Find out what Anthony Browne has been doing in his role as Children's Laureate
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Learning by doing
Posted Monday November 23rd 2009
by Anthony BrowneWell, I’m beginning to feel that I’m getting the hang of this Laureate business.
It’s a bit like the earlier part of my career in the late seventies; I hadn’t studied illustration, only graphic design, and I knew nothing about children’s books. So I learned how to make picture books by doing them, making my mistakes in public.I feel I’m learning how to be the Children’s Laureate by doing it; what to agree to do and what not to do. Above all I’m learning to trust my instincts and be myself.
There have been some great visits to schools in Chandlers Ford, Bexleyheath, Dulwich, Pulborough, Hamstreet, Primrose Hill and Swiss Cottage. Two schools that particularly stand out in my memory are the James Wolfe School in Greenwich and the Midfield Primary School in Orpington – both of them are outstanding examples of how schools can nurture children’s creativity within the national curriculum. The walls at both schools were covered in children’s amazing artwork and at Midfield I unveiled a beautiful mosaic made by the kids working with an artist-in-residence. The pupils were bright, enthusiastic, warm and friendly – and so were the staff!
I spent… -
Anthony Browne visits Midfield Primary School
Posted Friday November 20th 2009
by Phil Le ConteWe're delighted to welcome Phil Le Conte, Literacy Coordinator at Midfield Primary School in Orpington, as a special guest blogger.
We were all very excited about Anthony Browne's visit to our school on Thursday 12 November 2009.
A new mosaic for our playground had been produced by our artist in residence, Maggie Higginson, incorporating artwork that had been designed by all of our children during a whole school art day. On this day, children were given the opportunity to express their talents producing examples of nature around our school environment. We wanted to invite someone who would inspire us with our creative artwork linked to literacy. Who better to unveil our fantastic playground mosaic than Anthony Browne?
In preparation for the day children from all classes spent time reading and discussing Anthony’s stories and illustrations. The children from Nursery right up to Year 6 were inspired to produce some terrific artwork, which was displayed around the school and in our main hall as a backdrop to the day. Anthony took time to visit each class, signing the many books which children had brought…
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Illustrated Children's Books
Posted Monday November 9th 2009
by Katherine WoodfineIllustrated Children's Books is a new title from Black Dog Publishing exploring the history and design and influence of children's picture books, with a foreword written by Children's Laureate Anthony Browne.
Looking at work from as early as the 1600s right through to the present day, the book features some exciting contemporary illustrators including Mini Gray, Polly Dunbar, Oliver Jeffers and Emily Gravett, as well as established favourites ranging from John Tenniel and Edward Ardizzone through to Quentin Blake and Shirley Hughes.
Look out for favourite children's book characters including Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, The BFG, Babar, Madeline, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the Gruffalo.
Anthony's foreword emphasises the important role that picture books play in developing visual literacy - the ability to read pictures as well as words
Anthony says: "Learning how to look is a skill we don't value highly enough... I believe much is lost when we encourage children to leave picture and illustrated books behind." But it's not just the skills that picture books teach us that are important: Anthony goes on to explain:
He goes on to explain: "Illustrations in books enhance the enjoyment of reading, and it's only through the enjoyment…
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Perform-a-Poem goes live!
Posted Thursday November 5th 2009
by Katherine WoodfineMichael Rosen’s Perform-a-Poem website was launched on 3 November at a special reception at the National Theatre.
This unique new poetry performance website for primary schools encourages children to write, choose, perform, film and edit poems. It’s a secure site for teachers and pupils who enjoy performing and watching performance poetry, developed in line with national standards on e-safety and child protection.
Perform-a-Poem, initially piloting for London schools, is a joint project between Michael Rosen, Booktrust and the London Grid for Learning. It developed from an idea by Michael Rosen during his time as Children’s Laureate.
Michael said: “I’m hoping that Perform-a-Poem will give an opportunity for children and teachers to experiment and play with poetry in an exciting way. All poems have a voice; sometimes this voice is best heard silently, but most poems enjoy being spoken and performed, because this is how we get to feel a poem.”
Perform-a-Poem also includes comprehensive resources for teachers to help their pupils write, choose, perform, film, edit and upload their poems, plus a special Poetry Library of poems to perform.Visit…
