NCBF

NCBF tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1 2010-07-30T09:59:40Z Movable Type 4.24-en Steve Weatherill tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2005://1.43 2010-07-30T14:37:32Z 2010-07-30T09:59:40Z

Steve Weatherill studied at Hornsey Art College and the Royal College of Art. A freelance cartoonist and illustrator, he created the Rat Race cartoon for the Financial Times. He is the author of the successful Baby Goz series. Steve regularly tours schools, libraries, festivals and bookshops with his popular Baby Goz show.
Appearing (November 2010) Gateshead (16th) Durham (17th) Websites Steve and Sue Weatherill Publisher Frances Lincoln Recommended Reads

	Baby Goz Frances Lincoln 9781845077907 Baby Goz, everybody's favourite gosling, has just hatched, and sets off to find his mother. Lift the flaps and help him in his search! Goz's many young fans love the simple, lively stories and vivid, witty illustrations that make the Baby Goz books such a successful early-learning series.
	Count on Goz Frances Lincoln 978-1845077075 Baby Goz sets out to find his family. Lift the flaps and count how many other animals he meets! A lovely first counting book.
	Shape Up Goz Frances Lincoln 978-1845070779 Everyone's favourite gosling is back in a brand new addition to the Baby Goz series. Baby Goz is learning all about shapes in this lift-the-flap book focusing on five main shapes: square, rectangle, triangle, circle and oval.

]]> Justin Richards tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.291 2010-07-30T09:20:59Z 2010-08-08T17:26:58Z

Justin Richards is the author of over a dozen genre and sf novels, as well as non-fiction books. He has also written audio scripts, and television. He has edited anthologies of short stories, been a technical writer, founded and edited a media journal, and contributed articles to many mainstream magazines. On the technical side, Justin worked for a multinational computer company for fourteen years, where he architected and designed numerous software products. He spent several years working on a project to define the way in which people will interact with computers in the next millennium, and is pleased to see many of his predictions coming true. Justin has been granted more than half a dozen patents and has published many technical papers. Justin now writes and edits full time. He also acts as a Creative Consultant to BBC Worldwide, which includes working as the 'Doctor Who Range Consultant' advising on commissioning and editing of all BBC Books' Doctor Who titles. Justin lives in Warwick with his wife, two sons, and a nice view of the castle. Appearing (November 2010) GALA DAY (20th) Author Website Justin Richards Publisher Website Faber Recommended Reads

	School of Night: Demon Storm Faber 978-0571245086 There is an unseen world most people can't begin to imagine... ... Unless they can see the ghosts. Ben's sister Sam saw them all the time. Then she looked into the Judgement Box, and that's when Ben's life changed for ever. Would you look into the Judgement Box? Would you dare? If you can see what's inside, then maybe you have what it takes to join: The School of Night Demon Storm - The Terror is only just beginning
	The Chamber of Shadows Faber 978-0571237999 A terrifying new case for the Department of Unclassified Artefacts. Eddie, Liz, George and Sir William return to fight their greatest enemy yet in this nail-biting novel from the author of The Death Collector and The Parliament of Blood. 'My friends and I have braved the horrors of the Shadow Chamber - its secret traps and snares. We have crawled through sewers to escape an inhuman killer. We have fought creatures of animated clay and feared for our lives in the hidden cellarage of the Emperor's Theatre. have seen the poor souls whose brains have been replaced by mechanisms of clockwork. I have witnessed how they are entirely under the influence of an ancient curse. And now I have heard that the man I suspect to be our enemy is to perform his stage act at the Palace, by Royal Command. Would he dare? Can he be so bold? Is the next victim of this grisly process intended to be the Queen Empress herself?
	The Parliament of Blood Faber 978-0571236916 A tale not for the faint-hearted! Prepare yourself for the horrors that lie within - some may be based on legend, but many are documented fact. You will read of secret societies and hidden mysteries, of evil plans long made and villainy about to be dispatched. Of the legends of the Book of the Undead and the lord of that hellish region. Of vampires and their Parliament of Blood. It is 1886, and Eddie, George, Liz and Sir William must separate the terrifying truth from the lies and fiction. Or else we shall all be doomed as they return to do battle with their greatest foe yet

]]> Shoo Rayner tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.289 2010-07-30T08:39:20Z 2010-08-08T17:13:59Z

Shoo Rayner has written loads of children's books - over one hundred and thirty four! He started out just drawing the pictures and has illustrated some seventy books for other authors, including Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen, Rose Impey, Helen Cresswell and Terry Deary. Shoo likes to write series books. His books are based on wonderful characters like Monster Boy,Viking Vik, Ricky Rocket, The Little Horrors, Scaredy Cats, Millie and Bombassa, The Rex Files, Dark Claw and the Ginger Ninja. Shoo has used mostly ink pen and watercolour to illustrate his books but recently he has been using the computer and has developed a distinctive graphic style of his own. Shoo lives in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestrshire, with his wife and two teenage children. He has Three cats - Shula, Fizz and Fizz's kitten, Mister Darcey. He works in the garden in a shed which he built out of old rafters - it is so well insulated that you cannot get a mobile phone signal inside! Appearing (November 2010) Middlesbrough (10th) Durham (11th) Sunderland (12th) Author Website Shoo Rayner's Brilliant Website Publisher Website Hachette Recommended Reads

	Axel Storm: Death Valley Orchard 978-1408302606 Axel Storm's parents are rock stars - and they just want Axel to be a normal boy! But when he goes to stay with his crazy uncles, Axel always ends up stealing the show... Axel's parents are performing a concert at the Red Rock City arena, so Axel joins his Uncle Ritchie for a rodeo adventure, cowboy style! But when his uncle's herd of cattle go on the rampage, straight towards the concert, Axel has to act fast. Can he use his cowboy skills to save the day?
	Axel Storm: Sea Wolf Orchard 978-1408302613 Axel Storm's parents are rock stars - and they just want Axel to be a normal boy! But when he goes to stay with his crazy uncles, Axel always ends up stealing the show... Axel has a rough ride with his Uncle Nelson on this stomach-churning sea adventure!
	Axel Storm: Jungle Fortress Orchard 978-1408302583 Axel Storm's parents are rock stars - and they just want Axel to be a normal boy! But when he goes to stay with his crazy uncles, Axel always ends up stealing the show... Axel Storm is in the jungle on a tough mission: to protect the rainforest from the evil Creesus van Marbles. Luckily, Axel's Uncle Monty is trained in survival skills. Can they save the Amazon before it's too late?

]]> Catherine Rayner tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.286 2010-07-30T08:19:18Z 2010-08-08T16:58:09Z

Winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for her second book, HARRIS FINDS HIS FEET, Catherine was also awarded the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006. Her first book, AUGUSTUS AND HIS SMILE, was selected as one of five picture books to be featured and recommended on Channel 4's 'Richard and Judy's Christmas Party' in December 2006, and she was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2007. Catherine also regularly exhibits her artwork in galleries all over Scotland, and she illustrates her own range of cards.. Appearing (November 2010) GALA DAY (20th) Author Website Catherine Rayner Publisher Website Little Tiger Press Recommended Reads

	Iris and Isaac Little Tiger Press 978-1848950917 Iris and Isaac are NOT FRIENDS. Off they stomp, in a big huff, as far away from each other as possible. And as they stomp, they see funny, strange and wonderful things. If only they were together to share them...From Catherine Rayner, winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway medal. A warm and touching story exploring friendship and the importance of sharing. Beautifully written text and wonderfully individual artwork.
	Harris Finds His Feet Little Tiger Press 978-1845065904 Harris was a very small hare with very big feet. 'Why do I have such enormous feet, Grandad?' Harris sighed. So Grandad shows Harris how to hop high into the sky, to climb to the tops of the mountains, and to run very fast. Harris not only learns about the world around him but also the importance of finding his own feet.
	Sylvia and Bird Little Tiger Press 978-1845068578 Sylvia is the only dragon in the whole world, and she is very lonely... until one day, she meets Bird. Tiny and chirpy, so different from the huge dragon, Bird somehow changes Sylvia's life for ever.

]]> Kjartan Poskitt tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.283 2010-07-30T07:58:59Z 2010-08-08T16:44:36Z

Since Kjartan got his engineering degree he has worked on children's tv (dating back to BBC's Swap Shop!), presented science and maths programmes, warmed up thousands of studio audiences, toured his one man show, played a lot of pub pianos very loudly and has been Widow Twankey. In the last 10 years he has appeared all over the country as well as on tv demonstrating mathematical tricks and oddities from his books. He has written many shows and pantomimes, twice winning the London Fringe Award for Best Production. He has five shows published including his world-wide musical success HENRY THE TUDOR DUDE (produced over 120 times). His books have been translated into over 25 languages and include the "Murderous Maths" series which is all being re-issued with brand-new covers. His other non-fiction titles include "The Gobsmacking Galaxy", "Isaac Newton and his Apple", the "Warp Maze" with cartoonist Stephen Appleby, 4 books in his notorious "Killer Puzzles" series, handbooks on Practical Jokes and Secret Codes, 4 "Rosie and Jim" annuals, 6 support books for the BBC Schools series "Megamaths",a GCSE maths guide and a book of conjuring tricks: "The Magic of Pants". He was a judge for the 2007 Blue Peter book competition. In recent years has also written the novels "Urgum The Axeman", "Urgum and the Seat of Flames" and "Urgum and the Googoobah" which was shortlisted for the first Roald Dahl Funny prize in 2008. He has also written songs and scripts and worked as a games consultant for a wide range of children's t.v. shows including CBBC's new TRONJI series and his music for t.v. includes the original themes for the BBC's "BRUM" and the long running "SMART" series. He has written for "Rosie and Jim" comic, "The Beano" and the "The Oldie" and "Mad Maths" magazine. Currently he is finishing the big new colour "Murderous Maths of Everything" and also an adult numberacy book, he's planning more novels and adapting the Horrible Science books into stage show which will tour the UK in 2010... ...and frankly this petty list of his dismal achievements goes on forever so that'll have to do. He's married to Bridget, they have four girls and his mentionable hobbies include running his websites, astronomy, magic tricks, making strange noises on his moog sythesisers and mending his old pinball table. Appearing (November 2010) GALA DAY (20th) Author Website Kjartan Poskitt Publisher Website Scholastic Recommended Reads

	Easy Questions, Evil Answers Scholastic 978-1407114514 Why do people think Friday 13th is unlucky? How can you make a liar tell the truth? How many people in the world share your birthday? Easy Questions, Evil Answers provides the answers to all these questions and more. It's the perfect laugh-out-loud, boredom busting read for everyone who's ever wondered just how many footballs you can fit in a swimming pool and how long it takes to count to a million.
	Murderous Maths of Everything Scholastic 978-1407103679 Never dared before, Murderous Maths of Everything is one big book with ALL the answers to EVERYTHING in maths. And it's in cool clour, too! Readers can join the cast of crazy characters on a tour of the Murderous Maths building to discover the darkest and deadliest mathematical secrets. Discover how to make birthdays last twice as long, how the number 1 starts fights, how triangles lead to murder and much more. Put an end to maths misery, once and fr all.
	The Mean and The Vulgar Bits Scholastic 978-1407107097 Using a host of hilarious characters, Kjartan Poskitt presents all the tricks, tips and shortcuts to statistics they don't teach at school. Readers will find out how fractions can save them from the toxic mutant fish of Fastbuck, what makes Pongo McWhiffy a mathematical freak, and travel to Planet Mean to discover how averages can be absolutely revolting. Guarantee: this book contains absolutely no sums!

]]> Sara Ogilvie tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.280 2010-07-30T07:33:40Z 2010-08-08T16:28:39Z

Sara Ogilvie was born in Edinburgh,Scotland in 1971 and lives in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North of England. Since graduating in 1993 with an illustration/printmaking BA Hons and a PG diploma in 1994 from Edinburgh College of Art, she has continued to create and develop work which has been exhibited across the UK and abroad, including USA, Canada, Poland, Japan, Korea, France. Working as a freelance illustrator Sara creates images for editorial, design, publishing and advertising.She is represented by NB Illustration in London. She has won numerous awards for her work including a Commonwealth heads of Government commission to create a co-published lithograph with Edinburgh Printmakers, presented to Nelson Mandela, HRH the Queen and heads of State. In 2001 she was an invited visiting artist/lecturer at Minneapolis School of Art and Design, USA where she lived for a year and more recently at Malaspina Printmakers in Vancouver, Canada. Work is inspired by words, street life, antiquities, posters, old wives tales, household appliances, carpets, masks, trying to spell sounds, packaging, old second-hand bookshops and pedestrian oddballs.... Appearing (November 2010) Darlington (12th) Author Website Sara Ogilvie Publisher Website Simon and Schuster Recommended Reads

Dogs Don't Do Ballet
Simon & Schuster Children's
978-1847384744
Biff is not like ordinary dogs. He doesn't do dog stuff like peeing on lampposts, scratching his fleas or drinking out of toilets. If you throw him a stick, he'll just look at you like you're crazy. No, Biff is no ordinary dog. Biff likes moonlight and music and walking on his tiptoes. You see, Biff doesn't think he's a dog, Biff thinks he's a ballerina, which is all very well ...But dogs don't do ballet - do they? The hilarious story of a small dog with a big personality and even bigger dreams!

]]> Sally Prue tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2006://1.72 2010-07-29T20:28:23Z 2010-07-30T08:08:49Z

Sally Prue isn't sure where she was born, but she was brought up in Hertfordshire from the time she was adopted as a baby. She still lives there, not far from the woods that form the setting for much of Cold Tom. Sally went to Nash Mills and Longdean Schools, and after that she went to work in the paper mill about six houses down the road with all the rest of her family. She worked firstly as a clerk, and then as a Time and Motion person. It was quite fun, but she was glad to be able to give up work when her first daughter was born. Sally and her husband Roger now have two daughters: Elizabeth (who's often called Michelle) and Rosalind. Liz, who is autistic, lives at home and writes about opera and helps people who are depressed, and Roz lives in Nottingham, where she is training to be a lawyer. When Liz and Roz were small, Sally spent a lot of time playing the piano and working out how to play it better. She taught recorder as a volunteer in her daughters' school, and then eventually was nagged into teaching recorder and piano for money. She also wrote and wrote and wrote children's fiction and gradually got better at that, too. After a long time, she was lucky enough to be taken on by Elizabeth Roy, an agent with huge amounts of patience and even more faith. Sally had quite a few bits of stuff published for Reading Schemes... and finally a novel. Hurray! The rest is on the Books page. When Sally is not writing books she's often reading them, or writing e-mails. She also has a house and garden that decays just slightly faster than she can do anything about it. She likes walking, and birds and other animals and plants. She is really interested in frogs, art, making things, music, people, ideas, fabrics. She has a set of Northumbrian bagpipes, but she doesn't play them very often at the moment. Which is probably a good thing. Appearing (November 2010): Gateshead (17th) Newcastle (18th) Website www.sallyprue.co.uk/ Publisher Oxford University Press Recommended Reads

	March of the Owlmen (Truth Sayer) OUP 978-0192755780 It's all change in the House of Truth. The ancient power of the House has been swept away, and now there's a new energy about the place. For the first time in years there are lots of new boys arriving to study with the Lords. It's all very exciting - but Nian, the Truth Sayer, feels stifled. He's by far the most powerful person in the House, but what good is that? Having great powers isn't easy - especially when they can be so very very dangerous... Then the owlman arrives. It's terrifying, and even Nian can't make it go away. Who sent it? What does it want? And can it be stopped before it destroys everyone in the House?
	Wheels of War OUP 978-0192754394 Will works at the big house, and nothing there ever changes very much. But then one day George announces that he's going away to be a soldier in the war that's springing up around them. Will is jealous, but knows he is too young-and too simple-to join him. The glory of war is not for the likes of him. Then soldiers come and take the rest of the men from the house to join the fighting, too. Will is left behind, with the womenfolk, those too old to fight-and the frail, insane Master, of course. Now everything is different, and Will and his friends start to realize that although they have not gone to join the war, they may not be able to stop the war coming to join them. It's time to head for safety-but in a country ravaged by war, where will really be safe? Who will look after them all now the menfolk have all gone away? And how do they know who they can really trust?
	Goldkeeper OUP 978-0192727640 When Sebastian is chosen as the High Priest's apprentice at the Temple of Ora, everyone's shocked. But Sebastian soon discovers that as apprentice, he can have anything he wants...limitless cream cakes, training sessions with Golden United, even zip-wires and donkeys to liven up ceremonies at the Temple. He can pass entertaining new laws to annoy teachers, as well. But then there are strange explosions, falling objects, whispered threats. Sebastian realizes the Temple, with its all-seeing golden statue, holds many secrets. Can he ignore it all? Or should Sebastian and his pet rat, Gerald, risking life and whisker, try to out-fox the most powerful mob in the city?
	Cold Tom OUP 978-0192727657 Tom is one of the Tribe. But he is not like the others - he is clumsy and heavy, and the Tribe drive him away into the demon city. But Tom can't live with demons either - they are so hot, so foul, and he knows they are trying to enslave his mind. But there is nowhere else to run. Between the savage Tribe and the stifling demons, is there any way out for Tom? A beautiful and exciting story about a Tom, caught between his elfin home and the world of humans.

]]> Korky Paul tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2006://1.66 2010-07-29T18:44:03Z 2010-08-08T16:34:33Z

Early Years and beyond Korky Paul was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1951. He studied art at the Durban School of Art in Natal, South Africa and then spent three years working for an advertising agency in Cape Town....

Early Years and beyond Korky Paul was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1951. He studied art at the Durban School of Art in Natal, South Africa and then spent three years working for an advertising agency in Cape Town. In 1976 as Korky puts it he "fled for Europe" and got a job illustrating and designing educational books in Greece. He then spent some time working for an advertising agency in London and Los Angeles and then studied film animation at Cal Arts in California. Korky Paul is married with two children. He works in Oxford but spends the summer living it up in Greece. First drawing attempts On his first day at work, the young art graduate Korky was called the new "drawer". On reflection, it is a fair description of what he did then and what he does now-draw picture books. He likes the word, preferring it to artist or even illustrator. Korky's first children's book was published in the USA in 1980. It was a pop-up book called The Crocodile and Dumper Truck. During the 1980's Korky illustrated a number of children's books and in 1986 he illustrated his first book for Oxford University Press, Winnie the Witch, which won the Children's Book Award in 1987. Korky - the drawer Since then, Korky has illustrated many more successful children's books for Oxford University Press. He has continued with his adventures of Winnie the Witch and her loveable cat Wilbur, as well as illustrating many children's poetry books in collaboration with John Foster. He has become a hugely popular figure in the children's book world and he is especially popular with the young children who read his books and are carried away into a fantasy world by the illustrations. Appearing (November 2010) Newcastle (17th) North Tyneside (18th) Northumberland (19th) GALA DAY (20th) Author Website www.korkypaul.com Publisher Oxford University Press Recommended Reads

	Winnie's Madcap Mishaps OUP 978-0192763570 Welcome to the wonderful world of Winnie the Witch and her long-suffering cat, Wilbur. Join Winnie as she tries to find a way of making sure she can always see Wilbur her black cat in her black house, watch her as she takes to the skies on her wayward broomstick, and discover what happens when Winnie transforms her wintry garden into a sunny paradise. Three of Winnie and Wilbur's best-loved escapades for young readers are here to enjoy in one bright beautiful book.
	Winnie's Amazing Pumpkin OUP 978-0192729088 Winnie and Wilbur love their vegetables. They are regulars at the weekly farmers' market to stock up on their greens, but bringing them back home on a broomstick proves to be rather hazardous. So Winnie decides to grow her own and digs a vegetable patch in her garden. Not having the patience of a true gardener, she uses a little magic to speed up the growing process . . .only to end up with a garden overrun by enormous vegetables. She uses her giant pumpkin to make pumpkin pies, pumpkin scones, creamy pumpkin soup for Wilbur, and dish after dish of roast pumpkin. She invites all her neighbours to help themselves to pumpkin, too. Eventually the yummy orange flesh is all gone but the shell remains. What can Winnie do with it? She waves her wand, shouts 'Abracadabra!', and something amazing happens
	Winnie's Big Cackling Book OUP 978-0192729552 Ten of Winnie and Wilbur's favourite stories in one bumper bind-up-and a chance to listen to Winnie laugh every time you open the book! Life is never dull for Winnie the Witch! In 'Hot Cross Winnie' a trip to the shops turns into a desperate hunt for a missing Wilbur; in 'Winnie Gets Cracking' she creates a 'chocodile' that lays chocolate eggs; in 'Whizz-Bang Winnie' Winnie gets her skates and speeds to victory in a 'hot wheels' race; in 'Winnie and the Toof Fairy' Winnie discovers she's not the only one with the ability to wave a wand; in 'Winnie's One-Witch Band' she tries to match Wilbur's musical talents; in 'Winnie Says Cheese' Winnie and Wilbur take some supremely silly snapshots to add to their photo album; in 'Winnie's Awful Auntie' an unbearably fussy relative makes an unexpected visit; in 'Winnie Goes Cleaning' Winnie offers her janitorial services to the local school with hilarious results; in 'Winnie and the Ghost in the Post' Winnie and Wilbur find themselves the surprise winners of a television poetry competition and in 'Mini Winnie' there's an unusual solution to a laundry problem. Korky Paul's exuberant black line illustrations complement the humour, slapstick, and moments of real drama that run through each story. Pure magic!
	Captain Teachum's Buried Treasure OUP 978-0192727107 Captain Teachum has a reputation as a wicked and terrible pirate. He has, so his readers are told, led a life of crime: capturing ships, making his enemies walk the plank, and burying stolen treasure all over the world. But then we discover some unexpected secrets about Captain Teachum's home life: he is more than a little hen-pecked, he has twenty five children, and his memory is rather unreliable ...Hardly surprising, then, that Captain Teachum has not been able to find his buried treasure. So, by the time Captain Teachum's story is finished and we see his mischievous grin as he lies in his hammock, we're left wondering how much of his boastful bluster about past dastardly deeds is true and how much of it is wishful thinking!
	Winnie The Witch OUP 978-0192726438 Winnie, the Witch lives in a black house. She has black chairs and black stairs, black floors and black doors. The trouble is that Winnie's cat, Wilbur, is also black. After sitting on him and tripping over him, Winnie decides to turn Wilbur into a green cat. But then, he goes out into the long grass! Winnie is going to need a little magic to make sure she can always see Wilbur...This is a beautifully-crafted story with a colourful final twist.
	Winnie at the Seaside OUP 978-0192727251 Winnie decides she needs a seaside break, so she and Wilbur zoom off to the coast. Winnie makes a beeline for the sea to cool down. Wilbur makes a beeline for anywhere other than the sea - he hates water, and can't bear getting wet. Winnie is having so much fun in the water that she doesn't notice her broomstick being washed out to sea. She waves her magic wand in an attempt to get the broomstick back but it doesn't really go according to plan. The mix of magic and mayhem that follows involves a surfer and a whale and, predictably, it's poor Wilbur who gets the worst of things...In this paperback with audio CD edition, children can listen to the story with accompanying music and sound effects that really transport listeners to the seaside!

]]> Steve Hartley tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.271 2010-07-29T14:09:57Z 2010-08-08T14:00:59Z

We know about how you were discovered through the Undiscovered Voices competition. What had you been working on before then? Anything and everything, trying to find my voice, my strengths, and learning to write. I wrote Danny about four...

We know about how you were discovered through the Undiscovered Voices competition. What had you been working on before then? Anything and everything, trying to find my voice, my strengths, and learning to write. I wrote Danny about four or five years ago, sent it off once, and got rejected. Then, because I'm a dope, I did nothing with it until I dug it out of my pile of manuscripts to enter the UV competition. It was like opening Tutankhamen's tomb: a long-lost treasure was revealed! Are you working on anything other than Danny Baker at the moment? If so, what? I'm living entirely in Danny's wonderful world of silliness at the moment. I've just finished the first draft of the eighth and final story, which completes Book 4 (two stories per book). I'm at the "It's rubbish/I can't write/Why didn't I stick to stamp-collecting?" stage. When I've thrashed it into a state where I can show my editor without embarrassment, I'll start the copy-editing of Book 2, and then re-write the two stories for Book 3, based on my editor's notes, then go through the process again for Book 4. So, no time to plunge into another world at the moment, but I have plans... Appearing (November 2010) Stockton (10th) South Tyneside (11th) Author Website Steve Hartley Publisher Website Macmillan Recommended Reads

	Danny Baker Record Breaker (3): The World's Loudest Armpit Fart Macmillan 9780330509183 Another dollop of Danny Baker's revolting records! Like many young boys, Danny dreams of making it into the record books. Eternally optimistic, he writes to Mr Bibby, Keeper of the Records, with hilarious accounts of his yucky endeavours. In this book, Danny will attempt to break the following records. Drumroll, please . . .Most armpit-farted verses of 'Old MacDonald had a Farm'! Vilest verrucas! Biggest jelly-fight! Crinkliest wrinkles!
	Danny Baker Record Breaker (4): The World's Stickiest Earwax Macmillan 9780330509190 Like many young boys, Danny dreams of making it into the record books. Eternally optimistic, he writes to Mr Bibby, Keeper of the Records, with hilarious accounts of his chaotic endeavours. In this book, Danny will attempt to break the following records. Drumroll, please . .Biggest scale model made of earwax! Deadliest rollercoaster ride! Filthiest furballs! Barmiest birthday party!
	Danny Baker Record Breaker (2): The World's Awesomest Air-Barf Macmillan 9780330509176 In this book, Danny is going on holiday! He will attempt to break the following records. Drumroll, please. . .Sickbags filled in a single flight! (DB attempt: 13), Wriggliest bath! (DB attempt: 9,183 worms), Freckliest face! (DB attempt: 1,246 freckles - before sabotage by Mum and the Factor 5,000,000 suncream)

]]> Liz Million tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.277 2010-07-29T14:02:29Z 2010-08-08T16:14:55Z

I illustrate (draw) and write children's books and I visit schools, libraries and museums all over the world to talk about my work and to show people how to draw! I am the youngest of three children raised in a very happy home in Darlington with my lovely Mum and Dad. I was always drawing as a child and my parents were very encouraging (probably because it kept me quiet haha!). I did my GCSE's and worked hard at school. I always knew I wanted a career in Art and Design so after studying Art and Design at A level I went on to do a year in Foundation where I passed with a distinction. I then spent three years at Kingston University (Surrey), studying a degree in Illustration. I finished my degree course and went to visit a few publishers. I was lucky because a few weeks later, Walker Books asked me to do two picture books! I lived in Brighton for a year before moving back to Darlington in 2000 because I was poor and homesick! Lived with my lovely sister Rachael and our chocolate labrador Maggie for 5 years and I now live with my yummy fiance Mark. I have a lovely studio where I create my characters and stories. I like...drawing, painting, photography, visiting art exhibitions, animals, dancing to 70's disco tunes, talking, falling over, laughing at people falling over and annoying everyone with my loud voice and brilliant accents. Good Points: Friendly, enthusiastic, focused, funny, confident, organized, honest, caring, outspoken, reliable, smiley, good at impressions and silly voices, loyal, ambitious and likeable. Oh and modest. Did I mention good looking? Ha ha! Appearing (November 2010) North Tyneside (12th) Newcastle (15th) Author Website Liz Million Publisher Website Recommended Reads

	I Am Reading: Noisy Neighbours Macmillan 978-0330523950 George lives at number 6 Acorn Road, and he loves to sit in his garden doing magazine competitions. Louis lives at number 8, and he loves to stand in his garden practising the trumpet. With all that noise, poor George just can't concentrate on his questions. But worse is to come when Harriet moves in over the road . . . with her big, shiny and very noisy motorbike. But diplomatic Harriet proposes a noise rota with competitions, trumpets and motorbikes to be enjoyed on alternate days from Monday to Saturday - leaving Sundays free to meet for tea and cakes!
	Little Red Riding Hood Walker 978-1406316797 Little Red Riding Hood is going to see her gran... But Big Bad Greedy Wolf will catch her if he can! Read the rhymes and flip the flaps for a fun-packed retelling of a favourite fairy tale!
	Goldilocks and The Three Bears Walker 978-1406316735 One day as Goldilocks explores, she snoops around and sees ... a house that's almost hidden by the bushes and the trees. (And for the bears who live there, trouble comes in threes!)

]]> Karen McCombie tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.276 2010-07-29T13:50:05Z 2010-08-08T15:52:55Z

Name: Karen McCombie (middle name, Grace, if you're going to get picky). Born Yes, I was. Very funny. When exactly? 28/8/63, since you're asking. I know that makes me sound not-very-young, but I wear the same sort of clothes...

Name: Karen McCombie (middle name, Grace, if you're going to get picky). Born Yes, I was. Very funny. When exactly? 28/8/63, since you're asking. I know that makes me sound not-very-young, but I wear the same sort of clothes (T-shirts, jeans, trainers) as I did when I was 17. And my hair is pretty much the same style too. So's my brain (ie, it's full of films, bands, books and silliness). Where?: Aberdeen, Scotland. (Think scenic castles, not-so-scenic oil rigs and plenty of thermal underwear and you get a feel for the place.) Home: North London, near the amazing Alexandra Palace. Who else lives in your house?: A loud, funny Scottish person called Tom (who I'm married to), a lovely small person called Milly (our seven-year-old daughter), a geriatric ginger cat called Gus and a fluffy, gorgeous, demented young cat called Dizzy. How did you get started writing?: I worked for loads of teen magazines, including 'J17' and 'Sugar'. Over the years (and magazines), I've been a fashion editor, pet correspondent, quiz writer, features writer and sub-editor (a job where no-one knows what you do - but trust me, if there were no sub-editors, magazines wouldn't come out). OK, so you were a sub-editor and all that other stuff. Then what happened?: Then my friend Marina - the deputy editor of 'Sugar' magazine when it first started - asked me to write some short stories for the magazine. Once I did a few of those, I wrote off to loads of publishers with photocopies of my short stories and ideas for full-length books for teenagers. Lots of publishers wrote back saying, "Thank you, but go away". Luckily, the very cool children's book publishers Scholastic thought I didn't stink and asked me to write some stuff for a series they were doing. After that, Marina - the editor of 'Sugar' magazine by this time - wanted to do a series of 'Sugar' books (for HarperCollins), and got me involved (I owe her a big hug for that). After I worked on a ton of them, under a pseudonym, I got asked to write a series by Scholastic, which turned out to be Ally's World, as well as a whole bundle of teenage books. Where do you write your books?: Mostly in a small bedroom-turned-office at the back of our house, overlooking the garden. It's has pink roses on one wall, which makes me feel very girly. My other 'office' is the local garden centre cafe, which is as lovely and flowery as my office, with the added advantage of cake. I start writing as soon as I get back from dropping Milly at school, and then stop at 3.25pm, when I scurry off to pick her up again, with a Cheese String snack in my pocket for her. But sometimes I do end up staring at the clouds, or e-mailing my friends and asking how their weekends/lives/cats are when I should be working. Are you quite disciplined when it comes to writing?: Yes. No, honestly: Oh, right. Well, sometimes. And then there are the days when I get distracted by cleaning the litter tray, tidying toys, e-mailing my friends and re-arranging drawers. When you're not cleaning the litter tray, tidying toys, e-mailing friends and re-arranging drawers, what are your hobbies?: I like reading, watching DVDs, eating crisps, patting cats and belly dancing. And most of all, I like hanging out with Milly. (What will I do when she's 14 and too cool to hang out with her boring old mum?) Appearing (November 2010) GALA DAY (20th) Author Website Karen McCombie Publisher Scholastic Recommended Reads

	Extra Special (Stella Etc) Scholastic 978-1407116143 Stella and her family have just moved from buzzy London to the sleepy seaside town of Portbay. Not only has she had to leave her best mate Frankie behind but she's also kissed goodbye to the only guy she's ever liked. Still, Portbay has its charms; they migh just take a little discovering... Two scrumptious books in one, from the best-selling Karen McCombie!
	Truly Madly Megan (Stella Etc) Scholastic 978-1407117799 Megan whirls into Stella's life like the crazy cartwheeler she is. And she's going to whirl right out again, soon as her holiday in Portbay's over. But that doesn't mean that she, TJ, Rachel and Stella can't have some fun at the Portbay Gala before she goes... Oops, did someone say "fun"? More like "trouble"..
	Meet The Real World Rachel (Stella Etc) Scholastic 978-1407117782 Stella's new life in Portbay is going well. The only hassle is Rachel and her gang, who still manage to make Stella feel like she doesn't belong... Then all this weird stuff happens to Rachel and her so-called mates start avoiding her. Should Stella come to her rescue, or is that possibly the worst idea she's ever had...?

]]> David Harmer tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2008://1.189 2010-07-28T12:04:09Z 2010-08-08T13:47:03Z

David Harmer has a wealth of educational expertise. He was a very successful teacher for 14 years, then became a head teacher for a further 15 years. He trained as a drama specialist and during his teaching career kept up to date with current thinking in that area, including two years on a course leading to an A.D.B.Ed. David first performed poetry with John Turner, Martyn Wiley and Ian McMillan in the performance group Circus of Poets. For the last fifteen years he has worked with Paul Cookson in their very popular poetry double act Spill The Beans. After 29 years at the chalk face of primary education, the last ten of which saw a rise in demand for him to deliver inset to teachers and workshops to children in poetry, prose and drama, David decided to change occupation in 2003. During this time, David also has become a well-established poet, performer and writer, appearing in over 130 books of children's poetry as well as some collections of short stories. He has edited a number of children's collections for Macmillans. He also has collections of poetry for adults, but his real passion is the development of children as writers. This change of occupation has not only allowed David to spend time in many, many schools and educational establishments across the country, but also to remain up-to-date with Government thinking and educational research. He has lead inset for local authorities, individual schools, conferences and theatres, focusing on writing of both poetry and prose and developing literacy and oracy through high quality drama. All reviews have been very positive and David is often booked a second, third or fourth time. Indeed, many of his schools are now regulars, with repeat annual bookings. Following his own MA in creative writing from Sheffield Hallam University, David is now employed on a part-time basis as Module Leader in Teaching Writing For Children on the same MA. This means he has constant contact with contemporary children's literature and cultural references. David Harmer was born in Kent in 1952. His family moved to South Yorkshire when he was 13, where he has lived ever since. He studied at Bede College Durham and then did a BA with the Open University. In 2000 he gained an MA in Creative Writing from Sheffield Hallam University, where he now works part-time. He lives in Doncaster with his wife Paula, their daughters Lizzie and Harriet and Blossom the Shar Pei. When he isn't working, David enjoys reading, listening to a wide variety of music (especially Bob Dylan), watching Sheffield United and spending time with family and friends. Appearing (November 2010) Northumberland (18th) Durham (19th) Author Website David Harmer Recommended Reads

	The World At Our Feet: Football Poems Macmillan Children's Books 978-0330510868 A crowd-pleasing collection of brand-new football poems written especially for The World Cup 2010. Perfect for football fantatics all over the world.
	The Truth About Parents Macmillan Children's Books 978-0330477338 Do you ever worry about what goes on inside your parents' heads? Then these poems are for you! Find out exactly what - if anything - makes them tick. Dad's Pants - Dad's pants are so embarrassing. Dad's pants give us a fright. And when they're on the washing line they block out all the light.
	The Truth About Teachers Macmillan Children's Books 978-0330447232 "Do you ever worry about what goes on inside your teacher's head? Then these poems are for you! Find out exactly what - if anything - makes them tick (besides marking your homework). It's a definite sign. Our dinner lady Mrs Mack is well in love with Mr Fipps. Because at every dinner time, she winks and smiles when he's in line and gives him extra chips."
	Read Me Out Loud Macmillan Children's Books 978-0330446211 "Read Me Out Loud" contains a poem for every day of the year from the very best modern and classic poets. There are raps, performance poems, chants, playground rhymes, action verses, poems to join in with, choral poems, poems from different cultures, monologues, dialogues, poems for a series of voices, songs, playlets, loud poems and quiet poems, poems with sound effects and poems with actions you can read them any way you want as long as it is Out Loud! This work includes poems from James Carter, Lewis Carroll, Charles Causely, Paul Cookson, David Harmer, Roger McGough, Gareth Owen, Roger Stevens, Nick Toczek, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Kit Wright and many, many more.
	Pirate Poems Macmillan Digital Audio 978-0330451819 Meet Calico Kate and her cut-throat Crew, learn twelve ways of walking the plank, find out about the buried treasure of spyglass Island and Blackbeard's ghost in this splendid volume of swashbuckling verse.

]]> Nick Toczek tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2005://1.48 2010-07-28T09:05:32Z 2010-07-30T09:50:18Z

Nick is a best-selling author, a full-time professional writer and performer who currently works variously as a poet, magician, storyteller, puppeteer, novelist, creative writing tutor, and journalist. He has published three dozen books and has made more than 40,000 public appearances. His poetry books alone have sold well over half a million copies! He's worked as a visiting writer, tutor and performer in thousands of schools. He also performs at festivals and family events, in libraries and prisons, on radio and TV and in colleges and universities. He's even been paid to tour supermarkets, perform on a train and in a fast-food restaurant, read from the top of a ladder in a church, and help children to write poems while caving! Nick is a craftsman and a wordsmith of the highest order. His poems are funny and thought-provoking, accessible yet challenging, and above all they paint a vivid picture in the mind of the reader. Nick's Million-Miles-An-Hour show has thrilled school audiences all around the world, from Birmingham to Bangkok, York to Yokohama. Whether you are 3 or 103 you will love Nick Toczek and his poetry. His commissioned opera, The Jailer's Tale, for which he's written the entire playscript together with all the lyrics, premiered at London's Arts Depot in Spring 2010, with further performances at The Royal Festival Halls and at The Yehudi Menuhin school. As a rock song lyricist, he's recently co-written a song for acclaimed indie band, Babyshambles, and is currently recording tracks for his own new album. Appearing (November 2010) Hartlepool (15th) South Tyneside (16th) Author Website Nick's MySpace page Publisher Caboodle Books Recommended Reads

	Read Me Out Loud Macmillan Children's Books 978-0330446211 "Read Me Out Loud" contains a poem for every day of the year from the very best modern and classic poets. There are raps, performance poems, chants, playground rhymes, action verses, poems to join in with, choral poems, poems from different cultures, monologues, dialogues, poems for a series of voices, songs, playlets, loud poems and quiet poems, poems with sound effects and poems with actions you can read them any way you want as long as it is Out Loud! This work includes poems from James Carter, Lewis Carroll, Charles Causely, Paul Cookson, David Harmer, Roger McGough, Gareth Owen, Roger Stevens, Nick Toczek, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Kit Wright and many, many more.
	The Dog Ate My Bus Pass Macmillan 978-0330418003 The Dog Ate My Bus Pass is a brilliant collection of hilarious poems featuring some of the world's most incredible excuses, apologies, tall stories and fibs. It is essential reading for all children (and some adults too!). from The Worst Excuses in the World, number 5 by Clare Bevan; I'd only left it for two minutes while I built a scale model; of Buckingham Palace out of cheese triangles, when a whole; herd of angry wildebeest stampeded through our back garden, battered down the kitchen door, and before they vanished; into the shimmering sunset, they trampled my book under; their mighty, thundering hooves, and the dog ate it.
	Kick It! Macmillan 978-0330399203 "Kick It!" is a fantastic collection of energetic football poems from master-rhymer to Nick Toczek, exploring every area of our favourite game. From A Football Is the Ball for Me Though netball's cool and baseball's slick, there's only one ball game they just can't lick. I want a ball, a ball, a ball can you kick. There's just one game with which I click - football, through thin and thick; football wins my voting tick; football, or my name's not Nick.

FAN I'm a football fan but I must admit That I sometimes act like a brainless git Like a larger lout or a loud half-wit Or a totally typical drunken Brit. But I'm genuine, not a counterfeit. And I might just lark about a bit And shove and shout and refuse to sit But football fans are proud of it. We wear the legitimate scarf and kit. It's a bright outfit, so it's no secret. We're football fans for definite. We're a rowdy crowd but we're proud of it. It's a game of guile an grace and grit, A spirited sport for the physically fit. With my season ticket in my mitt, I'm a football fan and I'm proud of it. With literally little that's not been writ, I can only add that I'll never quit. I'm a football fan, not a hypocrite, A football fan and I'm proud of it. © Nick Toczek 2000 ]]> Paul Hess tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2010://1.273 2010-07-28T07:04:59Z 2010-08-08T14:47:28Z

Paul Hess was born in Sydney in 1961. He went to art college in Sydney and then worked as a graphic designer and Art Director for various companies both in Sydney and London from 1981 to 1991. Since then he has worked as a freelance art director and illustrator, and latterly as a website designer. His first pictures books were four animal word books published by De Agostini in 1996. Since then he's worked for many different publishers and has produced roughly one book a year. At the same time he has fitted in advertising work, a range of sporting prints and a host of adult and children's book covers where his idiosyncratic style is invaluable for the humorous novel, for popular children's books and for anything out of the ordinary. He remembers Hans Christian Andersen's tales, illustrated by Jiri Trnka, as the most memorable book of his childhood. One of his favourite memories is of sandy, sunburnt picnics when he was young. When he moved to the UK he first settled in London and then moved to the West Country. He now lives in Newcastle Gateshead, with his two children where they have sandy picnics of their own. Appearing (November 2010) Sunderland (15th) Gateshead (16th) Author Website Paul Hess Illustration Publisher Frances Lincoln Recommended Reads

	The King and The Seed Frances Lincoln 978-1847802071 Old King Karnak is worried. He hasn't long to live, and there is no heir to the throne. So he holds a rather unusual competition to find one. Knights and nobles flock to the palace and the King gives each of them a tiny seed to grow. Jack the farmer's son is given a seed too, so he plants it, waters it and waits for it to sprout...
	Nail Soup Frances Lincoln 978-1847800299 When a forest traveller knocks at a lonely cottage, hoping to scrounge a bed for the night, a scowling woman appears and says he can sleep on the floor, but declares that she hasn't a morsel of food in the place. "In that case," says the traveller, "I'll have to share what I've got with you." And, taking an old, rusty, four-inch nail from his pocket, he starts to make ... Nail Soup.
	The Cow on the Roof Frances Lincoln 978-1845075910 Every day Shon goes out to plough the fields, while his wife Sian works at home in the farmyard. Shon feels he does all the work, so his wife suggests they swap work for the day. Shon looks forward to an easy time of it, with very little to do, but he is in for a surprise... This well-known European folk tale carries a message for us all: count your blessings, and stick to what you do best!

]]> Alan Gibbons tag:www.ncbf.co.uk,2006://1.105 2010-07-27T12:55:30Z 2010-08-08T13:39:36Z

Alan Gibbons has been writing children's books for seventeen years. He is the winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2000 'The book I couldn't put down' for his best-selling book Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge of the 2001 Awards. He has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has won the Blue Peter Book Award 'The Book I Couldn't Put Down', the Catalyst Award, the Leicester Book of the Year, the Angus Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award. His books have been published in Japanese, German, Italian, French, Thai, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Swedish and other languages. Alan has been a teacher for 16 years, working with KS1, KS2 and KS3. He has made numerous visits to schools and libraries, colleges and education conferences. He is a popular speaker at the Edinburgh Festival, the London Book Fair, the Northern Children's Book Festival, the Hay-on-Wye Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and many others. Pupils' achievement is very good. This is due to the effective deployment of the talented Author in Residence, and the focused teaching of skills in dedicated writing lessons. Ofsted Report on one of Alan's schools Alan has also appeared on the BBC Education programme Writer's Block, the Blue Peter Book Awards, Radio 4's Front Row, The World Tonight and The Message programme. He is a regular contributor to TES, Junior Education, Carousel, Books for Keeps and other journals. Alan writes an occasional column for the Liverpool Echo. Alan is a full time writer and independent educational consultant. He has featured in the Book Trust's Writing Together Initiative. In addition to visiting 150 schools a year across the UK, Alan has spoken in the Channel Islands, Spain, France, Cyprus and Switzerland. Visits to Greece, Hong Kong and El Salvador are being scheduled. Appearing (November 2010) Sunderland (10th) Northumberland (11th) Redcar (12th) Author Website www.alangibbons.com/ Publisher Orion Children's Books Recommended Reads

	Hell's Underground 4: Witch Breed Orion Children's 978-1842557808 When Paul arrives in 17th century London, he expects to be thrown into a life or death struggle for the three gates that imprison the ancient King Lud. But the battle doesn't come. Instead, Paul roams alone, learning how to survive in a city where all the talk is of the savage civil war that rages beyond its ramparts. Somewhere underground, Lud is waiting in his crypt, preparing to rise again. War, fear and want are his tools. But Paul too has his own weapons and is gaining strength and losing inhibitions about using it. Meanwhile, beyond the city, innocent women are being killed for it is so easy to claim that they are witches. One woman - whether innocent or guilty - possesses the only power available that can help Paul in his quest..
	Hell's Underground 3: Renegade Orion Children's 978-1444000795 Paul has met his most audacious - and powerful - ancestor yet, Samuel Rector, who seemingly has the entire East End in thrall to him in the 1830s. His legion of 'rat boys' use terror and menace ordinarily, but with the demon seed inside them, their powers know no end. Their only match is Paul, the renegade, the one member of the Rector clan determined to strike each poisoned generation from the family history. But nobody is stronger than Lud, the King of London, struggling against imprisonment in his cell where the city's five gates meet.
	Demon Assassin: Hell's Underground 2 Orion Children's 978-1842551806 In Book Two of the Hell's Underground series, Paul Rector begins his quest through time to root out evil from London's dark heart. He finds himself plunged into the middle of great events that will decide the future of civilisation for generations to come. It is the London Blitz. Hitler's air force, the Luftwaffe, is pounding a great city. Somewhere an assassin is on the loose. His task? To kill the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and bring the United Kingdom to its knees. King Lud, Lord of Demons, sees his chance. Can he change history and break free of his chains? If he does, the future of the world will take a dramatic turn.
	Scared to Death: Hell's Underground Orion Childrens 978-1842551776 Paul Rector is about to go on a journey. He has just met somebody at Whitechapel Underground station. But if he thinks it's just going to be a fun night out, he's fooling himself. He's in for one Hell of a time- literally! Things are about to become very hot for Paul.
	The Edge Orion Children's 978-1842550946 Danny and his mother go on the run to escape domestic violence but when they arrive on the Edgecliffe estate it is out of the frying pan and into the fire. What's more, the vicious Chris Kane is on their trail.

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