On 20 November 2020, Wales lost one of its great literary figures following the death of Jan Morris at the age of 94.
A journalist, novelist, travel writer and historian, she wrote more than 40 books during her lifetime, including Pax Britannica (Faber, 1968, 1973, 1978), a trilogy on the history of the British Empire; The Matter of Wales: Epic Views of a Small Country (Oxford University Press, 1984) and Conundrum (Faber & Faber, 2002), a memoir recording her transition from man to woman, from James to Jan Morris.
She was born in England in 1926 but her father was from Wales and she moved here in the 1980s, settling down with her family in Llanystumdwy on the Llŷn Peninsula.
Jan Morris was an Honorary President of the Friends of the Books Council of Wales and here, our Chair, Professor M Wynn Thomas, our Chief Executive, Helgard Krause, and Ion Thomas, Chair of the Friends of the Books Council, pay tribute to the talented writer who made Wales her home.
“During her remarkable lifetime, Jan Morris wrote enough books to supply the entire UK publishing industry. A world-famous chronicler of countries and places, and a peerless traveller of the globe, she nevertheless remained firmly anchored emotionally in the Wales she so loved and with which she totally identified. With her passing, Wales loses another of its very greatest writers and the Books Council of Wales one of its staunchest supporters” – Professor M Wynn Thomas.
“Jan Morris was a pioneer in every sense of the word. She was an unrivalled wordsmith and an eloquent chronicler of the life, culture and landscape of Wales. She will be sorely missed but leaves a rich legacy in her many books, essays and reportage” – Helgard Krause
“If anyone deserved to be called a ‘Friend’ then it was Jan Morris. After all, friendship and kindness were the traits she put above all others. Through her words, she became a friend to so many people and so many places. She was an Honorary President of the Friends of the Books Council, and her contribution to our literature and her support for the language, our culture and our identity as well as our humanism will remain. Thank you, Jan, for guiding us with a smile and a keenness of mind to the peaks of the literary world” – Ion Thomas.
A new scheme is being launched in Wales to help children understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing through reading.
The programme, which has been developed by leading health professionals alongside children and their families is being brought to Wales by UK charity, The Reading Agency in partnership with Welsh Government and public libraries.
For World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October, The Reading Agency and public libraries rolled out Reading Well Books on Prescription for children in Wales, with book collections and supporting resources made available in both English and Welsh. The booklist responds to the increasing demand for expert-endorsed information and advice to support children to understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing.
More than a million parents believe their child could benefit from professional help in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown and Childline has delivered almost 7,000 counselling sessions with children about the impact of coronavirus outbreak. In Wales, one in 10 children between the ages of five and 16 have a mental health problem and many more experience behavioural issues
The Reading Well for children booklist contains 33 books selected to address key challenges facing children today. The titles in the list deal with topics from anxiety and grief, to bullying and internet safety, to how to cope with events in the news. The booklist also explores living well with a range of diagnosed conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), dyslexia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and physical disabilities.
The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 and includes titles suitable for a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.
Karen Napier, The Reading Agency’s CEO, said: “One in 10 children in Wales have a mental health issue, with recent global events exacerbating the problem. At The Reading Agency, we believe in the proven power of reading to tackle life’s big challenges and this new and important area of our work will use quality-assured information, advice and stories approved by experts, to help all children manage and understand their feelings and cope during tough times.”
Titles from the booklist can be recommended by health and social care professionals, teachers and anyone else working to support children and families. The book collections are available free to borrow from local public libraries. The Reading Agency is working with the Books Council of Wales make titles from the list available in Welsh.
Helgard Krause, Chief Executive Officer of the Books Council of Wales, said: “Children’s wellbeing is important at all times but the current pandemic has made us ever more aware of the need to ensure that children have access to trusted print and digital resources that help to support them and to enable them to talk about their feelings. It is vital that these conversations can happen in a child’s first language, which is why we at the Books Council of Wales are proud to be involved in the Welsh translation of these fantastic books.”
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to provide funding to ensure rights to produce and distribute e-book versions of the children’s Welsh-language list. This is crucial given the vital role of digital content during this period. The funding will also enable the distribution of free copies of print versions of the books for use in libraries across Wales and as part of the click and collect schemes. This will be a significant boost for libraries and its users across Wales.”
Recognised by leading health bodies, in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians Cymru, and with funding from the Welsh Government and Arts Council England, the Reading Well for children collection can support children in understanding and managing their mental health with evidence-based resources outside of clinical settings, or while they await treatment.
Health Minister, Vaughan Gething said: “I am delighted that the Welsh Government will continue to provide financial support for this important scheme which has been a huge success and played a significant part in delivering our Mental Health Delivery Plan and ‘More than just words’, our framework for the Welsh language in health and social care. Books have long since been places where people seek escapism, answers and comfort alike. I hope this initiative inspires children and families to read for both pleasure and wellbeing. The power of reading is limitless, let’s harness some of that energy to help tackle the growing challenges facing children’s mental health.”
Bethan Hughes Chief Librarian and representative of SCL Cymru, said: “We are happy that Reading Well Books on Prescription for children is being launched here in Wales as a bilingual scheme, and are excited to work with our partners to deliver the scheme.
“Reading, in essence, is good for you and for your wellbeing, and reading for pleasure in order to understand emotions and feelings is essential for us all, and especially for children as they learn to understand the world around them and their reaction to it.
“This scheme will be an opportunity for us to put into children’s hands, in their choice of language, books which have been selected carefully to help them understand their feeling, through the medium of words, pictures and imagination.
“People trust their local library as a place to seek help and unbiased information, locally in their community, in a non-clinical non-stigmatised place. This scheme is another example of how we can offer this help.”
Reading Well Books on Prescription for children is the third Reading Well scheme to be delivered in Wales following the success of the dementia and mental health book collections.
For more information about the Reading Well Books for children visit: reading-well.org.uk/wales
Courses to develop new authors and illustrators, arranged by the Books Council of Wales and Literature Wales, are starting to bear fruit.
During the past 12 months, a variety of books have been published or are due to be published by authors and illustrators who attended the courses held at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre in Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd.
Helen Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales, said: “We cannot claim that these books would not have been published at all had it not been for the courses arranged by the Books Council and Literature Wales, but they have undoubtedly helped to develop emerging writers and fill a gap in the market for original Welsh-language reading material for children and young adults. Developing literature of this kind is one of our priorities as a Books Council as we continue to implement the recommendations of the report submitted by Dr Siwan Rosser from the School of Welsh at Cardiff University.”
Leusa Llewelyn, on behalf of Literature Wales, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with the Books Council on these writer development courses, and to see so many of the writers flourish after spending a week at the Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre under the guidance of some of our best authors and tutors. We will continue to work in partnership in order to identify the deficiencies in Wales’ literary culture – addressing the challenges that face us in terms of under-representation and diversity in our literature – and to create new, high-quality development opportunities to ensure that this important work continues.”
Sioned Wyn Roberts, who attended the Writing and Illustrating for Children course in 2019, said: “I enjoyed every moment of the writing and illustrating for children course. While at Tŷ Newydd, I met the artist Bethan May who has brought the character of Fred’s Ffwlbart to life – even Lady Lloyd George’s pink sink is featured! I would never have considered writing books had it not been for the course in Tŷ Newydd and, as a result Ffwlbart Ffred: Drewi fel Ffwlbart, the first in a series of story-and-picture books, was published this year while Gwag y Nos, my children’s novel, will be out next year.”
Books that have been published or are in the process of being published by authors and illustrators who attended the courses include:
Nain Nain Nain (Gwasg y Bwthyn, 2019) – words by Rhian Cadwaladr and illustrations by Jac Jones (a tutor on the Writing and Illustrating for Children course)
Seran had attended the Writing and Illustrating for Children course at Tŷ Newydd in 2019 as an illustrator, and there will be a graphic element to the novel she’s currently completing.
She is also part of the Welsh Literature Writers’ Mentoring Scheme and hopes that her first novel, ‘Y Nendyrau’ (‘The Turrets’) will be published in 2021.
As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, bookshops in Wales have started to reopen their doors since Monday 22 June 2020. Many continue to sell online too, offering click and collect, postal or local delivery services.
As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, bookshops in Wales have started to reopen their doors since Monday 22 June 2020. Many continue to sell online too, offering click and collect, postal or local delivery services.
We’ve been pulling together information about the arrangements of different shops on this page and updating 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 details 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@books.wales
Awen Menai, Menai Bridge – www.facebook.com/awen.menai / https://arystrydfawr.co.uk / awenmenai@gmail.com / 01248 715532 / Shop closed to the public at present and hoping to reopen weekend 4 July – depending on the situation in Anglesey. Revised opening hours – Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00-4.00pm
Anrhegaron, Tregaron – www.anrhegaron.cymru / Shop open on Tuesday and Friday between 10.00-4.00pm and on Saturday between 9.30-12.30pm
Book-ish, Crickhowell – www.bookish.co.uk / @Bookishcrick / 01873 811 256 / Shop open from Monday to Saturday between 10.00-5.00pm and Sunday between10.00-4.00pm / Order online, through social media or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Browsers Bookshop, Porthmadog – www.browsersbook.shop / 01766 512066 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Caban, Cardiff – Shop open from Monday to Friday between 9.30-5.30 and Saturday between 10.00-5.00pm
Cant a Mil, Cardiff – www.cantamil.com / @siopcantamil / jo@cantamil.com / From 1 September the shop will be open Tuesday–Saturday 10.30-4.00pm / Order online, via email and through social media / Postal delivery offered
Chepstow Books, Chepstow – Chepstow – We have relaunched our website www.chesptowbooks.co.uk / Shop open from Monday to Saturday between 10.00-4.00pm and Sunday 12.00-4.00pm
Cofion Cynnes, Ystradgynlais – Shop now open from 7am – 1pm
Cwpwrdd Cornel, Llangefni – Shop closed at present due to the situation in Anglesey, situation to be reviewed on a daily basis
Cwtsh, Pontyberem – www.facebook.com/YCwtsh / Order online, through social media or by telephone – 01269 871600 / Postal delivery offered.
Cyfoes, Rhydaman – www.facebook.com/Cyfoes / Shop closed at present. We are re-opening on 1 July. Opening hours – Monday to Saturday between 9.30-4.00pm.
Griffin Books, Penarth – www.griffinbooks.co.uk / info@griffinbooks.co.uk / 02020 706455 / Order online, by telephone or through social media / Postal delivery and local delivery offered / Shop open Monday to Saturday between 9.00-5.30pm.
Narberth Museum Bookshop, Narberth – www.narberthmuseum.co.uk / 01834 861719 / Shop open Thursday to Saturday between 10.00-5.00pm at present / Order online
Palas Print, Caernarfon – www.palasprint.com / @PalasPrint / eirian@palasprint.com / Business open but shop-floor closed to public / Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10-2pm for delivery pick ups.
Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop, Machynlleth – www.penralltgallerybookshop.co.uk / penralltbooks@gmail.com / 01654 700559 / Shop open as follows: Wednesday – 1.30-4.30pm (pre-paid collections from entrance between 10.00-4.30pm); Thursday – 9.30-4.30pm bookings only – a quiet time for customers to browse; Friday 9.30-12.30pm / 1.30-4.30pm (pre-paid collections from entrance between 10.00-4.30pm); Saturday 1.30-4.00pm bookings only (pre-paid collections from entrance between 10.00-12.30pm / Order online, by email or by telephone.
Pethe Powys, Welshpool – Facebook – Pethe Powys / 01938 554540 / Shop re-opened 27/7 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10.00-3.00.
Poetry Bookshop, Hay-on-Wye – We intend to re-open on 6 July. Opening hours – Monday to Saturday 10-12pm. You may also visit during our 15 or 30 minutes slots (Wednesday to Saturday) between 1.00-5.00pm for those individuals who are nervous or high risk due to health. This is a chance to shop in a completely empty space.
The Rossiter Books Team. We are able to supply books to you by post. If you write to iloveit@rossiterbooks.co.uk with details of the books you are interested in, your phone number and your address we can email you back with availability and a breakdown of costs. – Open 22/06 Monday- Saturday between 10-40pm
Seaways, Fishguard – Seawaysorders@gmail.com / 01348 873433 / Order by telephone or by email / Postal delivery offered / Shop open Monday to Saturday between 10.00-5.00pm
Siop Cwlwm, Oswestry – www.siopcwlwm.co.uk / 07814 033759 post@siopcwlwm.co.uk / Open every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9am until 3.30pm / Order via www.siopcwlwm.co.uk or social media or phone. Free delivery for orders over £30, free collection from Oswestry Market.
Siop Dewi, Penrhyndeudraeth – dewi11@btconnect.com / 01766 770266 – Shop open between 7.00am and 12.00pm / Order by phone, email or through social media / Delivery service offered
Siop Tŷ Tawe, Swansea – https://www.facebook.com/Ysioptytawe/ New opening hours from 01/10 shop open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10.00-2.00 pm.
Siop Sian, Crymych – https://www.facebook.com/SiopSian/ / Shop closed at present. Re-opening on Thursday (25/6) Tuesday-Friday 9.30-4.30, Saturday 9.00-12.00pm
Siop y Siswrn, Mold – 01352 753200 / siopysiswrn@aol.com / Facebook – Siop Y Siswrn / www.siopysiswrn.com / Orders received via email, Facebook and telephone – dependable postal service / Shop is open 9.30-4.30 everyday apart from Thursday and Sunday.
Siop y Smotyn Du, Lampeter – Shop open with limited opening hours. / Tel 01570 422587
St David’s Bookshop, St David’s – 01437 720480 / Shop open Monday to Saturday between 11.00-4.30pm
Tenby Bookshop, Tenby – https://www.facebook.com/tenbybookshop / 01834 843514 / Shop open Monday to Friday between 10.00-5.30pm / Order by telephone available.
The Hours, Brecon – www.thehoursbrecon.co.uk / Shop open – Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 11.00-4.00pm.
T-Hwnt, Carmarthen – Shop open Tuesday to SAturday between 11.00-3.00pm
Tŷ’r Gwrhyd, Pontardawe – www.facebook.com/Tyrgwrhyd/ / 07990153730 / Shop has re-opened and it is possible to order any book over the phone 07990 153730 or email post@gwrhyd.cymru. You can then arrange a slot between 11.00–2.00 to collect any orders.
Verzon Bookshop Gallery, Llandrindod Wells – www.facebook.com/VerzonBookshopGallery / Shop open Monday to Friday between 9.00-5.00pm and Saturday 9.00-4.00pm
One of Wales’ literary greats, the author and poet Emyr Humphreys, died on Wednesday, 30 September 2020. Aged 101, his writing career spanned seven decades. Emyr Humphreys was an Honorary President of the Friends of the Books Council of Wales and a close friend of the Chair of the Books Council, Professor M. Wynn Thomas, who wrote this tribute.
One of Wales’ literary greats, the author and poet Emyr Humphreys, died on Wednesday, 30 September 2020. Aged 101, his writing career spanned seven decades. Emyr Humphreys was an Honorary President of the Friends of the Books Council of Wales and a close friend of the Chair of the Books Council, Professor M. Wynn Thomas, who wrote this tribute.
Emyr Humphreys was a child of the First World War, one of the outstanding literary figures in our long history, whose brilliant career as an author of international repute spanned seventy years. As well as publishing more than two dozen novels, he was the author of many notable plays, poems and cultural essays, a fearless cultural campaigner, and an innovative radio and television producer.
He described his hero Saunders Lewis as a ‘necessary figure’, and the same could be said of Emyr Humphreys himself. His talent was first identified by Graham Greene, and he went on to work with Richard Burton, Siân Phillips and Peter O’Toole. His friends included R.S. Thomas, Kate Roberts and John Gwilym Jones, and his love of Italy was second only to his love of Wales.
He was a European Welshman, influenced as an author by some of the literary giants of continental Europe. He recognized that the culture of Wales was under constant threat in the modern world, and realized that he therefore shared the same condition as ‘marginalized’ communities everywhere.
He was the last representative of that golden period in our history when so many of our outstanding writers committed themselves to serve Wales.
His loss means the loss of a dedicated guardian and most invaluable interpreter of our literary culture.
May he rest in peace, and may we never forget him.
Centenary Catalogue
A commemorative catalogue of Emyr Humphreys’ work was published by the Books Council of Wales in 2019 to mark his 100th birthday: http://www.cllc.org.uk/7892.file.dld
Seran Dolma from Penrhyndeudraeth is the winner of a competition organised by the Friends of the Books Council of Wales to find new ideas for Welsh-language novels for young adults.
The news was announced on the Aled Hughes programme on BBC Radio Cymru on Tuesday, 29 September 2020.
Seran, who has two children aged 8 and 3, receives a cash prize of £1,000 from the Friends, as well as the opportunity for advice on turning her idea into a published novel.
The response to the competition was excellent, with 21 submissions received by the judging panel which included composer and former librarian Robat Arwyn, author Meinir Pierce Jones, and Gwawr Maelor, a lecturer in Education at Bangor University.
According to the judges, this was a “strong competition”. As well as the winning entry, three other authors were placed in the top category, their submissions described by the panel as ideas that “deserved to be published”. The three runners-up were Eurgain Haf, Cynan Llwyd and Llio Maddocks.
Entrants were asked to submit the opening chapters of a Welsh-language novel for young adults, along with a synopsis of the rest of the book.
Entitled ‘Y Nendyrau’ (‘The Turrets’), Seran Dolma’s idea is set in the future. As a result of climate change, sea levels have risen dramatically with thousands of people left homeless.
Fifteen-year-old Daniel is one of the lucky ones, living with his father and others in a tower where the two lower floors, like the rest of the city, are underwater. But one day, he sees a dark-haired young girl wave at him from the tower opposite – a tower which had appeared to be totally empty.
The Chair of the judging panel, Robat Arwyn, said: “This post-apocalyptic novel captured my attention from the very first sentence, as Daniel and Rani face several challenges in their efforts to protect their families and stay safe. The narrative flows easily in a clear and highly readable style, and the characters and their heart-wrenching situation remain with me.”
Speaking about the Friends’ competition, Seran Dolma said: “I am so grateful to the Friends of the Books Council of Wales for this opportunity, and to the judges for selecting ‘Y Nendyrau’ as the winning entrant. It’s a huge boost to my confidence as a writer, and gives me hope that there is a market for the novel and that publication will be possible at the end of the day.”
In February 2019, Seran Dolma attended a Writing and Illustrating for Children course as an illustrator at the Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre, a course jointly organised by the Books Council of Wales and Literature Wales.
Earlier this year, she was accepted on Literature Wales’ 2020 Mentoring Scheme for early career writers.
“I would like to take this opportunity to also thank Literature Wales and my mentor Lleucu Roberts for their support. I am continuing to work on the novel and hope to have a final draft of the written text ready by Christmas. There is a visual element too, which may take a little longer, but I hope all the work will be completed early in 2021,” added Seran.
The Chair of the Friends of the Books Council of Wales, Ion Thomas, said: “In sponsoring this competition, our aim was to increase the choice of Welsh-language novels for young people, and we are therefore delighted with the number of entrants and the range of ideas submitted. Our hope is that it will be a boost not only for the winner but also for several of the other writers to further develop and complete their work, thereby expanding the provision and attracting new readers.”
The Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales, Helen Jones, said: “We would like to thank all the entrants and the judges for their wonderful work, and extend our warmest congratulations to Seran Dolma. We would also like to thank the Friends of the Books Council for sponsoring this important competition, which will help to ensure that high quality novels that capture the imagination are available in Welsh to our young people.”
The first in a hundred packs of free books have been delivered to families across Ceredigion this week.
In a new partnership between Ceredigion County Council, the Cambrian Rail Partnership and the Books Council of Wales, a selection of six books is being sent to 100 children and young people who receive support services through the local authority.
The packs include reading books for different ages and interests, as well as coloured pencils and a range of activity sheets.
The aim of the Ceredigion Love Reading scheme is to support the health, welfare and development of pupils during the Covid-19 period when schools have not been open as usual. It ensures they have easy access to a good selection of titles during the long summer holidays and is a long-term investment in a reading resource.
Councillor Catherine Hughes, Cabinet member for Porth Ceredigion, Early Intervention, Wellbeing Hubs and Culture, said: “This is the first scheme of its kind in Ceredigion to support children who are part of our services, in response to the coronavirus crisis. We are pleased to be able to work with the Books Council of Wales to select and provide a pack of suitable books for children involved in this scheme over the summer holidays. The scheme is an exciting opportunity to support families in challenging times and make valuable reading resources available.”
Helen Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales, said: “Research shows that children who own their own books are more likely to become lifelong readers, with all the benefits that brings. As a Books Council, we are delighted to be working with Ceredigion County Council on this exciting initiative which will bring joy to children across the county during a particularly difficult time.”
Most of the books in the packs have been published in Wales and reflect the best in writing and illustration for readers between the ages of 1 and 16.
The Summer Reading Challenge will be launched in Wales today by the Education Minister and the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism.
The Summer Reading Challenge will be launched in Wales today by the Education Minister and the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism.
The annual Challenge aims to get children between the ages of 4 and 11 to read six books over the summer holidays.
This year’s Challenge sees a shift to a new bilingual digital platform, supported by library e-lending services, online events and links to existing digital resources. The challenge includes both English and Welsh-medium books.
The theme of the Challenge this year is ‘Silly Squad’ and will celebrate funny books, happiness and laughter. Children taking part in the Challenge will join the Silly Squad, an adventurous team of animals who “love to have a laugh and get stuck into all sorts of funny books!
Last year, more than 37,000 children from across Wales took part in the Challenge. Over 3,000 children joined libraries as new members, and 33,000 children took part in library events.
The Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, said: “As a book lover myself, I know what a great pleasure it is to read over the holidays.
“Each year, thousands of children join libraries because of the Summer Reading Challenge, which is a really good way to develop reading skills, discover new authors and gain a lifelong passion for books.”
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, said: “I’m really pleased the Welsh Government can support libraries with this year’s Challenge. The scheme has become an annual event for many children, who look forward to taking part every year.
“I’d like to thank all of the library staff involved in making the Summer Reading Challenge such a success in Wales.”
Nicola Pitman Chair of the Society of Chief Librarians Wales, said: “Libraries in Wales now have their biggest ever range of eBooks, comics and magazines to download, and this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is set to really help young readers and parents maximise opportunities to engage with fun topics and stories.
“Click & Collect services are also coming into place across the country to help access library books safely during this time. With a new-look website offering lots of great resources, ideas and incentives, we love how easy it is to sign up online and get started. We’re looking forward to everyone getting silly and joining the Summer Reading Challenge squad.”
Karen Napier, Chief Executive Officer of The Reading Agency, said: “We’re thrilled to be developing a bilingual Welsh/ English Summer Reading Challenge digital platform, which will be ready for families to enjoy from mid-July.
“The Reading Agency are committed to ensuring the proven power of reading is accessible for all. I’m looking forward to public libraries and families in Wales taking part in the Challenge and having a seriously silly summer!”
Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “Nurturing and encouraging reading is more important at this time than ever before. Research clearly shows that picking up a book is not only good for our mental health and wellbeing – it also helps to strengthen and reinforce children’s language and educational skills. Good luck and enjoyment to everyone involved in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.”
Further information can be found on the Summer Reading Challenge website: https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/
Books tackling some of the big issues of the day have won the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards for children’s and young people’s literature in Welsh.
Pobol Drws Nesaf (‘The People Next Door’) by author Manon Steffan Ros and illustrator Jac Jones took the prize for the best title in the Welsh-language primary age category. Aimed at readers aged 3–7, this picture book urges us to respect each other and not judge someone who looks or behaves differently to us.
The prize for the best Welsh-language book in the secondary age category was won by Byw yn fy Nghroen (‘Living in my Skin’), edited by Sioned Erin Hughes. The book collates the difficult experiences of twelve young people who have had to struggle with long-term illness and health conditions. Aged between 10 and 26, the contributors discuss their mental and physical illnesses in detail, including cancer, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, spina bifida, visual impairment, OCD, depression and anxiety.
The chair of the judging panel for the 2020 Tir na n-Og Welsh-language books, Gwawr Maelor Williams from Bangor University’s School of Education and Human Development, said: “The Tir na n-Og Award is not judged solely on the basis of its innovation or uniqueness or because it fills a gap. Byw yn fy Nghroen is also literature, although that may not be its primary intention. Powerful writing and skillful editing are required in order to write with conviction and authenticity, and to draw the reader into the experiences and anguish of others. We have here an important volume in the field of literature for young people.”
Byw yn fy Nghroen (Y Lolfa) was on the shortlist for the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards in the Welsh-language secondary category with two other books – Tom(Y Lolfa) by Cynan Llwyd and Madi (Atebol) by Dewi Wyn Williams.
The editor of Byw yn fy Nghroen, Sioned Erin Hughes, said: “I am overwhelmed and delighted that the book has achieved what I had hoped it would achieve, namely raising awareness, understanding and empathy around health challenges facing young people.”
The other two books shortlisted with Pobol Drws Nesaf (Y Lolfa) in the Welsh-language primary category this year were Y Ddinas Uchel by Huw Aaron (Atebol) and Genod Gwych a Merched Medrus by Medi Jones-Jackson (Y Lolfa).
Commenting on Pobol Drws Nesaf, Gwawr Maelor said: “This book is a little gem because of the way in which the narrative, the illustrations and the simplicity of the story weave such a natural thread from beginning to end. We see the craft of two people at work in the book. It is a story which is easy to understand at first reading for a young reader, reading alone. Multiculturalism or the Welsh language are not forced in any way, nor is the need to accept everyone as they are, in this concise, authentically Welsh story. But they are there without being expressed and that’s the feat of this partnership between an experienced author and a skilled illustrator in their jewel of a book, Pobol Drws Nesaf.”
It’s the fifth time author Manon Steffan Ros from Tywyn in Gwynedd has won the Tir na n-Og Award: “It’s an honour to win a Tir na n-Og Award for a book as close to my heart as Pobol Drws Nesaf. The story itself is simple and light, and I think that’s important because in reality it carries a big message – that we need to celebrate our differences and respect everyone. It was a huge pleasure to work with Jac once more. He always brings a touch of magic to his illustrations, and draws out what lies between the words.”
Jac Jones said: “When a child opens a book, any book, they begin a journey into the understanding of fun, sadness, fear, joy and the gift of making choices. Manon’s wonderful book, Pobol Drws Nesaf, is a touchstone for all of these. Whatever nature’s palette, colours mix.”
The Tir na n-Og Awards are organised annually by the Books Council of Wales to reward the best books for children and young people in Wales in both Welsh and English. They are sponsored by CILIP Cymru Wales, the library and information association.
The Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “The standard of the winning and the shortlisted books in the Tir na n-Og Awards has been outstanding this year, and I would like to thank everyone for their valuable work and contributions – as authors, editors, illustrators and publishers. Thanks to them, we are able to ensure that the shelves of our bookshops, libraries and schools offer children and young people a rich choice that stimulates, inspires and encourages them to read. Warmest congratulations to everyone involved.”
Amy Staniforth from CILIP Cymru said: “Librarians across Wales will be thrilled to share Pobol Drws Nesaf, Byw yn fy Nghroen and all the other brilliant Tir na n-Og books with their patrons in 2020. It is important that libraries offer Welsh-language content that both reflects and challenges the Wales we see around us, and the Tir na n-Og Awards are a fantastic opportunity to remember and celebrate this. Congratulations to Manon Steffan Ros, Jac Jones and Sioned Erin Hughes. Please keep up the good work!”
The Welsh-language winners of the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards were announced live on S4C’s Heno programme on Friday, 10 July, with the two winning titles receiving a cheque for £1,000 and a specially commissioned poem, written by Bardd Plant Cymru (the Welsh-language Children’s Laureate) Gruffudd Owen and illustrated by artist Ruth Jên.
Announced on the Radio Wales Arts Show on Friday, 3 July, the winner of the English-language category of the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards was Claire Fayers from Cardiff for her fantasy adventure story Storm Hound.
Author Claire Fayers has won the 2020 Tir na n-Og English-language award for her fantasy adventure story, steeped in Norse legend and Welsh mythology.
Storm Hound was one of four books with an authentic Welsh background shortlisted for the prestigious award for children’s and young people’s literature, which is organised annually by the Books Council of Wales.
The announcement of the winning title was made live on the Radio Wales Arts Show on Friday 3 July 2020.
Speaking about her win, Cardiff-based Claire Fayers said: “I am thrilled to have won this year’s Tir na n-Og English-language award. I have been reading books from the Tir na n-Og shortlists for as long as I can remember. They represent the best of Welsh literature for children and young people, so to actually win is an immense honour.”
Storm Hound (Macmillan Children’s Books) tells the story of Storm of Odin, the youngest stormhound of the Wild Hunt that haunts lightning-filled skies. He has longed for the time when he will be able to join his brothers and sisters but on his very first hunt he finds he can’t keep up and falls to earth, landing on the A40 just outside Abergavenny. Enter twelve-year-old Jessica Price, who finds and adopts a cute puppy from an animal rescue centre. In an electrifying adventure, she soon starts to see that there’s something different about her beloved dog.
The Chair of the 2020 Tir na n-Og English-language judging panel, Eleri Twynog Davies, said: “Congratulations to Storm Hound – a magical story, with strong themes of friendship and belonging. The characters were wonderfully developed and presented us with moments of humour and poignancy.
“All four books on the shortlist had their stories set against a Welsh background, where a sense of place contributed to the their overall appeal. This is one of the central criteria for this award, and one which we as judges felt was lacking in many of the other entries. It is so important that the children of Wales can see themselves reflected in Welsh literature, and that children outside Wales have a window on another culture.”
The three other titles shortlisted for the 2020 Tir na n-Og English-language award were The Secret Dragon by Ed Clarke (Puffin), Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It by Susie Day (Puffin) and Where Magic Hides by Cat Weatherill (Gomer).
Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “Instilling a love of reading in our children and young people is incredibly important. Not only does it help develop their knowledge and literacy skills, it also supports their mental health and well-being. The Tir na n-Og Awards help celebrate great writing for the younger generation and ensure that stories with a distinctive Welsh setting are represented in the best of our country’s literature. Our sincere thanks and congratulations to all involved in this year’s awards, but particularly today to Claire Fayers.”
Amy Staniforth from CILIP Cymru Wales, which sponsors the Tir na n-Og Awards, said: “After such a difficult few months for everyone, CILIP Cymru Wales are just delighted to congratulate Claire Fayers on winning this year’s Tir na n-Og English-language award. We know that librarians all over Wales will be excited to be able to share Storm Hound with their users via their click and collect services.”
Nicola Heywood Thomas, presenter of the Radio Wales Arts Show, said: “New writing for children and young people is so important to fire their imagination and to get them hooked on books. Great stories have an impact that can stay with readers throughout their lives. This award showcases the brilliant range of talent in Wales. Congratulations to all involved.”
Claire Fayers was presented with a cheque for £1,000 and a specially commissioned poem by Children’s Laureate Wales Eloise Williams.
The winners of the Welsh-language categories of the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards will be announced on S4C’s Heno programme at 6.30pm on Friday, 10 July.
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