Children's Book Special
Mariella Frostrup presents a children's book special with Richard Curtis, Charlie Higson, Lauren Child, Jeff Kinney and Amanda Craig.
Open Book is devoted to the joys of children's literature
Four Weddings and a Funeral screenwriter Richard Curtis explains why he has written his first children's book The Empty Stocking, and Jeff Kinney explains the key to the success of runaway bestseller Diary of a Wimpy Kid; a book he originally thought he had written for adults.
In the studio Mariella is joined by two giants of the children's literary scene, Lauren Child and Charlie Higson, who between them have brought us Ruby Redfort, the young James Bond, Charlie and Lola and zombies, and by the esteemed children's book critic Amanda Craig. They'll be discussing how literature remains vivid in this new digital world, the difficulties of buying books for different age groups, how The Hobbit, seventy five this year, remains a favourite for all the family and why children loved to be scared by literature.
Producer: Andrea Kidd.
Last on
More episodes
Next
Clip
-
Richard Curtis: “this has been a complete joyâ€
Duration: 01:39
Read the Opening Chapters of Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child
BOOKLIST
Lauren Child
Clarice Bean series
Charlie and Lola series including I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato published by Orchard Books
Ruby Redfort Series: Take Your Last Breath (Ruby Redfort, Book 2) is out now published by Harper Collins
Her picture book Maude: The Not-So-Noticeable Shrimpton is published in February by Puffin
Ìý
Charlie Higson
Young James Bond Series. Latest in his zombie series: The Sacrifice published by Puffin
Ìý
Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel published by Puffin
Ìý
Richard Curtis
The Empty Stocking, with illustrations by Rebecca Cobb published by Puffin
Ìý
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein publishedÌýby Harper Collins
Ìý
Recommendations:
Ìý
Maggot MoonÌýby Sally Gardner published by Hot Key Books
The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen published by Scholastic Children’s Books
Katya’s World by Jonathan L Howard published by Strange ChemistryÌý
Cracks by Caroline GreenÌýpublished by Piccadilly Press
Gone by Michael Grant published by Katherine Tegen Books
Flesh and Blood by Michael Cunningham published by Touchstone Books
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo published by Kaye & Ward
Goblins by Philip Reeve Marion published by Lloyd books
Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner published by Orion
Doglands by Tim WillocksÌýpublished by Andersen Press
SuperwormÌýby Julia Donaldson published by Scholastic Children’s Books
The Disappeared by ÌýC.J HarperÌýpublished by Simon and Schuster
The Bridges of RollRock Island by Margo Lanagan published by David Fickling Books
Ronald Dahl books
Broadcasts
- Sun 25 Nov 2012 16:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
- Thu 29 Nov 2012 15:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
Featured in...
Radio 4 downloads
A selection of programmes from Radio 4 that are available to download for free.