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SPECIAL AWARD: We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures, by Amnesty International, illustrated by 30 artists, Frances Lincoln, 9781845076504

 

This book, published to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, sets out the thirty principles written in words children can understand. Each principle is beautifully illustrated by an internationally renowned artist, making the reading experience a life-enhancing one for younger (and older) readers. Catherine and Laurence Arnholt’s illustration of we all have a right to a home, enough money to live on and medical help if we are ill surrounds the central picture—a little girl being nursed through illness—with colourful vignettes of the different houses people live in across the world: a high rise block of flats, a caravan, a house on stilts, an igloo. The law is the same for everyone. It must treat us all fairly, illustrated by Jan Spivey, shows a vast figure holding a balanced set of scales. On one side are boys from different ethnic groups and on the other side are girls from different ethnic groups, ingeniously illustrating the principle of sexual and racial equality.

 

This reiteration by Amnesty International of the principles of human rights, magically interpreted by the different artists, allows us to share with young children a vision of how things could be.

A Time Traveller's Field Notes and Observations of Ancient Egypt by H. Gray, by Gordon Volke, illustrated by Robert Nicholls and Neil Reed, Quest, 9781846666995

Since the discovery of my father's time machine, my brother Tom and I have secretly travelled back through the ages

 

This is the beginning of Henrietta Gray’s letter to the reader to introduce her 1916 journal about her journeys back to the times of Ancient Egypt. Through the journal format, young readers are introduced to every aspect of life in those ancient times including the building of the pyramids, the procedures surrounding a Pharaoh’s burial, and the landscapes, people, animals and customs. Not only do we get detailed information about all this, but the author manages to make Henrietta and Tom come across as fully rounded personalities and part of a family with rivalries and secrets. The book makes historical information accessible to children through a variety of pictures and diagrams while being written in the engaging style of a novel that will keep children gripped until the last page.

 

Darkness Slipped In, by Ella Burfoot, Kingfisher 9780753418451 (hbk) 9780753418451 (pbk)

 

Some young children are afraid of the dark. This book creates a magical effect with Darkness slipping through the window into Daisy’s room at the end of the day in a shimmering glossy black. Spilling through the window and spreading out on the floor of her room, Darkness gradually fills the room. But Daisy isn’t frightened by Darkness even though he ate up all the light – because she was able to turn on the light. And then the action begins.

 

Daisy, dressed all in pink, quickly moves to grab him by the wrist and they dance the Funky Twist! Two pages of illustrations exploit their dances until, after a little refreshment, they become the best of friends and dance the night away. The last four pages illustrate the new relationship.

 

The illustrations are dramatic and they starkly contrast Daisy’s pretty pink dress with the glossy black of Darkness. A simple story which children will enjoy.

Growing Green: A young person’s guide to taking care of the planet, by Christina Goodings, illustrated by Masumi Furukawa, Lion Hudson, 9780745960746

 

There are a huge number of books on the theme of helping to take care of our world, but the children participating in the selection of our shortlist very much liked the style of this book. The text encourages a questioning approach: Could you have chosen a better path, one that treated plants more gently? When you plan a journey, think: how can you travel lightly? The pictures are enormously appealing because they show smiling children actively trying to nurture and preserve the environment: helping in the garden, recycling everyday rubbish, choosing food produced as close to home as possible, and walking and cycling rather than using transport that burns up oil. Children are also introduced to global issues and to the principle that everyone should get a fair wage for their work.

Her Mother’s Face, by Roddy Doyle, illustrated by Freya Blackwood, Scholastic, 9780439815017 (hbk) 9781407107875 (pbk)

 

This is a strong yet sensitive story about ten year old Siobhan, whose mother had died when she was younger. Although there is much Siobhan does remember of her mother, like her hands and voice, and even some of the words she used, the empty space where her mother’s face should have been was like a pain, a giant unhappiness that Siobhan carried with her everywhere.

 

Her father’s grief prevents him from talking to Siobhan about her mother. But then Siobhan is befriended by a woman in the park who allows Siobhan to share her thoughts and fears and finally suggests how she might see her mother’s face again. But this is not the end of the story – it is but part of a journey as Siobhan grows up and has a daughter of her own.

 

The illustrations by Freya Blackwood add another dimension to the story, reinforcing those experiences which hold grief or joy. There are many talking points arising from the story – but above all it provides reassurance for children.

How to Heal a Broken Wing, by Bob Graham, Walker, 9781406307160

 

At a time when children are encouraged to consider the welfare of the natural world, this sensitively created book gently tells the story of Will, who finds a bird with a broken wing. But Will is the only person who notices the bird in the busy street – the only person to reach down and pick the bird up. And what a powerful double page illustration it is that shows this happening. Will gives the bird to his mum to put into her bag and then picks up one solitary feather on the ground. Will and his mum disappear into the underground – and there is dad explaining that really it is not possible to put a loose feather back, “But a broken wing can sometimes heal.”

 

The simple but powerful illustrations add great depth of feeling and understanding to the story. Eventually, with care and the passing of time, there is hope that perhaps the bird might fly again. This is a well crafted story which has much to offer young children in the exploration of values in a busy world. Certainly a book children should encounter.

 

Splat the Cat, by Rob Scotton, Harper Collins, 9780007284542

 

This is a lively, humorous story which young children will quickly recognize is also about them and their first day of school. The illustrations capture the attention of the reader from the very first page where Splat is seen wide awake in bed early in the morning though his tail wiggled wildly with worry.

 

Like many children Splat thinks of many ways of avoiding school, such as “I’m having a bad hair day, Mum. Maybe I should go to school tomorrow instead?” said Splat. His Mum combed his hair. “Purr-fect!” she said. To ensure he has at least one friend he takes Seymour his pet mouse to school in his lunchbox. At lunchtime Splat opens his lunchbox and all the cats see ….a mouse!

 

The interweaving of text and illustration draws children into the humour which runs throughout the story. Highly recommended.

 

The Savage, by David Almond, illustrated by Dave McKean, Walker, 9781406308150 (hbk) 9781406319859 (pbk from July 09)

 

This is a powerful story which draws together bullying, the death of a father, and family identity in the context of the real and a fantasy world. Blue Baker’s dad has died, and Blue’s counselor, Mrs Malloy, wants him to explore his grief by writing down his thoughts and feelings. But this is not for him – instead he starts scribbling ‘the Savage’. And this is how he is able not simply to cope with the death of his father but also to overcome the dreaded Hopper, who calls him names like Ratface, Dogsbreath and stupid stuff like that. The illustrations, which often flood the text, are darkly green or blue and draw out the harsh reality of the savage boy’s appearance. This is David Almond at his best. A book which deserves to be in every primary school.

 

The Secret Journal of Victor Frankenstein: On the Workings of the Human Body, by David Stewart, Book House, 9781906370817 (hbk) 9781906370824 (pbk)

 

Using the conceit of the long lost journal of the fictional scientist, Victor Frankenstein, this book explores the human body in considerable detail. The frisson comes from the intriguing combination of fact and fiction, and particularly the allusion to the terrifying monster created by Mary Shelley’s classic Dr Frankenstein.

 

The book is visually exciting with vividly coloured body parts – muscles, heart, lungs and digestive organs - with huge skulls leering out from the pages and splashes of blood adorning their margins. The diagrams and charts, meticulously detailed and annotated, and the quality information, make the science interesting and trustworthy. All the organs and systems of the body are included and the retrieval devices –contents page, index and glossary - are comprehensive.

 

Special features have been used to make the book as appealing as possible. Much of the text is in the sort of hand lettering found in the notebooks of scientists at the time when Mary Shelley was writing and there are contemporary pictures and paintings and copious pull-outs with articles from newspapers about grave robbing and murders.

 

Confident readers, towards the end of the primary school years and beyond, will love this book.

 

Tim the Tiny Horse at Large, by Harry Hill, Faber, 9780571236022 (hbk) 9780571244157 (pbk from Oct 09)

 

The unmistakable style of this book will attract children who appreciate not simply the stories but also the quiet humour which characterises them. Ten stories explore Tim the Tiny Horse and his friend Fly. In ‘Fly gets married’ Fly telephones to say he has important news which really cannot be told over the phone – he will call on Tim. This sets Tim wondering – perhaps he’s bringing a present or he’s come into some money – which sets him thinking about what he would buy with his share. But it’s the little drawings which add to the humour – and of course Tim the tiny horse is always coloured blue - except when he thinks he is in love with Fly’s sister, Chenille, and his face turns red.

 

Each story has its own charm – for example in ‘Mr & Mrs Fly get a new addition’ they paint the walls of the nursery with well known fly children’s characters such as Mickey Fly…The Telly-Flybbies… Words and pictures combine to make this book fun to read.