Anna Gibbons
This is the first children's festival that has been organised by Scottish Book Trust, have there been any surprises along the way?
There is huge demand for events with children's authors and illustrators in schools across Scotland - but I don't think we'd quite appreciated how great the need was until we surveyed our local schools about it. Over 90% of primary school teachers questioned said they would like to attend more events with their pupils - our festival is a direct response to this.
What was the inspiration behind the children's festival?
There are so many wonderful children's authors and illustrators resident in Scotland and we wanted to celebrate this with a showcase week of events.
What has the response been like from schools so far?
We're part-way through the festival and it's been wonderful to see so many smiling faces during our events, as well as long queues of children eager to ask the author questions after the event.
Some of the events are to be held in unique locations such as the Edinburgh Zoo or the National Museum, how do you think that this will benefit the children?
It really allows children to see what adventures books can take them on ... this isn't always easy inside a classroom.
I think it's always nice for kids to come to different venues ... and we've tried hard to link them into what the author or illustrator is talking about. So Natalie Russell is taking a group of P3s around the zoo to help them with drawing animals, and John Fardell's latest book is partially set at the National Museum, so it's really fitting that his event is there.
How important do you think it is that children from every background have a chance to be able to come to events such as those in the festival?
It's crucial ... we really want every child in Scotland to appreciate the excitement of books, reading and writing and there's no better way of achieving this than by giving them the chance to meet children's authors and illustrators. That's why we are contributing towards the cost of children's transport to venues - we didn't want this to be a barrier towards peple attending.
How proud are you of the line-up?
Very! Of course I wish we could have every children's author and illustrator represented but with only one week of events that's very hard.
There are also a series of residencies in schools taking part to coincide with the festival, what are the benefits to children and teachers of such things?
We wanted to see the effect of prolonged contact with an author or illustrator in schools ... so a selection of authors and illustrators have been working with schools over a series of weeks. This has given the pupils a chance to really get to grips with a creative project, whether this be their own artwork, story or comic, and they have produced some really impressive work.
When did you start working for the Scottish Book Trust?
I started in August 2005.
What do you like most about your job at Scottish Book Trust?
I love coming up with new programme ideas and making them happen. I am really passionate about getting children involved and excited about books and reading, and it's wonderful to work for an organisation that has this as one of its core aims.
What were your three favourite books as a child?
Alanna by Tamora Pierce, all Enid Blyton school stories and anything, but anything, by Diana Wynne Jones
What are your three favourite children's books now?
Holes by Louis Sachar, Clay by David Almond and anything, but anything, by Diana Wynne Jones
Do you think that it is important for parents to read books to their children?
I think it's really important. Firstly and most importantly, there's nothing better or more magical than hearing a good story. It's quality time spent with your children. Not only that but it helps with so many key skills: with concentration, pronunciation, growing vocabulary, and starts an essential and lifelong positive relationship with books and reading.
What other programmes or projects do Scottish Book Trust run for children?
- The Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour takes some of the UK's best children's authors to children and young people across Scotland. Our 2008 highlights include the Michael Rosen Tour. Michael is one of the UK's finest poets for children and the current Children's Laureate, and will be visiting 5 Scottish cities in May 2008.
- Our Royal Mail Awards, in which thousands of children and young people across Scotland read and vote for their favourite books in 3 age group categories, are now in their third year. All are welcome to take part.
- Our website is also a great place to find out about Scottish children's authors and their books ... browse our author database of loads of authors and illustrators for young people resident in Scotland, and search our books database.
Catherine can you tell us a little about what you do with the children?
I am currently working with p5 helping them to design their very own story-book character. We are looking at a variety of animals drawing them then developing personality by looking at markings, texture and form exploring what makes a good character. Encouraging the class to give their drawings as much personality as possible.
How have you found the experience of working with the same children over a prolonged period?
It has been very rewarding working with the same children. Getting to know them and watching them develop their skills and confidence in drawing over a period of weeks has been extremely satisfying for me.
What has been the highlight of the residency so far?
The highlight for me has been watching the children getting to know their own characters. Witnessing them discover they can create anything they want on the paper having the freedom and time to develop their drawing skills and ideas. The children seemed to get great pleasure creating this fictional world of their chosen animal without restriction.
Pam, what approach to books and drama do you take with the children?
My approach is to motivate children to use all the paraphernalia of the theatre to tell or present their own version of a story . So by using their own voices and action , props and costume, music and sound effects , they bring the characters and language of the a story "alive", sometimes for an audience and sometimes just for sheer fun.
Have you noticed a difference in their work and their approach to you?
What happens when children work in this way is that they let you know how they feel about a story. They readily express their own interpretation of character and action and love seeing what others think of their ideas. The theatrical disciplines of working with scripts, scenery, props, other actors, sound effects , and an audience, mean they must work closely on a story/book as a team, contributing , negotiating and accepting others ideas. And when they realise their contribution is crucial to the final presentation of the story , they get a real sense of achievement.
The group I've been working with in Clovenstone Primary have developed 4 picture books in different ways - choral speaking- mime and sound effects - choral speaking and sound effects - and narration and dramatic which is full of wonderfully dramatic action and familiar characters.
When we started working together they readily accepted my ideas and instructions and dutifully tried out various ways of expressing the words and actions of the stories. But by the time we reached " Mr Wolf ‘s Pancakes" they were bursting with enthusiasm and imagination of how to represent the scenes, characters and language of the story , using everyone in the class, to tell the tale from start to finish.
What do you think are the major benefits of doing a residency like this?
The major benefit for the children is the fun of active participation in children's literature. Sometimes the business of reading can be fraught with the struggle of overcoming the mechanics. The impact of the language and illustration of the story is lost. When they actively enter the world of the story as narrators or characters or even sound effects engineers, they can discover the real power and delights in literature.
The major benefits for me is to be able to inspire more children to discover the pleasure of reading for themselves.
