Igniting a love of reading: a book for each pupil to keep as the Schools Love Reading programme is launched

All pupils aged 3–16 in state schools in Wales will be receiving a book of their own to keep as the Books Council of Wales and the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, launch the Schools Love Reading programme today, Thursday, 26 May.

Pupils from Ysgol Hamadryad in Butetown, Cardiff were amongst the first to receive their new books. Around 70 pupils celebrated the occasion with author and illustrator Huw Aaron in a special workshop to discover how much fun reading can be … and that in books anything is possible. Ysgol Hamadryad was one of the schools across Wales that contributed to the book selection consultation during the development of the campaign.

The visit took place as the Books Council of Wales launch their Schools Love Reading campaign to celebrate reading and the benefits it brings to readers of all ages and abilities, with the free books starting to arrive in schools.

Welsh celebrities such as presenter and writer Mel Owen and blogger Charlotte Harding (@Welsh Mummy Blogs) shared their own experiences of escaping into the world of books, and the important role books play in their own lives and families. Alongside artist Mace the Great and TikTok creator Ellis Lloyd Jones, they are supporting the campaign by sharing their love of reading in a short film created for the Schools Love Reading programme.

Mel Owen said: “Reading can help with your creativity and your confidence because it opens your mind to experiences that aren’t just your own. Whether we read for relaxation or read for inspiration, having access to books and stories expands all our horizons.”

Charlotte said: “For children, having access to books and stories makes such a difference to their wellbeing and helps to grow their imaginations. My son found comfort in books throughout lockdown. There’s nothing better than holding a real book in your hands, and there are so many books available out there – there’s one for everyone.”

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said: “It’s wonderful to be at Ysgol Hamadryad today to see the books arrive as part of the Schools Love Reading programme, and for the children to be able to choose their books. I’d like to thank everyone involved in delivering this ambitious project which is the result of a huge joint effort and collaboration between publishers, schools, booksellers, Welsh Government and the Books Council. I’m looking forward to seeing more books being delivered to more children over the coming months.”

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “The Schools Love Reading programme is all about igniting a lifelong love of reading and helping everyone find the right book for them. Developing a habit of reading has lasting benefits and having access to books is so important for children and young people. That’s why the final stage of the programme later this year will be delivering a selection of around 50 free books for school libraries so that pupils can continue their reading journey.”

You can watch the Schools Love Reading films, get reading inspiration and follow the campaign on the Books Council website books.wales

Heartfelt wartime novel wins 2022 Tir na n-Og English-language Children’s Book Award

The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr (published by Bloomsbury) is this year’s winner of the 2022 Tir na n-Og English-language award for children’s and young people’s literature.

The winning book was announced on the Radio Wales Arts Show at 18:30 on Friday 20 May, with the author receiving a cash prize of £1,000 sponsored by CILIP Cymru Wales, as well as a specially commissioned award created by Cardiff-based designers The Patternistas.

Established in 1976, the annual Tir na n-Og Awards celebrate the best books for children and young adults in Wales. They are organised by the Books Council of Wales and sponsored by the librarians’ association CILIP Cymru Wales.

The Valley of Lost Secrets, a novel for readers aged 8–12, is a gripping wartime drama set in the south Wales valleys. Jimmy, his little brother Ronnie and their class have been evacuated to Llanbryn from London. Their hosts Gwen and Alun Thomas offer a warm Welsh welcome, but it’s a completely alien landscape and Jimmy finds it hard to settle into the community.

Up on the mountains Jimmy finds a skull hidden in a tree and needs to share the mystery with someone. His best friend is no longer an option; his brother is too young. Instead, he discovers an ally in someone unexpected and they unearth secrets, find friendship, and heal the past.

Simon Fisher from the judging panel said: “Lesley Parr has written a beautiful, tender and totally absorbing debut with characters to care about. You are drawn into this captivating story from the beginning, connecting immediately to the authentic characters.

David Dean’s beautiful cover and illustrations add something rather special to the book. At the start of each chapter there is a tree spreading out over the page. As the story develops items of relevance are added to the tree. These additional puzzles make for an intriguing and utterly beguiling read.

Despite being a fictional name for the valley, the landscape and community are totally authentic, evocative and lovingly described. A book which will stay with you and you will want to return to the Valley again and again.”

Lesley Parr said: “I’m absolutely landed (as we say in Port Talbot!) to have won a Tir na n-Og Award for my debut book, The Valley of Lost Secrets. This feels extra-special as I’m very proud to be Welsh, and love setting my stories in the sort of valley community I know so well.”

Amy Staniforth from CILIP Cymru Wales said: “Many congratulations to Lesley on her terrific achievement. We are proud to sponsor the Tir na n-Og Awards again this year, and to continue helping children and young people to discover the very best of books from Wales and about Wales.”

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “The Tir na n-Og Awards have been celebrating the very best books for children and young people in Wales since 1976, and the quality of the entries just keeps getting better and better. I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in this year’s competition, which has been a wonderful showcase of the talents of writers and illustrators in the field of children’s literature in Wales.”

The winners of the two Welsh-language category Tir na n-Og Awards 2022 will be revealed at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Denbighshire on Thursday 2 June 2022. Three titles are shortlisted for the prize in each category. They are:

Primary age category

• Gwil Garw a’r Carchar Crisial by Huw Aaron (Broga)
• Sara Mai a Lleidr y Neidr by Casia Wiliam (Y Lolfa)
• Gwag y Nos by Sioned Wyn Roberts (Atebol)

Secondary age category

• Fi ac Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros (Y Lolfa)
• Hanes yn y Tir by Elin Jones (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)
• Y Pump, ed. Elgan Rhys (Y Lolfa)

New opportunities for publishing across Wales as Books Council of Wales announces recipients of New Audiences Grant

The Books Council of Wales, alongside Creative Wales, has today announced the recipients of £186,000 of grant funding to create new opportunities and develop new audiences within the publishing sector in Wales.

The New Audiences Grant will fund thirteen projects initially, with projects ranging from setting up new publishing houses owned and run by editors and authors from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, to digital platforms for reaching new audiences, to mentoring authors from under-represented backgrounds, and community-based projects for collecting and telling stories.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “We were delighted that Creative Wales responded so positively to our proposal to create new opportunities within the publishing sector in Wales. The purpose of the grant is to strengthen and diversify the parts of the publishing industry we at the Books Council currently support, and the grants specifically prioritise new publishing ventures, authors and audiences.

“The independent panel were looking for projects that would be catalysts for change wherever they are in the sector, and it was fantastic to see so many new and dynamic ideas in the applications – whether they are for new publishing businesses, launching new titles, diversifying professional networks, or working with local communities to ensure that under-represented voices are heard.

“We are pleased to have been able to award £186,000 of the funding immediately, with some projects identified for further development and collaboration later in the year.”

Dawn Bowden, the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, said: “I am delighted that Creative Wales have been able to provide this funding that will make a real difference in diversifying the publishing sector in Wales – and give under-represented groups a chance to tell their story. The Books Council have created a grants programme that will support an exciting and wide range of projects and I’m looking forward to seeing them develop over the coming months.”

Grants were available in 3 categories: Band A – up to £2,500, Band B – £2,501 to £15,000 and Band C – £15,001 to £40,000, and funding was awarded to projects in all three bands. The successful applications include:

Lucent Dreaming – new publishing house (Band C)

Lucent Dreaming will be Wales’s first funded book and magazine publisher led by and employing two full-time editors of colour. Founded in 2017, Lucent Dreaming began as a bi-annual volunteer-run creative writing magazine for new and emerging authors; however, with the new funding it will develop to include book publishing and aims to platform new and emerging writers and foster new editors and publishing professionals from under-represented backgrounds in Wales. Novel submissions for Lucent Dreaming are open.

Jannat Ahmed, Editor in Chief and co-founder of Lucent Dreaming, said: “After several years of volunteer-led magazine publishing, this fund will be transformative for me, and for the book industry in Wales. We look forward to publishing books from emerging authors and artists in the UK and bring Wales and Lucent Dreaming to international audiences.”

Just Another Poet – bringing poetry to new, younger, and more diverse audiences in Wales through digital and mobile platforms (Band B)

Just Another Poet is a YouTube channel founded by Cardiff poet Taz Rahman in May 2019. The channel features interviews with poets and filming of poetry events as well as an upcoming segment of accessible literary documentaries for an in-depth look at poetry and literature in Wales. Taz would be widening the scope of programming and introducing additional segments focusing on emerging literary talent in Wales, as well as highlighting the importance of bookshops and libraries to the literary culture. With the grant funding, Taz will target a new and diverse mobile device digital audience, utilise social media channels to broaden the scope of interest in poetry and literature in Wales, as well as increase the visibility of Welsh writers.

Graffeg – a new digital magazine to facilitate and encourage access to publishing for disabled people (Band B)

Graffeg are a Llanelli-based publisher, publishing non-fiction illustrated books and illustrated fiction for children. Their proposal – for a digital magazine facilitating access to publishing as a career – aims to address the under-representation of disabled people in literature, and barriers to working as a writer or publisher for disabled people.

Pontio, BLAS and North Wales Africa Society – Reading Club project (Band A) 

The aim of this joint project between Pontio Arts Centre in Bangor, its Arts Participation Project BLAS, and the North Wales Africa Society, is to encourage reading for pleasure and for families to read together. Over a series of workshops, families from the North Wales Africa Society will create a children’s book which they will then receive as a gift to keep and enjoy at home together. Writer Casia Wiliam and artist Jac Jones will work with the families, alongside sessions to be held with Welsh and African storytellers and musicians, to explore traditional stories, both spoken and in song.

The grant funding for the new projects was allocated in April 2022. The full list of projects can be found on the Books Council of Wales’s website, Grants | Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.

Welsh Government supporting foodbanks and local community groups with book-gifting for children and young people

Community groups and foodbanks across Wales have added children’s books to the list of resources and support they are able to provide for families from this spring.

As part of their delivery of Welsh Government’s book-gifting campaign, the Books Council of Wales have supplied over 40,000 books to foodbanks, community organisations and other local groups to make books available to children and young people in their local communities.

Nurturing a love of reading sits at the core of the Books Council of Wales’ work. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic they have delivered several book-gifting campaigns with selected groups such as families, young carers and looked-after children. Providing books and resources was one way to support children and families through the effects of the pandemic, such as social isolation and the impact on their mental health & well-being and educational outcomes.

One of the main aims of this Schools Love Reading book-gifting programme is to provide a choice of high-quality and engaging reading resources for families to use at home.

Shoned Davies, Schools Love Reading Project Manager at the Books Council of Wales, said: “It’s been wonderful to work with our friends and partners at the Trussell Trust, FareShare Cymru, IFAN (Independent Food Aid Network) and many community groups across Wales to deliver these books for children and young people. We chose these high-quality books from amongst the best-selling titles produced by publishers in Wales to include a wide range of age ranges, subjects and titles so that everyone can choose the right book for them. We’d like to thank all the publishers who have worked so hard to make these books available for children across Wales to enjoy.”

“… benefit from the joy of reading”

The Trussell Trust’s Network Lead for Wales, Susan Lloyd-Selby, said: “We are so grateful for the thousands of books provided to our food banks by the Books Council of Wales. Thanks to Welsh Government funding, this initiative has enabled food banks in our network across Wales to provide books to children whose families might otherwise struggle to afford them. The quality and variety of books provided was fantastic and it’s been wonderful to hear about how excited the children have been to receive their books. Last year, Trussell Trust food banks provided over 54,000 emergency food parcels to children in Wales. It’s not right that anyone should have to rely on a food bank, and this initiative has helped ensure that children whose families are struggling financially are able to benefit from the joy of reading.”

“Lots of happy kids and parents”

Tom Mogford, Community Food Members Coordinator for FareShare Cymru, said: “The feedback from our members was fantastic. Many said how well received they were, with lots of happy kids and parents. For families who otherwise might not be able to afford or have access to books like this, it was a very welcome gift. We are grateful for the donation from the Books Council of Wales and, on behalf of our members and their communities, would like to thank all involved in making this happen!”

This is the first stage in the Books Council of Wales’ delivery of Welsh Government’s book-gifting scheme. The next stages of this multi-million-pound investment in reading engagement include the gift of an individual book for every learner between the ages of 3 and 16 via all state schools in Wales, and a programme of Schools Gifting, where each state school will receive a specially chosen selection of books for their school library.

The Schools Love Reading programme will mean that learners across Wales have equal access to a diverse range of appealing and quality literature, in Welsh and English, that has been specially selected for children and young people.

Jeremy Miles, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, said: “Reading is a fundamental skill in just about every aspect of life. I want to ignite a passion for reading for all our children and families. Through this exciting book-gifting initiative, as part of the £5m additional funding from Welsh Government, I want to ensure that every learner in Wales has a book of their own to keep.”

Books Council of Wales to fund two Welsh-language digital news services from April 2022

Wales will have more dedicated Welsh-language digital news channels from April 2022 as the Books Council of Wales announces the recipients of the digital news service funding for the next 4 years.

Golwg 360 and Corgi Cymru will each receive annual funding of £100,000 under the new agreement, which will run from April 2022 until March 2026.

The grants were awarded following an open tender process, which invites applications for the delivery of a dedicated Welsh-language digital news service. The grant is administered by the Books Council of Wales on behalf of Welsh Government, with an independent panel awarding the funding.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council, said: “The purpose of the grant is to enable Welsh-language news provision that makes a significant contribution to the quality and range of journalism in Wales, with the ultimate aim of increasing the number of people, especially young people, who engage with news through the medium of Welsh.

“Both companies presented exciting and distinct proposals to the independent grants panel about how they would deliver high-quality news services that will appeal to readers across Wales, with stories and content that are relevant, accessible and have a strong Welsh voice.

“We’re very pleased that we have been able to award grant funding to both companies and provide more choice than ever for people to access their daily news in Welsh through a variety of digital platforms.”

Owain Schiavone, Interim Chief Executive of Golwg Cyf, said:  “Golwg is glad to have the opportunity to continue to offer a digital Welsh-language news service through golwg360.cymru. We have exciting plans for how to move the service in a slightly different direction, as we respond to what we have learnt about the audience since launching golwg360 in 2009, as well as the ways in which the world of news has evolved since then. We are confident in the ability of our experienced team to continue to provide the highest-quality service through the medium of Welsh in the years to come.”

Huw Marshall, Publisher of Corgi Cymru, said:  “We’re grateful to the Books Council of Wales who have embraced our vision for a new Welsh-language digital news service that will target a new generation of Welsh speakers in post-industrial Welsh communities, as well as those living in more traditional Welsh-language communities.

“The investment from the Books Council of Wales will, hopefully, allow us to develop a commercially viable service in the Welsh language and add plurality to the Welsh media landscape.”

You can follow news from Golwg 360 at Golwg360 – Newyddion, materion cyfoes, chwaraeon a chelfyddau – y diweddara yn ddi-dor yn y Gymraeg.

Corgi.Cymru will launch on 25 April 2022. You can follow news from Corgi at:
www.corgi.cymru
Facebook.com/corgicymru
Instagram.com/corgicymru
https://www.tiktok.com/@corgicymru

English-language shortlist revealed for Wales’ oldest children’s book award – Tir na n-Og 2022

Gripping wartime drama… a retelling of ancient legends… a reflective tale of the healing power of nature, and a colourful cast of characters from Welsh history. The Books Council of Wales will reveal the English-language shortlist for this year’s Tir na n-Og Awards on the Radio Wales Arts Show on Friday, 11 March at 18:30pm. This year’s awards are an eclectic mix of the very best of stories from Wales and stories of Wales published in 2021.

The Tir na n-Og Awards are the oldest and most popular awards for children’s literature in Wales and are held every year by the Books Council of Wales, sponsored by CILIP Cymru Wales. They celebrate the talents of authors and illustrators who either create original works in Welsh, or who write about authentically Welsh themes or backgrounds through the medium of English. 

Some of Wales’ leading authors and illustrators have won the award in previous years, including Manon Steffan Ros, Jac Jones and Catherine Fisher. The aim is to celebrate reading for pleasure and to inspire reading choices for young readers. Through the awards, children and young people can enjoy and be inspired by stories and writing from or about Wales.

The shortlist for the best English-language book with an authentic Welsh dimension is:

Welsh Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends by Claire Fayers (Scholastic, 2021)
‘A beautiful book packed full of wonderful, intriguing and exciting stories of Welsh fairy tales, myths and legends, retold with great warmth and full of humour.’

10 Stories from Welsh History that everyone should know by Ifan Morgan Jones (Illustrations by Telor Gwyn) (Dragon Press, 2021)
‘A wonderful introduction to 10 key figures and events in the history of our country, with information presented in a very accessible and readable style, with eye-catching illustrations.’

Swan Song by Gill Lewis (Barrington Stoke Ltd, 2021)
‘A beautiful and emotive book about the healing power of nature that, despite its lyrical and elegant gentleness, has a powerful message of hope and recovery.’

The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr (Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd, 2021)
‘A gripping wartime drama set in the south Wales valleys, full of mystery and intrigue, but also kindness and friendship.’

Independent panels of judges select the shortlists and decide on the winners for the Welsh and English awards each year. This year’s judges on the English Panel – Alex Ball (Chair), Jannat Ahmed, Simon Fisher and Lydia Bundy – bring with them a wealth of experience and passion for children’s books.

• More about the Tir na n-Og 2022 judges

The Chair of the English-language judging panel, Alexandra Ball, said: “It has been a pleasure to be part of the Tir na n-Og judging process again this year. As a librarian, it has been wonderful to discover authors and titles with such a variety of content with authentic Welsh dimensions, many in beautiful settings. I have recommended so many of these books to friends, family and young readers I meet in the library. It is always joyful to share wonderful titles with a new audience and share the opportunity to see our culture, history and country reflected between the covers of a good read.”

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “Again this year, we have a shortlist of such a high standard – and I am very glad that I do not have to choose a winner from this wonderful selection! Many congratulations to everyone involved in creating these shortlisted titles. It is telling that this year four books were shortlisted instead of the usual three – a testament to the number of fantastic books in this year’s prize.”

The shortlisted titles for the Welsh-language Tir na n-Og Awards 2022 were announced on the Heno programme on S4C on Thursday, 10 March.

The shortlisted titles in the Welsh-langauge primary age category are Gwil Garw a’r Carchar Crisial (Gwil Garw and the Crystal Prison) by Huw Aaron (Llyfrau Broga), Sara Mai a Lleidr y Neidr (Sara Mai and the Snake Thief) by Casia Wiliam (Y Lolfa), and Gwag y Nos (Empty at Night) by Sioned Wyn Roberts (Atebol).

The books shortlisted in the Welsh-language secondary age category are Hanes yn y Tir (History Grounded) by Elin Jones (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch), Y Pump (The Five), ed. Elgan Rhys (Y Lolfa), and Fi ac Aaron Ramsey (Me and Aaron Ramsey) by Manon Steffan Ros (Y Lolfa).

The winners of the Welsh-language categories will be announced at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Denbighshire on Thursday, 2 June, while the winning English-language title will be revealed on the Radio Wales Arts Show on Friday, 20 May.

Further details about the awards and the shortlisted titles can be seen on the Books Council’s website.