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Richard & Judy’s Children’s Book Club comes to Powys

www.richardandjudybookclub.co.uk/childrens

A series of roadshows starring the authors selected for Richard & Judy’s Children’s Book Club is touring the UK in October and November.

The children of Powys will be able to enjoy some time with four well-loved authors.  Cathy Cassidy, Michael Lawrence, Mark Walden and Derek Landy will appear at a free event at Wyeside Arts Centre on 14 November from 7.00pm to 8.00pm, aimed at children aged nine-plus and their parents.  Michael Lawrence will also be appearing in a daytime event at Builth Wells High School.

The aim of the roadshows is to inspire children to read, whatever their ability.  Richard & Judy’s Book Club has had a huge impact upon books published for adults, and with their attention now focused on children’s books, it’s hoped that children and their parents will feel encouraged to try books from top writers and emerging authors alike.  The event in Powys will feature:

Cathy Cassidy, whose warm and funny Sundae Girl tells the tale of Jude, whose life is dominated by her mother’s drinking and her Gran’s alzheimers.  Jude finds it hard to accept love although there are bright spots in her life thanks to her Elvis impersonator father.

Michael Lawrence - his hilarious The Killer Underpants is a tale of the evil underpants from hell.  Join Jiggy McCue and his pals in this pant-astically funny tale!

Mark Walden, a former video game designer and producer, welcomes the reader to H.I.V.E., where students are trained in the ways of wickedness in the hope that they will become supervillains.

Derek Landy - His debut novel Skulduggery Pleasant tells the story of Stephanie who, pursued by evil forces, finds help from the wisecracking skeleton of a dead wizard.

Nineteen children’s titles in four ability categories (Early – age 5+, Developing – age 7+, Confident – age 9+, and Fluent – age 12+) have been selected for Richard & Judy’s Children’s Book Club.

Richard & Judy’s Best Kids’ Books, a one-off children’s special, was broadcast on Thursday 25 October as part of Channel 4’s Lost for Words season tackling children’s literacy, and saw the nineteen shortlisted books whittled down to eight winners, selected by children on the show.  The winning titles will be promoted in bookshops and libraries across the UK with a sticker and poster campaign.

In addition to the activity taking place in Powys, six other events around the UK will take place in Oxford, Reading, St Albans, Airdrie, Leeds and Dudley.  The events will bring the exciting books discussed on the show directly to some of the children who were watching.  The roadshow events, organised by publishers in conjunction with the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, will include readings, a chance for the children to ask the authors questions, and character drawings from the illustrators.

Judy Finnegan said: “We are delighted our book club has encouraged so many more adults to enjoy reading, and we are really hoping that this book list for children will be a big success.  It’s really important that, in this DVD age, kids are encouraged to read as well as watch.”

Richard Madeley added:  “Judy and I really enjoy our literary items and programmes.  We know that they are hugely popular with our viewers too, and we are hoping kids will like this programme that we are making especially for them.”

The event will take place at 7.00pm-8.00pm on Wednesday 14 November at Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells.  The event is free but contact the Arts Centre to reserve a seat: 01982 552 555.

To arrange interviews with the authors, send a journalist or photographer to the event or for further information, please contact Jane Opoku or Kiri Gillespie at Colman Getty:
020 7631 2666  /  janeopoku@colmangetty.co.uk  /  kiri@colmangetty.co.uk

Authors are available for interview on request via Colman Getty.  Book images and author photos are available via Colman Getty.

For full details about the roadshows, authors and selected titles, visit
www.richardandjudybookclub.co.uk/childrens

The nineteen shortlisted books are:

Early (5+)
Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort (Simon & Schuster)
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, illust. Guy Parker-Rees (Orchard Books)
Pirate School:  A Very Fishy Battle by Jeremy Strong (Puffin)
Someone Bigger by Jonathan Emmett, illust. Adrian Reynolds (Oxford University Press)
Poppy and Max and the Fashion Show by Sally Grindley and Lindsey Gardiner (Orchard Books)

Developing (7+)
Spy Dog by Andrew Cope (Puffin)
You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum! by Andy Stanton (Egmont Books)
The World According To Humphrey by Betty G. Birney (Faber & Faber)
The Girl with the Broken Wing by Heather Dyer, illust. Peter Bailey (Chicken House)

Confident (9+)
Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk by Angie Sage (Bloomsbury)
Sundae Girl by Cathy Cassidy (Puffin)
H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education by Mark Walden (Bloomsbury)
The Killer Underpants by Michael Lawrence (Orchard Books)
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (Harper Collins Children’s books)
Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams (Chicken House)

Fluent (12+)
Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie (Simon & Schuster)
The Recruit by Robert Muchamore (Hodder Children’s Books)
Finding Violet Park by Jenny Valentine (Harper Collins Children’s books)
Lucas by Kevin Brooks (Chicken House)

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups is a national, voluntary organisation dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of children’s books and reading. The Federation, through its groups nationwide, liaises with schools, playgroups, publishers, libraries and other official bodies. It provides a meeting point for parents, carers, professionals and anyone who shares our aim, to work together to encourage the availability of a wide range of literature for all ages from pre school to teenage. The Federation provides the opportunity for children to have fun with books. It promotes National Share a Story Month and owns and co-ordinates the Red House Children’s Book Award, the only book award voted for entirely by children and young people.  It also publishes book lists and information leaflets. To find your local book group or for help setting up a group in your area please visit  www.fcbg.org.uk