From Tots to Teens, StarMag
TO celebrate 10 years of the children's laureate, laureates past (Quentin Blake, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson) and present (Michael Rosen) have been asked by British bookseller Waterstone's to pick their favourite children's books. They have chosen seven titles each.
Dubbed the Laureate's Table, this promotion was inspired by Waterstone's Writer's Table, which listed recommendations by authors like Sebastian Faulks, Philip Pullman and Nick Hornby. Waterstone's, incidentally, is the main sponsor of the Children's Laureate. A writer or illustrator of children's books is appointed to the post every two years and a bursary of £10,000 is awarded to celebrate his/her achievement and contribution to the field of children's literature. The children's laureate usually strives to promote reading and a love for literature amongst children during his/her term.
I don't know why the laureates have been asked to choose seven books, and not five or 10. I have been asked to choose my five all-time favourite children's books for a Bfm 89.9's half-hour programme about writers and other book-related people. Somehow It would have been easier to pick just one. It's sort of like asking to name your favourite child. You like them all equally, just in different ways.
I think the laureates' choices will be bought and read by adults more than by children. The lists comprise several classics, including Oliver Twist (chosen by Michael Mopurgo) - a book that I think would strike the average child dumb with horror - all those words! A kid-friendly list would be quite different and probably more difficult to choose for.
Here is my list - as was featured on May 5 on Bfm. I don't know if it's more accessible than the laureates'. One of these days I'll make another list - one which I think children will enjoy.
My all-time favourites:
1. The Stolen Lake by Joan Aiken
DIDO Twite is perhaps my favourite fictional heroine. I like the way she never loses her head, is always loyal, and totally without pretention. Here, she finds herself in some a really strange and terrible situation, and the way she takes the most bizarre events and revelations in her stride is just inspiring and awesome. When I grow up I want to be Dido!
2. The Ready-Made Family by Antonia Forest
THIS book is one of a series about a family called Marlow. Out of print for many years, the books have been re-issued by a small press. In this one, Forest explores the complexities of love in all its forms when 14-year-old Nicola has to deal with a close friend abandoning her for her older sister; as well as another sister turning up with a much older husband and a ready-made brood of three.
3. The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones
WHEN they were children, Charlotte, Imogen, Sally and Fenella accidentally invoke an ancient and evil spirit called Monigan. A life is promised and will be claimed after seven years, but the girls find themselves haunted by a ghost whom they suspect is one of them and who seems to think that they can cheat Monigan. I think this book is Diana Wynne Jones's most triumphant in terms of extremely strong and vividly drawn characters, and some of the most evocative scenes, including one in which blood is collected for a sacrifice, with gruesome yet hilarious effect.
4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
PARENTS seem to think this book is too scary, but it's always a big success during storytelling. As a teacher and parent, and an advocate of children's rights I like how it validates a child's need to express himself, to be angry, to be alone, and to be forgiven and loved. The "wild things" are pretty cool too!
5. Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
THIS mysterious and beautiful story is about the loneliness and fear that lies deep in the heart of every child. Moomins sleep through the winter months but for some reason, Moomintroll wakes in the middle of one winter and has to face life without his family and friends.
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