Find out what Anthony Browne has been doing in his role as Children's Laureate
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Play the Shape Game Party!
Posted Monday July 26th 2010
by Katherine WoodfineAnthony Browne's Shape Game project was officially launched today at a special celebration at Waterstone's Piccadilly, London.
Participants including Ken Livingstone, Shirley Hughes, Nick Sharratt, Emily Gravett, Andy Stanton, Patrick Ness, Marcia Williams and Lucy Cousins joined Anthony to mark the launch of the new book, Play the Shape Game, published by Walker Books, as well as the start of the online charity auction of all the artworks produced through the project. Also in the audience were families supported by Rainbow Trust, the children's charity who will receive all profits from the book and the auction - as well as some of Anthony's own family, including his brother Michael who helped Anthony invent the Shape Game when they were both children.Take a look at a few of our favourite pictures from the event:
Anthony plays the Shape Game with children
Anthony with Ken Livingstone
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The Shape Game project launches tomorrow!
Posted Sunday July 25th 2010
by Katherine WoodfineAnthony's Shape Game project was featured in today's Observer magazine!
Visit their website to read more about the project, and to get the first, exclusive peep at some of the wonderful images produced by artists, illustrators, authors and celebrities. Their gallery includes artworks by Quentin Blake, Harry Hill, Emma Thompson, Philip Pullman, Sir Peter Blake, Shirley Hughes and more - as well as the shape drawn by Anthony that got the whole project started.
You can also find out how you can have a go at the game yourself in an exciting Shape Game competition - and be in with the chance of winning a one-off print of Quentin Blake's brilliant contribution to the project.
The Shape Game project will be officially launched tomorrow at a special party at Waterstone's Piccadilly, London. Check back here tomorrow to view even more images by the celebrity participants,to find out more about the brand new Play the Shape Game book, and most importantly for the first chance to bid on these unique artworks in an online auction. All profits from the auction and book will be donated to children's charity Rainbow Trust.
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Shoreditch Spectacular
Posted Wednesday July 21st 2010
by Katherine WoodfineLast Saturday, Anthony put in an appearance in East London for the Shoreditch Festival. Produced by Shoreditch Trust, this family-friendly festival, taking place in Shoreditch Park, featured an eclectic line up of live music and festival acts, as well as films on the big screen, literature events and even the Shoreditch Bark Dog Show.
Anthony was there to officially launch the StarLit Children's Literature Festival, which will run for its second year from 4-10 October to coincide with Children's Book Week. This festival aims to encourage children to develop a passion for literature, reading, self-expression and creative writing, by allowing children in all participating Shoreditch schools to meet an author or illustrator as part of of a fun festival in Hoxton Square.
Anthony was joined at the event by fellow illustrator Karin Littlewood, whose illustrations appear in The Day the Rains Fell by Anne Faundez, one of the books featured in this year's Children's Book Week pack. Karin will also be one of many authors and illustrators taking part in this year's StarLit festival. As well as playing the Shape Game with children (and even one or two brave adults) Karin and… -
Celebrating 70 years of Puffin Books
Posted Friday July 16th 2010
by Katherine WoodfineFormer Children's Laureates Michael Rosen (2007-2009) and Anne Fine (2001-2003) are amongst the authors and illustrators who feature in a brand new exhibition at Seven Stories, the Centre for Children's Books.
There's Nuffin Like a Puffin is a very special exhibition celebrating 70 years of Puffin Books, providing visitors with a rare chance to see original materials from some of the best known and loved children's books from the past 70 years - from Stig of the Dump and Worzel Gummidge right through to Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson.
As well as original manuscrips from some well-loved favourite books by both Michael and Anne, visitors to the exhibition will also have the chance to create their very own Michael Rosen-inspired poetry using rhyming stepping stones, or to encounter one of Anne Fine's Flour Babies, amongst many more fun interactive activities.
Read more about the exhibition on the Booktrust Children's website.
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Anthony returns to The Wroxham School
Posted Monday July 12th 2010
by Katherine WoodfineLast week, Anthony returned to the Wroxham School in Potters Bar to officially open their new double-decker Story Bus.
The Wroxham School, a Creative Partnerships School of Creativity, wanted to improve its library and introduce a lively new learning space to encourage children's reading. They developed the idea of buying and refurbishing a double-decker bus along with pupils, and over the last two terms, have been transforming a bus bought on eBay with the help of local artists, as well as pupils, staff and parents. The children have installed a robot bus driver and worked with a graffiti artist to bring their ideas to life.
Pupil Ashley Price from Year 5 also showed Anthony copies of his first published book 'The Amazing Adventures of Mr Wellington Boot'. Ashley wrote this adventure series as part of a school project and his fellow pupils loved the stories so much that the school decided to have them pubished! Anthony commented: "This brilliant book is a wonderful example of the amazing creativity that all children possess. The stories are richly imaginative and Ashley obviously has a huge talent!"Take a look at these pictures from Anthony's visit to the school:
