Top author is special guest for lucky pupils; Youngsters get chance to quiz Almond about work.YOUNGSTERS on Tyneside have been getting inspiration from one of the region's most successful children's authors.Pupils from selected North East schools were invited to an exclusive workshop with David Almond David Almond (* May 15 1951 in Felling near Newcastle, England) is a British children's writer who has penned several novels, each one to critical acclaim. Born and raised in Felling and Newcastle in post-industrial North East England and educated at the University of East Anglia, this week. The event took place at Newcastle's City Library and David told the youngsters about his journey to becoming a writer and what inspires his work. David is best-known for his debut story Skellig, which is about a boy called Michael who discovers a strange creature living in his parents' garage. The workshop coincided with the stage version of Skellig being performed in the region. It is currently showing at The Journal Tyne Theatre and performances will run until Saturday. Janice Hall, from Newcastle Libraries, said: "We were delighted to have a highlyregarded, local author such as David Almond here at the new Newcastle City Library. "His books are so imaginative and innovative that they never fail to excite (Excite.com, Irvington, NY, www.excite.com) One of the major search engines on the Web founded in 1995 and part of IAC Search & Media. Excite was acquired by Ask Jeeves, Inc. in 2004, which was acquired by IAC in 2005. See Web search engines. and inspire children and young people of all ages. "I'm sure that this was the case with the invited children at this event." David, who is originally from Gateshead but now lives in Northumberland, is a patron of Seven Stories, Newcastle's centre for children's books. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages and widely adapted for stage and screen. Skellig has also been turned into an opera. It was performed at The Sage Gateshead last year. David is twice winner of the Whitbread Children's Novel of the Year Award and the prestigious Carnegie Medal. He has written novels, plays and picture books for children, all of which are influenced by his North East heritage. His other books include My Dad's A Birdman bird·man n. 1. also One, such as an ornithologist, who works with birds. 2. Slang An aviator. and Jackdaw jackdaw or daw Crowlike black bird (Corvus monedula) with gray nape and pearly eyes. About 13 in. (33 cm) long, jackdaws breed in colonies in treeholes and on cliffs and tall buildings; their flocks fly in formation around the site. Summer, which was published last year. CAPTION(S): Welbeck Primary School, St John Vianney Primary School and Our Lady and St Anne's Primary School INSPIRATION: Popular author David Almond spoke about his work to selected pupils in a special event at Newcastle City Library |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion