"Duct tape... I LOVE duct tape!"

Hello! Celia here, the newest member of the children’s team, and gosh I’ve been busy since I arrived (that's not me on the left by the way - watch the video below if you don't know who it is!).

I’ve been all over the place. I went with the team to Keith Gray’s event in Fife, the Royal Mail Awards event in Moray, just over the road to The Scottish Storytelling Centre for Joan Lingard’s event and a few weeks ago we had an event with the brilliant Cornelia Funke in the Glasgow Film Theatre. I’ve read Inkheart, the first of her trilogy and I was completely hooked. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever wished characters from books could walk right off the page, but then again, be careful what you wish for… Inkdeath, the latest and last tome in the Inkheart trilogy has just been released, and it is weighty enough to stun a burglar (not that I am suggesting that you should hit people with books.)

Four hundred kids listened to Cornelia Funke do a reading from her book in her soft German accent, and then watched the trailer for the new Inkheart film on the big screen! Afterwards she had plenty of time to answer everyone’s questions.

The film is out in the UK on 12th December and I think you’ll agree it looks pretty darn good:



That day there was also some excitement as a bat was found nestled above one of the pipes in our old building. He was quickly nicknamed Marlon (after another talkative bat in Vivian French’s Robe of Skulls). Bats are a protected species, so the helpful people at the Bat Conservation Trust instructed us to move the sleepy little guy to a box, feed him some water and then release him at dusk. We’re thinking of getting a bat box so if he comes back he’ll have somewhere to stay.

So what’s up next? Well, events with Neil Gaiman, Vivian French at Halloween (spooky), Malorie Blackman and Kenneth Steven. Can’t wait!

We have also received a recommendation from one of our Teen Ambassadors for a series she says got her into reading:

"The Percy Jackson Series is a series of books written by Rick Riordan.
They focus on a boy named Percy Jackson. In the first book we find out that his life is more than meets the eye, for not only is his father a Greek God, he is rumoured to be one of the "Big Three". His life is now destined for dangerous quests and some very strange meetings with members of the mythological world.

I found this series of books very imaginative and thoroughly enjoyed them as it opened my eyes to Greek mythology which I now find very interesting and enjoyable. I love these books and cannot wait until the next one comes out." - Annabel of Armadale Academy

See you soon!
Celia
Children's Programme Assistant and part-time bat handler


'Children's writers do good stuff for readers' story of the week!
In November, bidders on eBay will be given the opportunity to own an original Emily Gravett illustration, a rare first edition set of Darren Shan novels or appear as a character in the next Cliff McNish book. These are just a few of the long list of pledges that children’s writers and illustrators have generously donated for the IBBY World Congress Benefit auction. What's IBBY? I hear you ask. Find out here.