Childrens Programme 2009
JUNE 2009
Tickets are now available for schools events at the Dundee Literary Festival with Anne Fine, Joan Lingard and Natalie Russell. For tickets please call 01382 384413 or email literarydundee@gmail.com. We can invoice your school.
Anne Fine
Thursday 25th June, 2pm, Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, DundeeP7 and S1 and S2 - £2 per pupil (1 hour plus signing time)
Anne Fine, a former Children’s Laureate, is one of the best loved children’s writers alive and we’re delighted to have her appearing at the Dundee Literary Festival. Fine’s work is always humorous, but also quite provocative and hard-hitting, and she presents very honest depictions of ‘ordinary’ family life.
Anne will be reading from her new book, ‘Eating Things On Sticks’, a hilarious tale of a holiday week on a remote British island - where the highlight of the week is the annual Fair with its Eating Things on Sticks competition.
The book is genuinely funny - and will strike an uncanny chord with anyone who's had to endure a wet week's holiday in the UK.
Anne was appointed the second Children’s Laureate from 2001-2003 and has written more than 50 books, including The Tulip Touch (1996), about a girl called Tulip whose behaviour becomes increasingly sinister, and winner of the 1996 Whitbread Children’s Book Award; Goggle-Eyes (1989), which deals with the difficult relationship between Kitty and her mother’s boyfriend, won another Carnegie Medal, and was adapted for BBC Television; and Madame Doubtfire (filmed by Twentieth Century Fox as ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ starring Robin Williams). This book dealt with the subject of parental separation and divorce, and was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Whitbread Children's Book Award.
Anne Fine was awarded an OBE in 2003. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and lives in County Durham.
Joan Lingard
P6 / P7 / S1, Tuesday 23rd June, 10.30am,Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN
£2
Joan Lingard is one of the best loved authors in the world, with an award-winning career spanning four decades. Her books are widely read in schools across the UK and she will be signing books after the event.
Joan will be talking mainly about 'The Eleventh Orphan', a mystery set at the turn of the last century in Victorian London, 'The File on Fraulein Berg', a dramatic story set in Belfast during World War 2 and 'Natasha's Will', a detective story which takes place in Scotland and Russia.
The Eleventh Orphan - When Constable O'Dowd brings Ma Bigsby an eleventh orphan - a feisty, grubby street urchin - she is reluctant to take her in. But there's something about Elfie, it's the first day of a new century and Ma loves a mystery. As the mystery unravels, Elfie's world will change completely.
Natasha's Will - It's 1917 and the Russian Revolution rages on the streets of St Petersburg. Natasha's grandfather, Prince Denisov, has been arrested by the Red Guard. The rest of her family must flee for their lives and it is only after years of exile that Natasha finds a new home in Scotland.
The File on Fraulein Berg - 1944. Belfast. The war drags on. When Fraulein Berg, a real German, arrives at their school, Kate, Harriet and Sally decide that their teacher must be a spy and determine to prove it.
But the file on Fraulein Berg reveals a very different story - one that will haunt Kate for the rest of her life.
Natalie Russell
Friday 26th June, 10.30am - £2 per pupilAGES 5 - 8, Dalhousie Building, Dundee, DD1 4HN
£2
Natalie Russell’s beautiful books, most famously starring Hamish the Highland cow and Donkey, have charmed millions of children. Her simple illustrations and sweet stories discuss friendship, home and helpfulness! Natalie was born in Dundee and teaches at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.
Donkey is extremely proud to have been put in charge of the farm - and to be responsible for ensuring that all the jobs get done. But when he tries to encourage the animals to help him, they all have their excuses: 'My tummy hurts!' or 'Duck stepped on my toe!' So Donkey has to think hard how to entice the animals into doing some hard work, which might involve a special treat of a picnic and a tractor ride!
Aimed at Primary 1 to 3, Natalie will be reading from her books, showing how she illustrates her books and will discuss some of the themes discussed in her books.
Natalie Russell - Public Event
Saturday 27th June, 10.30amFREE
Dundee based artist Natalie Russell will charm the under fives with her beautifully illustrated and simply enticing stories.
Hamish is a Highland cow and very hairy. He hates having baths and never cuts his hair. Why should he when his shaggy coat is the perfect place to keep his favourite sweets - toffees! But one day his friends get fed up with the increasingly smelly Hamish and hatch a plan.
Bring your small people for a fun event.
