By: Candy Gourlay,
on 6/7/2012
by Maureen Lynas WARNING! If you follow these steps you may never enjoy a book or film ever again. You may even experience marital and family discord. Now read on. Candy's post on the First Page Panel in Singapore reminded of an activity I attempted (and failed) years ago. I'd just bought my very first 'how to' book - James Scott Bell's fabulous and essential Plot and Structure. The
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 5, 2010
Snow, in August? Horrid Henry Returns with New Tales of Mischief.
It’s never too early to plan for up-coming seasons. That’s why you’ll want to enter to win the latest book in the international bestselling children’s chapter books series, Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon. We have one copy of Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman for one very lucky reader!
Reading level: Ages 7-12
Paperback: 112 pages
Book overview: Horrid Henry continues his reign of mischief in the U.S. with the release of the award-winning Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Tony Ross. The book includes four hilarious stories that detail Horrid Henry’s creation of a monster snowman, the writing of his own will (but more interesting is what others should be leaving him), his competition with Moody Margaret in the makeover business, and how Horrid Henry finagles his way out of detention to listen to his favorite author read his new book.
The Horrid Henry books are aimed at children ages 7–12 and are particularly popular with reluctant readers who revel in the misadventures of Horrid Henry, enjoy the comic illustrations by Tony Ross, and, most importantly, gain a sense of accomplishment when finishing each story.
Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman was the Galaxy British Book Award’s Best Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 (the “Oscars” of the book world). Francesca Simon is the only American author ever to have won; past winners include JK Rowling.
About the author: FRANCESCA SIMON is the creator of Horrid Henry and author of the series and one of the world’s best-loved children’s authors. Francesca was born in St. Louis, raised in Los Angeles, attended Yale and moved to the UK to study at Oxford. She then moved to north London, where she now resides with her husband and son, Joshua.
Francesca first worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue. After her son was born, she started writing children’s books full time. She has been invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the queen in celebration of children’s literature. The Horrid Henry series was made into a popular UK television show and there’s now a Horrid Henry stage show at the West End.
About the illustrator: TONY ROSS is a prolific illustrator of books for children, including Francesca Simon’s Horrid Henry series, Martyn Beardsley’s Sir Gadabout stories.
By: Kara Schaff Dean,
on 4/18/2010
This joke book, which proudly claims to be "too rude for parents," shows that Horrid Henry must, deep down, have the soul of an archivist. He has given his name--and a fair bit of dialogue--to a book of jokes which is not just gross and groan-worthy, but pretty well organized as well. These are not just random ha-ha's. The reader is eased in with elementary school joke-telling staples of mummys,
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By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 7/27/2009
Here’s something unusual… there’s a series of books, 17 strong, that have been growing in popularity in more than 24 countries since the first book came out in 1994. And, would you believe, these books are just now becoming available in the United States. The biggest market in the world is one of the last major markets to get on board.
Francesca Simon, author of the Horrid Henry books, joins Mark for what may be one of the most important interviews we’ve ever done on Just One More Book!! as they talk about books with universal themes, the penalty of growing old enough to read by yourself and Storybook Dads — breaking the cycle of crime through a literacy and family connection program for convicts in a high-security prison.
Mentioned in the interview:
Two of the Horrid Henry books are mentioned in our 500th episode, Chapter Book Chatter. By the way, we’re 9 episodes away from 600, now (not including our 21 part Rock Stars of Reading series).
We encourage you to learn more about the Storybook Dads program.
Photo: Francesca Simon’s website
By: Kara Schaff Dean, the Yankeerat,
on 6/19/2009
And you thought Junie B. Jones was naughty....."Henry was horrid. Everyone said so, even his mother."So begins this new series by Francesca Simon. When I say "new" I mean new to the US; Henry has been a huge hit in the UK for many years. And after being subjected to the Rainbow Magic books--also from Britain--the playing field has been leveled with this series which will appeal to both boys and
By: Eva M.,
on 4/2/2009
Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon. Illustrated by Tony Ross. Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky, 2009.
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By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 9/3/2008
The animated series Horrid Henry, based on the middle-grade Horrid Henry
I always find the transformation from book to video or stage interesting, and hope that it brings more readers to the books.
What about you? Do you like it or dislike it? Or not care about it at all?
Thanks to Cynopsis Kids for the info.
By: Heidi Estrin,
on 12/11/2007
Let me tell you a little more about the new podcast player widget, provided by Big Contact (btw, I must tell you that they have excellent customer service! They were a huge help to me when I ran into trouble setting up this player!). The player you see here is just an image ... for the real player, please look on the sidebar to your right. ----> You can scroll down the list of episodes and click on any title to play that show. The little tab with the musical notes will give you the Show Notes for that episode. The tab with the lines takes you back to the full list of all episodes. The + tab tells you how to subscribe to The Book of Life podcast. And the tab with the people on it helps you embed the player on your own site, as does the big button below the player that says "Play my show on your site." As always, you can also click the play button on this old familiar flash player to listen to the podcast now: Or you can click MP3 File to start your computer's media player. Background music is provided by The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band.
OK, here's your big, last-night-of-Hanukkah present: an embeddable flash player so you can enjoy The Book of Life on your own web page, blog, or social network!
And to go with it, I've uploaded a bonus episode, "Meet Markus!" This is a live, unedited talk recorded at the independent bookstore Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida with Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief.
(If you're not viewing this post at www.bookoflifepodcast.com, you can see the player here.)
Please do try out the new player, and consider putting it on your site to bring the show to an even wider audience! Let's get even more people excited about Jewish books, music, movies and web treasures!
Wow! This is brilliant, Maureen! And yeah, sadly, once you're into analyzing plot and story, reading will never be the same again. That said, when I find myself lost in a book, as in totally forgetting about plot ... then I know it's a really good book.
Exactly! It's the mark of a quality book if that happens. I'm reading The Room by Emma Donoghue at the moment and I am in that room with the characters. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it and so does my book group.
Maureen this is brilliant. You managed to make it sound so easy to do. I always plan to analyse books but, as Candy said, I often find myself so involved I forget what I am supposed to be doing. Thank you for posting it. I am definitely going to give it a go
Ooh, that's next on my pile! Great post, Maureen!
Great information! Thanks for sharing such a detailed, informative, post.
I'd like to know who the irritated people are watching films with you.
Great post, really thorough example of how to breakdown a book. Thank yo for posting this.
This was fasntastically helpful, thank you! Another good tool is screenwriter Blake Synder's 'beats'. I, finding them quite useful at the moment.<br />Here's a link if anyone wants to know more<br /><br />http://www.blakesnyder.com/tools/
Gosh, sorry about the millions of typos there!
Soooo very helpful - thanks, Maureen! Get the structure embedded and then the story just sails out of it or at least that's what I'm hoping! x
Using Horrid Henry as an example really helps to explain the steps - this is an extremely helpful post Maureen! Off to buy some highlighter pens now, I imagine that marking up books is also a very effective way to annoy your family.
Family folk. They're not as irritated now, I've trained them to spot the steps too so they can join in! I'm also more restrained now.
My pleasure, Suzanne
It can get very complicated when you start analysing longer books. And when you start planning your own using the steps. Have fun!
Fantastic post, thank you. Another to be printed and kept lovingly on my desk. My husband regards this kind of analysis as akin to original sin - all the more pleasurable for it.
My daughter shocked some children the other day when she cut up a book to use with the group. There were gasps of horror. <br />Go for it! Make the lines thick and fluorescent :)
It's great that you're printing it out! Now I feel very useful :)
Exactly!
I've learned loads about structure from screenwriting books and courses. Save the Cat is brilliant. Thanks for the link :)
Thanks for the thanks, VikLit :)
Brilliantly helpful Maureen! Once you start to notice these things you can't stop yourself ...<br /><br />I'm reading a Famous Five book at the moment – most of the seven steps so far have been shouted through a fog horn as loud as possible.<br /><br />(It still makes me chuckle to think of the giant hourglass in the Wizard of OZ ...)<br /><br />Kate*
I'm sure that's why she could churn out so many! Enid just got her characters and made them walk the steps. See you tomorrow :)
Sorry only just caught up with this. I've been busy writing reports, do you think using the steps would improve them ;-)
Yes! <br />With the event being the parents getting the report! Oh I remember the reveal, the reflection and the reactions so well :(
Oh, I remember trying to grasp this concept! Took an age for the penny to drop...but boy, does it make my writing so much better...thank you for introducing me to such delights. I have even got my hubby mentioning when he notices, naming, previewing, etc...lol. Great post, as always...look forward to the next instalment...:)
They have to join in to shut us up! Thanks :)
What'd Apocalypto for the first time on Friday night. During the hunting scene at the start,<br /><br />"Ah, the preview. This is obviously foreshadowing the final events of the film."<br /><br />Everyone else watching tried to cut my heart out.
Lol! I did warn you :)