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.
On International Children’s Books Day (April 2nd), the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with the Books Council of Wales are delighted to announce that they have awarded a PhD scholarship in the internationalisation of children’s literature to Megan Farr from Penarth.
On International Children’s Books Day (April 2nd), the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with the Books Council of Wales are delighted to announce that they have awarded a PhD scholarship in the internationalisation of children’s literature to Megan Farr from Penarth.
Over the next three years, Megan Farr will develop a strategy for the internationalisation of children’s stories for the publishing sector in Wales.
Megan will explore the appropriate strategies that the publishing sector in Wales needs to develop in order to strengthen its operations at an international level in the field of children’s literature. The project will focus on three specific aspects: import; export and co-production.
Megan has a wealth of experience of working in publishing industry and is delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the industry through her research.
“Having worked in the literature and publishing industry in Wales for the past six years, and many years in England before that, I am grateful for the opportunity this scholarship brings for me to increase and consolidate my knowledge and learn new skills,” said Megan. “With the Welsh Government’s increased focus on growing the creative sector in Wales and exporting Welsh culture, I hope this research will be useful to the publishing industry in Wales and beyond.”
Discussing this unique research opportunity, UWTSD’s Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones said: “This is a very exciting and timely project for the publishing sector in Wales with a new emphasis on international activity. As a supervisory team, we are very proud of this partnership with the Books Council of Wales and are delighted that someone as experienced and skilled as Megan has been awarded this scholarship.”
The Books Council of Wales is pleased to partner with UWTSD on this project and looks forward to working with Megan on this important international research.
“A good story can travel the world, unhindered by geographical borders,” said Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales. “By sponsoring Megan Farr’s doctoral research, the aim is to find which children’s books from Wales travel best and why. What are the universal themes which attract young readers and what styles of writing are most successful? Megan has more than 20 years’ experience in the international publishing industry and the findings of her research will enable us to further develop talent from Wales in this important field as well as draw inspiration from literature outside our own country.”
This scholarship is one of two creative industries based PhDs awarded by UWTSD. The scholarship includes UK / EU tuition fees plus stipend starting at £14,628. Megan Farr has now embarked on her PhD scheme which is funded by the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS 2 East).
For further information on this research, please email Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones elin.jones@uwtsd.ac.uk.
During these days of social distancing and self-isolation, many of us will be reaching for a good read. And while independent bookshops across Wales may have temporarily closed their doors in line with official guidelines, the good news is that many are still offering postal and online services.
During these days of social distancing and self-isolation, many of us will be reaching for a good read. And while independent bookshops across Wales may have temporarily closed their doors in line with official guidelines, the good news is that many are still offering postal and online services.
We’ve pulled together as much detail as we can on this page and will update the list as we receive new information. As this is a fast-moving situation, we may not always have the most recent and up to date information so do check with your local bookshop.
If you’re a bookseller in Wales and would like to add or update your details, please e-mail: post@llyfrau.cymru
Awen Meirion, Y Bala – www.awenmeirion.com / @AwenMeirion / www.facebook.com/awenmeirion / Shop closed at present
Awen Menai, Menai Bridge – www.facebook.com/awen.menai / arystrydfawr.co.uk / awenmenai@gmail.com / 01248 715532 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Awen Teifi, Aberteifi – www.awenteifi.com www.facebook.com/Awen-Teifi Shop closed at present
Book-ish, Crickhowell – www.bookish.co.uk / @Bookishcrick / 01873 811 256 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, through social media or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Browsers Bookshop, Porthmadog – https://www.facebook.com/Browsers-Bookshop-114707588547811/ / 01766 512066 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Burway Books, Church Stretton – www.burwaybooks.co.uk / 01694 723388 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or over the phone / Postal delivery offered
Bys a Bawd, Llanrwst – Shop closed at present
Caban, Caerdydd – https://www.facebook.com/CabanPontcanna / Shop closed at present
Cant a Mil, Cardiff – www.cantamil.com / @siopcantamil / jo@cantamil.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online, via email and through social media / Postal delivery offered
Cover to Cover, Mwmbwls – www.cover-to-cover.co.uk / https://twitter.com/CovertoCoverUK?lang=en / 01792 366363 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone, through social media / Postal and local delivery offered
Cowbridge Books, Y Bontfaen – cowbridgebookshop@btconnect.co.uk / https://www.facebook.com/thecowbridgebookshop/ 01446 775105 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone or through Facebook / Postal and local delivery offered.
Chepstow Books, Chepstow – www.chepstowbooks.co.uk / @chepstowbooks / 01291 625 011 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Cwpwrdd Cornel, Llangefni – Shop closed at present
Debbie’s Jewllers, Castell Newydd Emlyn – https://www.facebook.com/AnrhegionCymraeg/ Shop closed at present
Elfair, Rhuthun – Shop closed at present
Great Oak Bookshop, Llanidloes – https://greatoakbooks.co.uk / https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatOakBookshop?fref=ts / Shop closed at present
Griffin Books, Penarth – www.griffinbooks.co.uk / info@griffinbooks.co.uk / 02020 706455 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by telephone or through social media / Postal delivery and local delivery offered
Giggles, Barry – www.facebook.com/Giggles-Barry-479792188748220/ / Shop closed at present
Gwisgo, Aberaeron – www.gwisgobookworm.co.uk / info@gwisgobookworm.co.uk / www.facebook.com/Gwisgo Bookworm / 01545 238282 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone and social media
Hintons, Conwy – @hintons.conwy / Shop closed to the public / Order through Instagram
Igam Ogam, Llandeilo – www.igamogamgifts.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Inc, Aberystwyth – https://www.facebook.com/Siop-Inc-121059026497 / mail@siopinc.com / 01970 626200 / 07834957158 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone, email or through social media / Postal delivery offered
Llên Llŷn, Pwllheli – 01758 612907 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Na Nog, Caernarfon – www.na-nog.com / @SiopNanog / www.facebook.com/nanog.gymraeg / 01286 676946 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
No 1 High St, Y Drenewydd – www.no1highstreet.co.uk / 07866259710 / Shop closed to the public / Postal delivery can be offered
Palas Print, Caernarfon – www.palasprint.com / @PalasPrint / eirian@palasprint.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by telephone or through social media / Postal delivery offered
Pen’rallt, Machynlleth – www.penralltgallerybookshop.co.uk / penralltbooks@gmail.com / 01654 700559 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by email or by telephone
Pethe Powys – https://www.facebook.com/Pethe-Powys-107932897356116/ / Shop closed at present
Siop Clwyd, Dinbych – www.facebook.com/Siop-Clwyd-468077820051483 / Shop closed at present
Siop Cwlwm, Croesoswallt – www.siopcwlwm.co.uk / Shop closed to the public / Order online
Siop Eifionydd, Porthmadog – Shop closed at present
Siop y Felin, Caerdydd – siopyfelin@gmail.com / Shop closed to the public / Order by email or through social media / Delivery service offered
Siop Lewis, Llandudno – www.facebook.com/sioplewis/ / www.sioplewis.cymru / @sioplewis / Shop closed to the public / Order through Facebook or Instagram
Siop Lyfrau’r Hen Bost, Blaenau Ffestiniog – Shop closed at present
Siop y Pentan, Caerfyrddin – https://www.facebook.com/SiopYPentan/ / Busnes@ypentan.co.uk / 07951 610278 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone or email / Postal delivery offered
Siop y Pethe, Aberystwyth – www.siopypethe.cymru / post@siopypethe.cymru / 01970 617 120 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone or by email / Postal delivery offered
Verzon Bookshop Gallery – www.facebook.com/VerzonBookshopGallery / Shop closed at present.
Victoria Bookshop, Haverfordwest – https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaBookshop / 01437 762750 / Shop closed at present
The Hours, Aberhonddu – www.thehoursbrecon.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Cwtsh, Pontyberem – www.facebook.com/Y Cwtsh / Shop closed at present.
Seaways, Abergwaun – Seawaysorders@gmail.com / 01348 873433 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone or by email / Postal delivery offered
Dragon’s Garden, Llandeilo – www.facebook.com/Books at the Dragon’s Garden / www.dragons-garden.com / mandy@dragons-garden.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by email / Postal delivery offered.
College Street Books, Rhydaman – 07434 975578 / www.facebook.com/CollegeStreetBooks / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone / Postal delivery offered.
Cyfoes, Rhydaman – www.facebook.com/Cyfoes / Shop closed at present
The Books Council of Wales has welcomed emergency funding of £150,000 from the Welsh Government to help the books sector during the current coronavirus crisis.
The Books Council of Wales has welcomed emergency funding of £150,000 from the Welsh Government to help the books sector during the current coronavirus crisis.
The fund will be administered by the Books Council, the national charity responsible for supporting the book industry and promoting reading in Wales.
The additional money for the book sector is part of a comprehensive £18m package of support for the culture, arts and sport sector Wales announced by Welsh Government Wednesday 1 April 2020.
In announcing the fund, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “We’ve listened to our many stakeholders in these vulnerable sectors. We understand that these are uncertain times for business and organisations across Wales and fully recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges Coronavirus is having on the fabric of Welsh life. The Welsh Government is committed to doing everything possible to support the resilience, creativity and partnership which is being shown by the sector.
“Taking this further step will enable this sector to withstand this difficult time and to hopefully thrive again – and bring communities together once more when the emergency has passed.”
The emergency package will include support for independent bricks-and-mortar bookshops in Wales to help them respond to cash flow pressures and minimise the impact of coronavirus.
The Books Council will now be consulting with the wider publishing industry to identify other areas experiencing the most significant disruption as a result of the pandemic.
The Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “We warmly welcome the emergency funding announced by Welsh Government today to support the books sector in Wales. These are extremely testing times for any business and we are particularly concerned about the impact on independent bookshops who make such an important contribution to our communities and our economy, especially in rural areas. We will continue to work closely with them and the wider publishing sector to support our industry throughout these difficult times.”
The emergency fund is in addition to the support for business and the self-employed already announced by the UK Government.
“In these testing, turbulent times the health and well-being of people has to be the overriding priority, but we also need to ensure that when we come through this pandemic we still have a thriving publishing industry in Wales. Not only does it make a significant contribution to our economy and creative industries, successive studies have also demonstrated the wider benefits of reading in terms of our mental health as well as the development of key skills and knowledge acquisition,” added Ms Krause.
Gwales.com books website
The Books Council of Wales also confirmed that its books website gwales.com would reopen for individual orders from the public from Wednesday 1 April 2020.
The move is aimed at helping the publishing industry as well as meeting demand for books during self-isolation, at a time when many bookshops have had to temporarily close their doors.
People who buy from the gwales.com site can nominate a local bookshop of their choice who will then receive their usual commission on each sale.
There are more than 11,000 titles in Welsh or about Wales on the gwales.com website, and availability will depend on stock levels in the Distribution Centre as no deliveries can be received at present and some publishing schedules are being revised.
A list of independent bookshops in Wales offering an online mailing service for books is available on the Books Council website.
Rydym yn defnyddio cwcis ar ein gwefan i roi'r profiad mwyaf perthnasol drwy gofio eich dewisiadau a'ch ymweliadau. Drwy glicio "Derbyn Oll", rydych yn cytuno i'r defnydd o holl gwcis. Fodd bynnag, gallwch weld "Gosodiadau Cwcis" i roi dewis fwy reoledig.
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