Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
It’s Child’s play for award-winning author
This week, the Gulf Weekly Book Club is celebrating the announcement that Lauren Child, artist and author-illustrator of the Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean picture books and Ruby Redfort novels, has been named as Children’s Laureate 2017-19, taking over the role from outgoing Laureate, Chris Riddell.
Children’s Laureate is a position awarded in the United Kingdom once every two years to a ‘writer or illustrator of children’s books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field’. The post stemmed from a discussion between the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and children’s writer Michael Morpurgo and their wish to celebrate and recognise the important contribution children’s literature makes to cultural life.
Reflecting on her role over the next couple of years, Lauren Child said that ‘children today need more freedom to dream and imagine’.
Child, a former artist’s assistant to Damien Hirst, is being celebrated not only for creating her own books, but translating them into other media - most significantly in her role as associate producer of global hit TV series Charlie and Lola.
Launching her laureateship by championing creativity, she said: “I want to inspire children to believe in their own creative potential, to make their own stories and drawings and ignite in them the delight of reading for pleasure. In an increasingly fast-paced world, children need the freedom to dream and imagine; to enjoy reading, drawing and telling their own stories without value judgement or restrain.”
BOOK OF THE WEEK with Linda Jennings. CHARLIE AND LOLA: MY COMPLETELY BEST STORY BOOK COLLECTION & CD, Lauren Child (Age 4+), ISBN 9780141382524 (PENGUIN) BD16.900 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members
A collection of five utterly favourite Charlie and Lola stories, together with a CD featuring the original voice recordings, music and sounds from the hit BBC TV show.
Charlie has this little sister, Lola, and together they have lots of extremely good adventures and do some very fun things. All Charlie and Lola fans will love this collection of five favourite stories, featuring Charlie and Lola, their friends Lotta and Marv and, of course, Marv’s dog Sizzles!
Containing these five ever so good stories: We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog, Whoops! But It Wasn’t Me, My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out, I’ve Won, No I’ve Won, No I’ve Won and Snow Is My Favourite and My Best.
READ IT NOW
CLARICE BEAN UTTERLY ME, Lauren Child (Age 7+), Isbn 9781408324158 (ORCHARD BOOKS)
BD7.300 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members
Utterly Me, the very first Clarice Bean novel by Lauren Child, is 10 years old.
To celebrate, Orchard Books have created this beautifully-produced edition with a slipcase. The linen-bound hardback book contains never-seen-before artwork and a note from the author.
This exquisite and utterly special limited edition is the perfect gift for Clarice Bean fans young and old alike.
My favourite
read of the week
TAKE YOUR LAST BREATH (RUBY REDFORT), Lauren Child (Age 9+), Isbn 9781409159445 (ORION) BD3.400 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members
Hey, buster! Normal life is a total yawn. So break out of boredom with multi-million-copy bestselling author Lauren Child, and meet your new favourite heroine … Ruby Redfort: 13-year-old detective and cool secret agent.
Everyone’s favourite girl detective is back for a second mind-blowing instalment, packed with all the off-the-wall humour, action and friendship of the first book. This time, though, it’s an adventure on the wide-open ocean, and Ruby is all at sea …
Can she crack the case of the Twinford pirates while evading the clutches of a vile sea monster as well as the evil Count von Viscount?
Well, you wouldn’t want to bet against her!
