Saturday 31 October 2009

Hugh Lupton, Storyteller

Hugh Lupton is a well known British Storyteller. He co-founded the Company of Storytellers with Ben Haggarty and Pomme Clayton in 1985. Lupton tells a wide variety of stories, including Epics such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, but also collections of shorter stories such as fables and folk tales from Britain and around the world.
The following books are published by Barefoot Books and can be purchased by clicking on the link at the top right of my toolbar. Most of them are accompanied by CDs of Hugh himself telling the stories and the illustrations are fabulous. They would make perfect Christmas presents as there's something for everyone from toddlers upwards, including those hard to please boys looking for excitement and adventure.

 
 

The Story Tree: Tales to Read Aloud
Delight in reading these quirky tales aloud to the under-five crowd. Each of the seven stories imparts an important lesson while using humour and loveable characters to keep listeners engaged. Book with CD editions include stories read by Hugh Lupton.

Ages 3 to 4 years

Retold By: Hugh Lupton

Illustrated By: Sophie Fatus




Tales of Wisdom and Wonder
Prepare to be amazed, intrigued and enchanted by these astonishing tales. The seven stories gathered from sources around the world are full of magic, mystery and transformations. Book with CD editions include stories read by Hugh Lupton.

Ages 5 to 11 years

Retold By: Hugh Lupton

Illustrated By: Niamh Sharkey




The Adventures of Odysseus
Travel back in time to experience one of the greatest epic stories of all time. Once the Trojan war ended, Odysseus thought his journey home would begin. But what he assumed was the end of his adventure was truly only the beginning.

Also available in full-length story CD read by Hugh Lupton.

Ages 8 and up

Retold By: Daniel Morden, Hugh Lupton

Illustrated By: Christina Balit


Pirican Pic and Pirican Mor

Meet two rascally boys who have a disagreement beneath the walnut tree, and set off to find revenge. This retelling of a Scottish folk tale gathers pace as the cumulative items build page after page, with lessons that are both humorous and thought provoking.

Ages 4 to 9 years

Retold By: Hugh Lupton
Illustrated By: Yumi Heo



Sunday 25 October 2009

Book Review: Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

The double story line and rather challenging language make this a book I'd recommend for teenagers and adults rather than children. It's very much a coming of age novel, but there's much more to it than that.
Seventeen-year old Fergus discovers the body of a girl in a peat bog on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. The author uncovers the historical account of the girl's tragic life alongside the present drama of Fergus' own life. Fergus' brother is on hunger strike in the Maze prison and the family's loyalties are divided. When asked by a friend to ferry parcels with an unknown content across the border, Fergus agrees in the hope it will help save his brother's life. But every day his brother is getting close to death.
The plot of the book is compelling and has all the ingredients of a page-turner: suspense, humour, red-herrings and unexpected revelations. Add to this the dual historical backgrounds and well developed characters and you have a book well worth reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
You can read excellent reviews of this book on amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and USA http://www.amazon.com/ .

Friday 23 October 2009

Don't forget to vote for your favourite UK Children's Author Site

Please vote for your favourite author site by the end of October. So far only one person has done so! The sites I've listed are well worth a visit. They are fun and informative and tell you about authors, books, tips on writing and so much more. You can play games, watch videos, listen to and read interviews and maybe even contact your favourite author. Each one has been specially chosen because it has a lot to offer.