I've recently come across a great book called Dear Mr Henshaw. It was written by the American author Beverly Cleary in 1983.
The book is almost entirely made up of letters between a child, Leigh Botts, and his favourite author, Boyd Henshaw.
Here is the blurb:
Leigh Botts has been author Boyd Henshaw's number-one fan ever since he was in second grade. Now in sixth grade, Leigh lives with his mother and is the new kid at school. He's lonely, troubled by the absence of his father, a cross-country trucker, and angry because a mysterious thief steals from his lunchbag. Then Leigh's teacher assigns a letter-writing project. Naturally Leigh chooses to write to Mr. Henshaw, whose surprising answer changes Leigh's life.
I thought it was a great book and it would be the perfect story to read in order to encourage children to write to their favourite authors. I'm definitely going to read it to my Year 5 class. I'll let you know what they think of it.
Red House Children's Book Award: Past Overall Winners
- 2007 You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum! by Andy Stanton
- 2006 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
- 2005 Baby Brains by Simon James
- 2004 Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
- 2003 Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
- 2002 Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
- 2001 Eat Your Peas by Kes Gray & Nick Sharratt
- 2000 Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
- 1999 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
- 1998 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
- 1997 The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong
- 1996 Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson
- 1995 Harriet's Hare by Dick King-Smith
- 1994 Boy in the Bubble by Ian Strachan
- 1993 The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson (Read KBZ Interview)
- 1992 Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird
- 1991 Threadbear by Mike Inkpen
- 1990 Room 13 by Robert Swindells (Read KBZ Interview)
- 1989 Matilda by Roald Dahl
- 1988 Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas & Korky Paul
- 1987 The Jolly Postman by Janet & Allan Ahlberg
- 1986 Arthur by Amanda Graham & Donna Gynell
- 1985 Brother in the Land by Robert Swindells
- 1984 The Saga of Erik the Viking by Terry Jones
- 1983 The BFG by Roald Dahl
- 1982 Fair's Fair by Leon Garfield
- 1981 Mister Magnolia by Quentin Blake
Red House Children's Book Award: Nominations
If you haven't already nominated a book for the 2008 Red House Children's Book Award, then submit your selection via the website.
Only children's books first published in the UK during 2007 are eligible.
Nominations can be made until February 1st 2008.
The nominated books are used to construct the longlist (50 books), from which a panel of children puts together the shortlist (10 books). Three category winners (Books for Younger Children, Books for Younger Readers, Books for Older Readers) are chosen from the shortlist, and one overall winner is selected from the three category winners.
Only children's books first published in the UK during 2007 are eligible.
Nominations can be made until February 1st 2008.
The nominated books are used to construct the longlist (50 books), from which a panel of children puts together the shortlist (10 books). Three category winners (Books for Younger Children, Books for Younger Readers, Books for Older Readers) are chosen from the shortlist, and one overall winner is selected from the three category winners.
Writing Letters to Authors: Top Tips
In the last few years pupils from my classes and I have written hundreds of letters to authors of children's books. We have had some fantastic personal responses from some of our favourite writers.
Here are some of the lessons we have learnt along the way:
Here are some of the lessons we have learnt along the way:
- You will stand a better chance of getting a response if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SAE). Not only does this make it easier for the author to reply - they don't have to take the time to write and stamp a return envelope - but it's also a gesture that demonstrates that you appreciate the effort they are making.
- You are more likely to get an interesting relpy if you ask interesting questions.
- Mention how much you have enjoyed the author's books. Be specific. Which of the author's books is your favourite? Why? Which character did you most enjoy reading about? Why?
- Some authors are too busy to respond personally to every letter. Some authors simply receive too much mail. If they replied to every letter, they wouldn't have any time to write their books! You stand a better chance of getting a personal response if you write to a less well-known author.
- Be polite. Don't make demands of the author. In letters, just as face-to-face, people are turned off by rudeness.
- Although it doesn't seem to make too much difference, handwritten letters seem to get a slightly better response than typed ones.
- If you get an interesting reply, write to the author to say thank you. Not only is this a courteous thing to do, but it can also lead to a more prolonged correspondence. One of the girls in my Year 5 class received over ten letters from the same author during the course of the school year.
- Most authors can be contacted via their publishers. Some authors also have details on how to write to them on their websites.
- Be patient. Authors are busy people. Sometimes a reply will take months to reach you.
10 Facts About Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo, who has written several classic children's books, is one of the most well-loved children's authors.
(1) Michael Morpurgo was born in St Albans in 1943.
(1) Michael Morpurgo was born in St Albans in 1943.(2) His favourite lesson at school was French.
(3) With his wife, Clare, Michael Morpurgo founded the Farms for City Children, to give children from deprived inner-city schools the chance to work on a farm.
(4) Sitting at a desk gives Michael Morpurgo backache, so he writes his novels sitting on his bed. He writes in school exercise books.
(5) Private Peaceful was the 100th book written by Michael Morpurgo.
(6) His favourite authors are: Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island), Rudyard Kipling (The Just So Stories) and Ted Hughes (The Iron Man).
(7) In 2003 Michael Morpurgo became the third Children's Laureate.
(8) Micheal Morpurgo was a primary school teacher in Kent.
(9) He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2006
(10) He hates rewriting and he hates making corrections to his stories.
G.P. Taylor Interview
G.P. Taylor, author of Shadowmancer, Tersias and Mariah Mundi, answered my questions in 2006.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
Which of your books was most difficult to write? Why?
Wormwood - because I didn't want to write it.
Which of your characters is most like you?
Jacob Crane (from Shadowmancer) - he has a bad temper.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
They just appear and sort of happen!
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
Because they dont spend time writing stupid reviews.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
Read! Read! Read!
Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!
Philip Pullman Interview
Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials trilogy, answered my questions in 2005.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay
Which of your books was the most difficult to write?
The next one because I haven't written it yet.
Which of your characters is most like you?
The Scarecrow (from The Scarecrow and his Servant), I hope.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I make a plan - then throw it away and write something completely different.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
Because it's fun.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
Don't worry about plans. Just write.
Jacqueline Wilson Interview
Jacqueline Wilson answered these questions in 2005.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield
Which of your books was the most difficult to write? Why?
Lola Rose - I wanted to write about worrying subjects like domestic violence and serious illness truthfully - but I didn't want the book to be too upsetting.
Which of your characters is most like you?
Maybe I'm like Ruby and Garnet in Double Act all rolled into one.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I have a vague idea in my head but I like to find out what's going to happen as I write.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
I find it easy to write from a child's point of view.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
I would suggest they read lots of books and simply have fun writing their stories.
Check out these great Jacqueline Wilson facts.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield
Which of your books was the most difficult to write? Why?
Lola Rose - I wanted to write about worrying subjects like domestic violence and serious illness truthfully - but I didn't want the book to be too upsetting.
Which of your characters is most like you?
Maybe I'm like Ruby and Garnet in Double Act all rolled into one.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I have a vague idea in my head but I like to find out what's going to happen as I write.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
I find it easy to write from a child's point of view.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
I would suggest they read lots of books and simply have fun writing their stories.
Check out these great Jacqueline Wilson facts.
Eoin Colfer Interview
Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl books, responded to my questions in 2006.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
As a child my favourite book was Stig of the Dump by Clive King. Reading this book for the first time was like escaping to another world, where anyone could be the hero, even me.
Which of your books was the most difficult to write?
I think my first book Benny & Omar was the hardest one for me. I had loads of ideas but no experience in knit them together into one story. It took me two years to get it right.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I write a skeleton outline, about three pages, and I use this as a safety net, then I let myself go mad. Very often the finished book bears little relation to the initial plan.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
I enjoy writing for children because I established a good rapport with them over 15 years teaching. I learned what makes them laugh, what interests them, and what bores them out of their skulls. I have been able to use this information to write books.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them to improve their stories?
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
As a child my favourite book was Stig of the Dump by Clive King. Reading this book for the first time was like escaping to another world, where anyone could be the hero, even me.
Which of your books was the most difficult to write?
I think my first book Benny & Omar was the hardest one for me. I had loads of ideas but no experience in knit them together into one story. It took me two years to get it right.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I write a skeleton outline, about three pages, and I use this as a safety net, then I let myself go mad. Very often the finished book bears little relation to the initial plan.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
I enjoy writing for children because I established a good rapport with them over 15 years teaching. I learned what makes them laugh, what interests them, and what bores them out of their skulls. I have been able to use this information to write books.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them to improve their stories?
- Read every day - reading is research for writing.
- Try to make your characters interesting and original.
- Don't try to write like someone else.
- Pay attention to the interesting people around you.
- Try not to end every story with And then I woke up, it was all a dream.
Paul Stewart Interview
Paul Stewart, co-creator of the Edge Chroncles, answered some of my questions in 2005.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Which of your books was the most difficult to write?
Midnight Over Sanctaphrax. I wanted the storm to revealed through the book little by little, and it didn't work. So I re-wrote it all.
Which of your characters is most like you?
Cowlquape - brave, loyal, intelligent...
How do you write your book? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
Both - plus, because the Edge Chronicles books are written with Chris Riddell we spend hours talking about the plots and characters.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
Because children are such demanding readers - they won't tolerate boring bits!
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
Read them out loud to a friend. If the friend is gripped and doesn't yawn, you're doing something right!
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Which of your books was the most difficult to write?
Midnight Over Sanctaphrax. I wanted the storm to revealed through the book little by little, and it didn't work. So I re-wrote it all.
Which of your characters is most like you?
Cowlquape - brave, loyal, intelligent...
How do you write your book? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
Both - plus, because the Edge Chronicles books are written with Chris Riddell we spend hours talking about the plots and characters.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
Because children are such demanding readers - they won't tolerate boring bits!
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
Read them out loud to a friend. If the friend is gripped and doesn't yawn, you're doing something right!
Justin Somper Interview
Justin Somper, author of the Vampirates series, answered some of my questions in 2005. He also sent the drawing you can see above.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Riddle of the Boy Next Door by Enid Blyton
- Absolute Zero by Helen Cresswell
Which of your books was the most difficult to write? Why?
Demons of the Ocean because I'd never written anything as long / complex before. You have to build up your 'writing stamina' as if you're training for a marathon!
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I have a fairly detailed plan for the over-arching plot of the book and the sequence as a whole, but I definitely surprise myself along the way.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
I think that kids make very attentive and challenging readers. They expect a strong story and convincing characters. I enjoy facing this challenge.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve thier stories?
- Write more.
- Read more (and more widely)
- Try to get inside the head of your characters.
- A bit of research goes a long way.
- Invest in a good dictionary and thesaurus.
Robert Swindells Interview
Robert Swindells, author of Room 13, Timesnatch and Stone Cold, answered these questions for me in 2005.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
They Found a Cave by Nan Chauncy - published in the 1940s, still in print. Set in Tasmania.
Which of your books was the most difficult to write? Why?
Brother in the Land because of the harrowing nature of the subject: nuclear war and its aftermath.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I plot in advance, though ideas do pop up and cause me to change things as I go along.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
Children have open, repetive minds. They like a pacy, exciting storyline. Getting youngsters hooked on reading is one of the most worthwhile things anybody can do.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
Read, read, read. That's the first thing. Try not to copy other writers' ideas. Set your stories in places you know. Let your characters be the sort of people you know.
Remember: Exciting stuff can happen anywhere, to anyone. Ordinary people in ordinary places, having extraordinary experiences. Stephen King calls this 'making skyhooks out of old coathangers'. He seems to be doing all right!
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
They Found a Cave by Nan Chauncy - published in the 1940s, still in print. Set in Tasmania.
Which of your books was the most difficult to write? Why?
Brother in the Land because of the harrowing nature of the subject: nuclear war and its aftermath.
How do you write your books? Do you plot and plan in detail, or do you develop an idea as you are writing?
I plot in advance, though ideas do pop up and cause me to change things as I go along.
Why do you enjoy writing for children?
Children have open, repetive minds. They like a pacy, exciting storyline. Getting youngsters hooked on reading is one of the most worthwhile things anybody can do.
What advice would you give to young writers to help them improve their stories?
Read, read, read. That's the first thing. Try not to copy other writers' ideas. Set your stories in places you know. Let your characters be the sort of people you know.
Remember: Exciting stuff can happen anywhere, to anyone. Ordinary people in ordinary places, having extraordinary experiences. Stephen King calls this 'making skyhooks out of old coathangers'. He seems to be doing all right!
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