The Books Council of Wales and Arad Goch theatre company have teamed up to produce readings of the Welsh-language books for children and young people which have been shortlisted for the Tir na n-Og 2020 Awards.
The Books Council of Wales and Arad Goch theatre company have teamed up to produce readings of the Welsh-language books for children and young people which have been shortlisted for the Tir na n-Og 2020 Awards.
As all their theatrical productions have been postponed due to the coronavirus lockdown, Arad Goch actors in Aberystwyth have turned to performing and recording their voices over the internet.
With everyone contributing from their homes and Jeremy Turner directing from a distance, the actors have been reading extracts from the six Welsh-language books to reach this year’s Tir na n-Og shortlist – three from the primary age category and three from the category for secondary schools.
Files of the readings recorded on Zoom are available free of charge from Monday 29 June 2020 on the Books Council’s #lovereading channel on the amam.cymru platform as well as on Hwb, the Welsh Government’s digital learning website.
Helen Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales, said: “The quality of the Tir na n-Og books has been particularly high once again this year and it’s really important to share this creativity with children and young people. At a time when libraries and schools have been shut, we are extremely grateful to Arad Goch for working with us to create original and unique Welsh-language content that is available digitally and free of charge. We hope that these readings will be a valuable resource for schools and parents now and in the future, and that they will bring pleasure to children and young people across Wales. We would like to thank Arad Goch, the publishers Atebol and y Lolfa, and the authors for their enthusiasm and support.”
Jeremy Turner, Artistic Director of Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch, said: “Arad Goch has a long and successful history of working in partnership and co-production with organisations in Wales and abroad, including with the Books Council on many occasions in the past. We have also created several theatrical productions based on books and their stories. It’s been a pleasure therefore to have the opportunity once again to work with the Books Council during this strange time, to create recordings of the fantastic books which have been nominated for this year’s awards. I enjoyed reading all of them and would like to thank our actors, technicians and editor for their work. Thanks also to the Arts Council for its support during these uncertain times.”
The actors involved include Ffion Wyn Bowen, Lynwen Haf Roberts, Gruffydd Evans and Ioan Gwyn, with Eugene Capper as sound technician and editing by Carwyn Blayney.
The Welsh-language winners of the Tir na n-Og 2020 Awards will be announced on S4C’s Heno programme at 6.30pm on Friday, 10 July, with the winner of the English-language category announced on the Radio Wales Arts Show on Friday, 3 July 2020.
The Books Council of Wales warmly welcomes the First Minister’s announcement that bookshops are among the businesses which will be allowed to reopen from Monday 22 June 2020.
The Books Council of Wales warmly welcomes the First Minister’s announcement that bookshops are among the businesses which will be allowed to reopen from Monday 22 June 2020.
As always, the well-being of staff and customers must come first and we have been working with booksellers as they prepare to reopen safely in line with Covid-19 guidance. Not all shops may choose to open their doors immediately and others will revise their opening hours to the public. Whilst welcome, today’s announcement is another step on the long journey towards a new normality and our role as a Council is to support our sector throughout.
This is an incredibly challenging time for us all and over the last few months we have seen bookshops across Wales finding imaginative ways, in difficult circumstances, to continue to offer a personalised service to their customers. Many have been organising special online events, as well as selling over the internet or by telephone and sending parcels of books by post or delivering locally.
We would like to thank all booksellers for their commitment and resilience, especially at a time when books and reading are more important than ever. We are also grateful to Creative Wales for facilitating additional Welsh Government emergency funding for the book sector, which has helped to sustain shops as well as publishers during this difficult period.
On the eve of Independent Bookshop Week (20–27 June), this is an opportunity for us all to show our support for bookshops and celebrate their important contribution to our economy and our communities.
Details of all bookshops in Wales are available on gwales.com.
A series of short and snappy books by authors from Wales will be available for free download this summer.
A series of short and snappy books by authors from Wales will be available for free download this summer.
From tales of amazing dogs to the challenges of extreme running and from a contemporary love story to a legendary lost world, the Books Council of Wales has made the four latest titles in the popular Quick Reads series available as e-books in association with publishers Y Lolfa and Rily.
And for one month only from 8 June – 8 July 2020, they can be downloaded free of charge from the new amam.cymru digital platform.
This year’s writers include extreme adventurer Huw Jack Brassington, author Cynan Llwyd, journalist and lecturer Ifan Morgan Jones, and author and journalist Alison Stokes.
The aim of the Quick Reads/Stori Sydyn scheme is to get Wales reading with a selection of short, gripping books, which are also available in paperback format from bookshops and online booksellers for £1 each as well as through libraries.
Angharad Wyn Sinclair, Reading Promotions Project Manager at the Books Council of Wales, said: “As a result of the Covid-19 restrictions, we wanted to offer the new e-books free for the first time. These titles lend themselves perfectly to these turbulent times. They capture our imagination and transport us to another world, but they’re short enough to be read in a day or to pick up occasionally and enjoy a chapter at a time. What’s also great about Quick Reads is that they’re suitable for a wide range of readers, including those who may be more reluctant to pick up a book.”
Coordinated by the Books Council of Wales, the Quick Reads/Stori Sydyn scheme is supported by the Welsh Government to ensure that accessible, original material of interest to an audience in Wales is available in both English and Welsh.
Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams said “I’m delighted Books Council of Wales are providing these titles digitally and for free in light of the current pandemic. Whether these are used as a means of supporting learning, or just a means of escaping everyday realities, reading can be powerful, particularly in these strange and unsettling times.
“Part of our National Mission is to provide all learners with high level literacy skills, that form the foundations of all learning and are transferable into everyday life and the world of work. Literacy, numeracy and digital competence, will be mandatory cross-curricular skills within Curriculum for Wales 2022.”
Of the four titles being published this year, two are in Welsh and two in English, with one fiction and one non-fiction book in each language.
Herio i’r Eithaf – Huw Jack Brassington (Y Lolfa). Huw Jack Brassington challenges his mind and body to the limit in incredible races all over the world, such as the 47 Peaks, the Pioneer and the Coast to Coast. His story takes us to the world of triathlon, running and cycling, and he learns some hard lessons along the way.
Pobl Fel Ni – Cynan Llwyd (Y Lolfa). The story takes place over a period of 24 hours in Cardiff sometime in the near future, against a backdrop of racist rhetoric and attitudes, right-wing politics and a fragile economic situation. Lovers Nathan and Sadia attend a concert but are separated following an explosion at the event.
Hidden Depths – Ifan Morgan Jones (Rily). Rees has been running away all his life. But when a tale from his childhood turns out to be fact rather than fiction, he is drawn deeper into a hidden world that reveals a troubled truth – not only about his present, but also his past. The choice is clear: hold on or wait and fight.
Dogs for Life – Alison Stokes (Rily). They’re often our best friends and share a special bond with us. But what if your dog was more than just a pet? This book shares the stories of animals with very important jobs to do and shows how some amazing animals are changing the lives of loved ones.
All four titles will be available for free download from the amam.cymru platform from 8 June – 8 July, with paperback copies also available for purchase for £1 from bookshops across Wales, the Books Council’s gwales.com and other websites.
A wide selection of Quick Reads titles can also be borrowed from libraries, either as e-books or as hard copies, when normal services resume.
The winners of the prestigious 2020 Tir Na n-Og Awards for children and young people’s literature are to be announced in July 2020.
The winners of the prestigious 2020 Tir Na n-Og Awards for children and young people’s literature are to be announced in July 2020.
The judges’ choice for the best book written in English with an authentic Welsh background will be revealed on the BBC Radio Wales Arts Show programme at 6.30pm on Friday 3 July 2020.
The winning titles in the Welsh-language primary and secondary age categories will be announced on the Heno magazine programme on S4C at 7pm on Friday 10 July 2020.
Organised by the Books Council of Wales, the annual award ceremonies are usually held in May at the Urdd National Eisteddfod and at the CILIP Cymru Wales librarians’ conference, which sponsors the awards.
New arrangements to announce the winners on radio and television have been made in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Helen Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales, said: “We are delighted that the BBC Radio Wales Arts Show and S4C’s Heno programmes have stepped in to the breach to offer a high-profile platform to honour the winners of the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards. These annual awards highlight the incredibly high standard of writing for children and young people in Wales and beyond.”
The shortlist for the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards was revealed in March, with two Welsh-language categories, and a further award for the best book written in English with an authentic Welsh background.
Welsh-language Shortlist (Primary)
Y Ddinas Uchel – Huw Aaron (Atebol)
Genod Gwych a Merched Medrus – Medi Jones-Jackson (Y Lolfa)
Pobol Drws Nesaf – Manon Steffan Ros and Jac Jones (Y Lolfa)
Welsh-language Shortlist (Secondary)
Byw yn fy Nghroen – Ed. Sioned Erin Hughes (Y Lolfa)
All the titles on the Tir na n-Og shortlists can be bought through local bookshops currently offering postal deliveries, through the Books Council’s gwales.com website and other online booksellers.
More information about the Tir na n-Og Awards 2020 Shortlists
The winners will each receive a cash prize of £1,000 and a specially commissioned and illustrated poem celebrating their achievement.
Children’s Laureate Wales Eloise Williams will compose the English-language poem, with the Welsh-language poem written by Bardd Plant Cymru Gruffudd Owen.
Award-winning author Matt Haig’s memoir of living with depression has been translated into Welsh as part of the groundbreaking Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme.
Award-winning author Matt Haig’s memoir of living with depression has been translated into Welsh as part of the groundbreaking Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme.
Regularly featured on best-seller lists, Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive is among the latest collection of self-help books to be published in Welsh to help people manage common mental health conditions or deal with difficult feelings and experiences.
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, other new titles in the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme include A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled by Ruby Wax, A Manual for Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink and Stress Control by Jim White.
There are now a total of 20 Welsh-language titles in the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme and, for the first time, many are also available as e-books.
The Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme has been developed by The Reading Agency in partnership with public libraries across England and Wales, with the Books Council of Wales making a selection of books available in Welsh thanks to funding from the Welsh Government.
Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “Looking after our mental health is vital and it’s more relevant now than ever before, with more and more people turning to books during these challenging times. What’s unique about the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme is that all the books have been selected and recommended by experts, and it’s essential that we ensure these valuable resources are also available in Welsh.”
Debbie Hicks MBE, Creative Director at The Reading Agency, said, “One in four of us will face a mental health issue at some point in our lives. With the timely publication of these new titles, we are delighted that more Welsh-speakers will be able to access the proven power of reading to understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing. We are proud to work with the Books Council of Wales and public libraries to deliver Reading Well Books on Prescription in Wales, enabling the scheme to reach even more people in Welsh and English.”
Among those who have benefited from the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme is children’s author Sharon Marie Jones who has lived with depression since 2014, with the illness intensifying following the death of her son Ned in a car accident in 2016.
“You have to remember that there isn’t one quick fix for any mental illness but reading is definitely part of my own therapy,” said Sharon. “You don’t need to be sitting down for hours reading a thick novel and there are books that you can just turn to every now and again. It’s just making that connection and feeling less alone by having that book in your hand.”
Titles in the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme are available to borrow from public libraries when they re-open or by following the guidelines for downloading e-books on public library websites.
Nia Gruffydd, Libraries Manager at Gwynedd County Council, said: “We have seen a big demand in libraries across Wales for the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health titles and that’s reflected in the number of books which have been borrowed so far. What’s great about this scheme is that people can borrow these books free of charge and they are easily accessible through their library. It’s essential that these books are available in Welsh, enabling our users to read about issues which are so important and personal to them in their first language.”
Health or social care professionals can also recommend the books on prescription as part of an individual’s treatment, or they can be purchased through bookshops, gwales.com and other websites.
The Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme also includes a wide selection of self-help books for people with dementia and their carers, with a full list of titles on the Reading Well website.
A series of online art sessions for children by one of Wales’ leading cartoonists has been viewed more than 30,000 times since it was launched at the start of the school closures due to Coronavirus.
A series of online art sessions for children by one of Wales’ leading cartoonists has been viewed more than 30,000 times since it was launched at the start of the school closures due to Coronavirus.
Criw Celf is a partnership between Welsh children’s magazines Cip and Mellten, illustrator Huw Aaron, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Books Council of Wales.
Every weekday afternoon at 3 o’clock, Huw Aaron hosts a live session or uploads a video to YouTube showing how to draw comic pictures or cartoons, and how to tell a story through pictures.
Now all of his videos are available to watch in one place on the Urdd’s website, which also offers a range of activities on its urdd.cymru/criw pages.
Huw sets a daily challenge for children and creates activity sheets linked to the videos so that viewers can continue to develop their skills offline.
The Welsh-medium service was launched on Monday 23 March 2020 following the Welsh Government’s decision to close school temporarily due to the pandemic.
More than 30 free videos have now been shared online and viewed more than 30,000 so far.
Commenting on his Criw Celf channel, Huw Aaron said: “As a cartoonist and children’s book illustrator, I’ve learned a few things about how to draw, and I thought it would be fun to share some of this with a wider audience. These short daily videos are an opportunity for children (and their parents!) to enjoy a fun activity through the medium of Welsh, and hopefully learn some new skills along the way.
“The response has been really lovely and encouraging – with many joining to draw together and to proudly sharing their work on social media. So pick up a pencil and a piece of paper, and join the #criwcelf – whatever your age!”
The daily sessions (Monday-Friday) are supported by Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Books Council of Wales.
The Head of Grants at the Books Council, Arwel Jones, said: “In these troubled times, we need to think imaginatively about how to entertain – and educate – children at home. Huw’s talent for drawing and exuberance attracts a daily audience and we are very grateful to him for creating high quality content that is valued by children, parents and carers alike. Digital content of this kind is particularly important at a time when it isn’t possible to print hard copies of traditional magazines like Mellten and Cip.”
The Criw Celf series forms part of the Urdd’s online resources for children and is widely shared on their social media as well as on the Books Council’s channels.
Mari Williams, the Urdd’s Communications Manager, said: “Huw Aaron is already a lively contributor to the Urdd’s magazines and we are delighted to be able to support these digital workshops which are freely available to anyone. They are a great resource, and clearly attract and entertain children young and old over this period.”
Huw Aaron will continue to host Criw Celf live sessions on YouTube in the coming weeks and all of his videos are now available to watch on the Urdd website urdd.cymru/criw.
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