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David Almond
David Almond (born 15 May 1951) is a British author who has written many novels for children and young adults from 1998, each one receiving critical acclaim. He is one of thirty children's writers, and one of three from the UK, to win the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award. For the 70th anniversary of the British Carnegie Medal in 2007, his debut novel '' Skellig'' (1998) was named one of the top ten Medal-winning works, selected by a panel to compose the ballot for a public election of the all-time favourite. It ranked third in the public vote from that shortlist. Early life and education Almond was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1951 and raised in neighbouring Felling. His father was an office manager in an engineering factory and his mother a shorthand typist. He was raised Catholic at St Joseph's Catholic Academy and had four sisters and one brother. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a writer and "wrote stories and stitched them into little books." He ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Order Of The British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V and comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom#Modern honours, knight if male or dame (title), dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of, the order. Recommendations for appointments to the Order of the British Empire were originally made on the nomination of the United Kingdom, the self-governing Dominions of the Empire (later Commonwealth) and the Viceroy of India. Nominations continue today from Commonwealth countries that participate in recommending British honours. Most Commonwealth countries ceas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shorthand Typist
Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed and brevity of writing as compared to longhand, a more common method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek ''stenos'' (narrow) and ''graphein'' (to write). It has also been called brachygraphy, from Greek ''brachys'' (short), and tachygraphy, from Greek ''tachys'' (swift, speedy), depending on whether compression or speed of writing is the goal. Many forms of shorthand exist. A typical shorthand system provides symbols or abbreviations for words and common phrases, which can allow someone well-trained in the system to write as quickly as people speak. Abbreviation methods are alphabet-based and use different abbreviating approaches. Many journalists use shorthand writing to quickly take notes at press conferences or other similar scenarios. In the computerized world, several autocomplete programs, standalone or integrated in text editors, based on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Boy Who Climbed Into The Moon
''The Boy Who Climbed Into the Moon'' is a 2010 children's novel by David Almond, illustrated by Polly Dunbar. It is about a boy, Paul, who wants to touch the sky; he climbs a ladder to the Moon and goes inside. Reception A '' Booktrust'' review of ''The Boy Who Climbed Into the Moon'' wrote "Beautiful colour illustrations complement a surreal modern fairytale, which fluent young readers will enjoy on their own but which could equally well be read aloud." and in a starred review '' Kirkus Reviews'' wrote "Roald Dahl meets Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in this delightfully improbable tale .. Madmen are heroes and crackpots are geniuses in this charmingly over-the-top read-aloud that challenges readers to imagine the impossible. Dunbar’s abundant full-color illustrations perfectly capture the beautiful barminess of it all." A ''Guardian'' review found it "charming without being twee; quirky without being whimsical; and genuinely thought-provoking without being clever-clever." ''Boo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
My Dad's A Birdman
''My Dad's a Birdman'' is a 2007 children's illustrated novel by David Almond. It is about a girl, Lizzie, who finds herself looking after her dad, Jackie, after the death of her mother, and his dreams of competing in "The Great Human Bird Competition". Reception A '' Booktrust'' review of ''My Dad's a Birdman'' wrote "This charmingly illustrated, funny, fast-paced, seemingly simple story, is also beautifully tender and profound." and '' Kirkus Reviews'' wrote "The characters sport silly names like Doreen Doody and Mr. Poop, and Dunbar’s colored illustrations, which appear on nearly every spread, evoke Quentin Blake. Readers will definitely come away with mixed feelings—not necessarily a bad thing, to be sure." ''Booklist'' concluded its review with "As always, however, Almond writes beautifully, and though particular moments may give pause, this novel is a tribute to the human spirit." and the ''School Library Journal'' wrote "A distinguished author's use of birds and human ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polly Dunbar
Polly Dunbar (born 1977) is an English author-illustrator. She is best known for her self-illustrated books ''Penguin'', the ''Tilly and Friends'' series (which became a BBC children's television series) and ''Hello, Mum'' – an illustrated memoir of motherhood and her first book for adults. She has also illustrated other authors' books: ''Bubble Trouble'' by Margaret Mahy, '' My Dad's a Birdman'' by David Almond, ''Can Bears Ski?'' by poet Raymond Antrobus, ''Owl or Pussycat?'' by Michael Morpurgo, and ''While We Can't Hug'' by Eoin Mclaughlin.In Conversation: Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar from '' |
Prequel
A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work. The term "prequel" is a 20th-century neologism from the prefix "pre-" (from Latin ''prae'', "before") and " sequel". Like sequels, prequels may or may not concern the same plot as the work from which they are derived. More often they explain the background that led to the events in the original, but sometimes the connections are not completely explicit. Sometimes prequels play on the audience's knowledge of what will happen next, using deliberate references to create dramatic irony. History Though the word "prequel" is of recent origin, works fitting this concept existed long before. The '' Cypria'', presupposing hearers' acquaintance with the events of the Homeric epic, confined itself to what preceded the ''Iliad'', and thus formed a kind of int ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jackdaw Summer
''Jackdaw Summer'' (US. title ''Raven Summer'') is a 2008 book by David Almond. It is about two boys, Liam and Max, who, on following a jackdaw, find an abandoned baby. Reception A '' BookTrust'' review wrote "Friendship, loyalty and truth are explored through a cast of complex characters in this compelling story. While often tense, it ends on a note of hope." and ''The Guardian'' wrote "This is a thoughtful and claustrophobic snapshot of people's lives, showing how they have come to be who they are that one summer. This may not be Almond's best book to date, but he has only himself to blame for having set the bar so high; Jackdaw Summer is a wonderful piece of writing for children - unsettling yet poetic." ''Publishers Weekly'' in a starred review, wrote "In a thought-provoking coming-of-age story, British writer Almond (Skellig ; Clay ) delves into the darkest realm of the human psyche as he expresses the conflicting urges of an adolescent." "Almond tackles complex questions a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Fire Eaters
''The Fire-Eaters'' is a 2003 children's novel by David Almond. Plot introduction The novel is set in 1962, before and during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Bobby Burns, who lives in the quiet coal-mining village of Keely Bay in Northumberland, has had a wonderful summer. But in autumn his father falls mysteriously ill, and he loathes his new school which is pervaded by bullying. Perhaps worst of all, Bobby is worried there will be a nuclear war. Bobby's wonder-working friend Ailsa Spink and McNulty the crazy fire-eater open Bobby's eyes to the possibility of miracles. Main characters *Robert 'Bobby' Burns *Mum *Dad *Joseph Connor *Ailsa Spink *McNulty, a fire-eater *Daniel Gower, a school friend of Bobby's *Mr Todd *Miss Bute Reception ''Kirkus Reviews'' wrote "Like the choicest of Almond, this is moody and layered." and "Breathtakingly and memorably up to Almond’s best." while ''Publishers Weekly'' concluded that "Sensitive readers will marvel at Almond's ability to show, not ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Secret Heart (novel)
Secret Heart may refer to: *"Secret Heart", a jewelry brand by SDI AG, Switzerland *"Secret Heart", a song by The Monkees from their 1987 album '' Pool It!'' *"Secret Heart", a song by Kylie Minogue from her 1989 album '' Enjoy Yourself'' *"Secret Heart", a song by Ron Sexsmith from his 1995 album ''Ron Sexsmith'' **"Secret Heart", a cover of this song by Rod Stewart from his 1998 album ''When We Were the New Boys'' **"Secret Heart", a cover of this song by Feist from her 2005 album '' Let It Die'' **"Secret Heart", a cover of this song by Katey Sagal from her 2013 album ''Covered'' *"Secret Heart", a 3-part National Geographic documentary about the functions of the heart (2007) *'' Secret Heart'', a children's book by David Almond *''The Secret Heart ''The Secret Heart'' is a 1946 film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Claudette Colbert, Walter Pidgeon and June Allyson. Plot Lee (Claudette Colbert) is engaged to marry Larry Adams ( Richard Derr), a spendthrift widower ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heaven Eyes
''Heaven Eyes'' is a young adult novel by author David Almond. It was published in Great Britain by Hodder Children's Books in 2000 and by Delacorte Press in the United States in 2001. A paperback version was released in 2002 by Dell Laurel Leaf. ''Heaven's Eyes'' was adapted as a stage production, which premiered in Edinburgh in 2005. Plot summary The story focuses on three children who run away from their orphanage and are rescued by Heaven Eyes, a strange, innocent child with webbed hands and feet. The sole survivor of a shipwreck, Heaven Eyes was rescued by the elderly caretaker of a gigantic old printing press and storage building. He raises her lovingly and she calls him her Grandpa Major themes Like most of Almond's other young adult books, Heaven Eyes focuses on the balance between fantasy and reality, all within a quaint and eccentric but mysterious and somewhat unsettling world. Other major themes include spiritual healing and family (particularly mothers, as many of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Counting Stars (Almond Book)
''Counting Stars'' is a 2000 anthology by David Almond. It is a collection of eighteen semi-autobiographical stories from Almond's childhood in North East England. Reception A '' Booktrust'' review of ''Counting Stars'' wrote "This evocative collection of short stories gives a clear insight into the experiences which lie behind David Almond's novels..". A starred review by ''Publishers Weekly'' called it an "evocative collection of autobiographical vignettes", and ''Kirkus Reviews'' concluded "Some of his experiences are shocking, some uplifting, obliquely amusing, even magical; this is not light or easy reading, but few who tackle it will come away unmoved." '' Booklist'' wrote "As with his other books, some of Almond's best writing combines the fragile and the grotesque, especially in the exquisite stories about the coming of the circus and the carnival." and the ''School Library Journal'' although finding "The chronological and cultural gap that separates Almond's youth from t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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