003.

David Szalay (1974) is the author of three novels: London and the South-east, The Innocent and Spring.

Adam Thirlwell (1974) has written two novels and was on the Granta list in 2003.

Evie Wyld (1980) publishes her second novel, All the Birds, Singing, in June.

via Granta list celebrates fresh crop of British novelists | Books | The Guardian.