XHVIti NVf 'HdVHOHOHlfW M3SH3QMV NYI1SIHH3 SNVH SDIUlOd 9 SHOOH SM3HQ1IH3 F" 2 BOOKS FOR KEEPS No. 25 MARCH 1984 Lisbeth Zwerger 21 Cover Book Meet our cover artist On our cover this month we Opinion: Andersen and the 22 feature an illustration from Editor's Page 3 The Swineherd, a picture News and comment from the editor English Brian Alderson on English translations book version of the Andersen and illustrations of Andersen fairy tale by artist Lisbeth Children's Books and Zwerger. (Neugebauer Press, Politics News 0907234127, £3.95 from Robert Leeson puts the topic in 4 24 perspective A. and C. Black). We are James Watson and Jan Needle speaking 6 grateful to A. and C. Black for personally help in using this illustration. The roundel used on the Hans Reviews — Paperback 8 — the magazine of the School Bookshop Association Andersen pages is from the MARCH 1984 No. 25 wood engraving by Gwen Authorgraph No. 25 12 Raverat for Four Tales, Jan Mark ISSN: 0143-909X Editor: Pat Triggs translated by R. P. Keigwin, How to... Get Moving on a 14 Managing Editor: Richard Hill C.U.P. (1935). Designer: Alec Davis It and the Punch cartoon on Book Day Typesetting by: Curtis Typesetting, Ideas for getting started with planning Gloucester page 16 appear in Brian Printed by: Surrey Fine Art Press Ltd, Alderson's pamphlet Hans New York Diary 15 Red hi It, Surrey Christian Andersen and his The latest dispatch from John Mason ©School Bookshop Association 1984 Eventyr in England. The Hans Andersen Award 16 can be obtained Patricia Crampton writes about judging on subscription by sending a cheque or an international award postal order to the Subscription Secretary, SBA, 1 Effingham Road, Lee, London Sound and Vision 17 SE12 8NZ. News of books on TV Tel: 01-852 4953 Annual subscription for six issues: Hans Christian Andersen 19 £6.00 UK, £9.00 overseas. is published by the Erik Haugaard on a classic storyteller Single copies direct from the SBA: School Bookshop £1.00 UK, £1.50 overseas. Andersen in Pictures 20 Association Ltd. A look at two new picture books Or use the Dial-a-Sub service on with the help of 01-852 49S3. Lloyds Bank, six times a year. NATIONAL READING WEEK IN AID OF MENCAP READATHON Do your pupils read as much as you would like them to? Does your school welcome ways to help a good cause? Readathon Patrons Honorary Chairman Encourage your pupils to develop a love of Martyn Goff Patrons reading and raise money for Me neap at Books for Students Limited David Bellamy Lord Asa Briggs the same time by participating in 58-64 Berrington Road Roald Dahl Sydenham Estate Matthew Evans Readathon '84. Leamington Spa Spike Milligan CV31 1NB Brian Rix Tel: Leamington Spa (0926) 29341 Sir Harry Secombe MENCAP Readathon '84 will take place during the summer term 1984. It is very easy to organise; each child will be given a sponsorship form on which he/she will list the book or books he/she has chosen to read. Our school would like to participate in Readathon '84 All we need at this stage is an idea of how many children Number of classes to participate want to take part in this sponsored read. When we send you Approximate number oi children per class the sponsorship forms we will enclose posters for school use Organising teacher and full details of how to administer the scheme. School Tel. No.... If you think your school would like to take part in this exciting event and you would like further details, please Address complete and return the tear off slip below by April 30th at the latest to "Readathon" Books For Students, 58-64 Berrington Road, Sydenham Estate, Leamington Spa. Tel: 0926 29341. BOOKS FOR KEEPS No. 25 MARCH 1984 3 EDITOR'S PAGE Of course! We see it now. We should have Nor, we heard from Patricia Crampton, can three books have been chosen for an Honour known. The people to blame for the shortage you escape from politics when making an List: for writing, William Mayne's All the of books in schools are . the teachers. international award like the Hans Andersen King's Men (Cape), for illustration, Anthony And there we were thinking it had something Medal. (See page 16) IBBY, the Browne's Hansel and Gretel (Julia MacRae to do with central government funding. It International Board on Books for Young Books), for translation, Elizabeth Watson was the Secretary of State for Education, Sir People, which originated the award is Taylor, The Magic Inkstand from the Keith Joseph himself, who put us right. dedicated to promoting greater understanding German of Heinrich Seidel (Cape).) And to There was quite enough in the rate support among children of the world through celebrate the international flavour of this grant for local authorities to provide a children's books. As part of this IBBY issue we have on our cover the work of reasonable supply of books, he told the designated April 2nd, Hans Andersen's Lisbeth Zwerger, the Austrian nomination House of Commons Select Committee on birthday, International Children's Book Day, for the Illustrator's Medal. (See page 21) Education. But the teachers' unions asked and invites libraries, schools, organisations Lisbeth, we discovered, spends quite a lot of for more than was set aside in the budgets; all over the world to celebrate it in any way time here and very recently married an the local authorities accepted the claim and they choose. Why not join in? Englishman, John Rowe, whom she has that's where the book money went. 'It's been known for many years. At the moment they going on for years,' said Sir Keith. Perhaps Nominated are looking for somewhere to live in this it would be a good idea to separate teachers' country, though, John says, they will still be salaries from capitation? Well, no. Sir Keith The Hans Andersen Award is given, every spending a good deal of time in Vienna. thought that would require him to behave two years, to an author and an illustrator like a dictator. who is judged to have made a lasting contribution to literature for children and Words and Pictures A story which makes a neat (though not young people. It is a great honour to be Brian Alderson, well-known for speaking planned) complement to one of the main nominated. This BfK features two people his mind, is a useful irritant in the world of themes of this issue of BfK: Children's whose work will this year be the subject of children's books. (He's had some rude things Books and Politics. There's a growing consideration by Patricia Crampton's jury. to say about the SBA and BfK in the past.) debate about the appearance of so-called Jan Mark, our 25th Authorgraph (page 12), Andersen is one of his particular specialisms 'political' ideas in children's books. Is it has been selected as the British nomination and we decided to give him his head on what suitable? Is it advisable? A number of for the Author Medal. (Raymond Briggs is the English had done to these Danish recently published books deal explicitly with the nominee for the Illustrator's Medal, and stories. (See page 22) Brian, I think, like subjects like racism, terrorism, revolution Andersen himself perhaps, prefers his Tales and counter revolution, nuclear war and unillustrated, and lavish picture book versions nuclear disarmament, the police. Their titles of the stories don't usually arouse an and the names of their authors crop up enthusiastic response in him. That, of course, frequently in discussions on the subject. Are doesn't stop publishers bringing them out. these 'political' books? If so, what is a 'non- We feature the two newest (page 20) for you political' book? Time, we thought, to give to make up your own mind. The text for one the subject some space. of them, The Wild Swans, is by Naomi To start things off we asked Robert Leeson Lewis, whose versions come with the to take a general view and put the whole Alderson seal of approval. Naomi Lewis's issue in some kind of perspective. (See page own childhood recollections of Andersen 4) Bob Leeson is a thoughtful, balanced and suggest she too might find illustration informed commentator as well as a writer of superfluous. T had this little edition, no books which children of all ages enjoy space between the stories, thin paper, no reading. (Just out is Genie on the Loose, pictures. But I never realised at the time Hamish Hamilton, 0 241 11177 3, £5.75, a there were no pictures because I think they very entertaining sequel to The Third Class are so visual.' Genie, and promised for the autumn is a Her infectious and intense enthusiasm, like new survey of children's literature, from Erik Haugaard's, (page 18) should send Collins.) To follow his beginning we invited many of us adults scurrying back to two writers, James Watson and Jan Needle, Andersen. T read the stories constantly but who have frequently had the label 'political' now I'm seeing things in them which, of attached to their work to write about their course, I didn't see as a child. I discover approach to writing for children and young things all the time.' people and what they feel about 'politics and Children's Books'. (See page 6) I think CBY will be back you'll find what they have to say is very Lorenz Froelich, says Brian Alderson, is interesting and stimulating.