Red House Children’s Book Award 2014 blog tour: Helen Stephens

Today's blog is something a bit different, as I've been invited to take part in the blog tour for The Red House Children's Book Award 2014! It is the only national children’s book award voted for entirely by children - more info can be found by clicking on the link.  It is an award owned and co-ordinated by Federation of Children's Book Groups and sponsored by Red House.

  

Official RHCBA artwork by Lee Wildish

 I was approached by the Federation of Children's Book Groups  about the tour. It's a tour with a difference because until a few days ago I didn't know whose book I would be hosting for a guest blog post - there were strict embargos about the shortlist of book nominations. 

I'm super excited because I'm presenting a guest blog post from Helen Stephens, author of How To Hide A Lion. Due to the embargos I haven't as yet read the book, but I fully intend to as it looks super cute and funny, the type of picture book that I adore. Look! 

Big awww!

Congratulations Helen on the shortlisting nomination, and many thanks for the following guest blog post from you too. 

Book summary from RHCBA

How does a very small girl hide a very large lion? It's not easy, but Iris has to do her best, because mums and dads can be funn about having a lion in the house. Luckily, there are lots of good places to hide a lion - behind the shower curtain, in your bed and even up a tree. But can Iris hide her lion forever?

Guest Blog Post: Helen Stephens' Top 5 Children's Books

1.Sixes and Sevens by John Yeoman and Quentin Blake

 This funny rhyming book about a boy called Barnaby was my favourite as a child. I have a strong memory of my Dad reading this to my sister and I while we were in the bath, and speaking the words just ahead of Dad. I can still quote passages of it now. 

2. The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio and Roger Duvoisin

I bought an old copy of this in a charity shop when I was at art school. It has beautiful sophisticated drawings of Paris with a very limited 1950's colour palette. It has remained a firm favourite and was a big influence on my book, 'How to Hide a Lion'

3.Madeline and the Gypsies by Ludvig Bemelmans

I was attracted to this book by the cover. That red a green do something magic, they vibrate off the page and make you desperate to look inside. I am a big fan of Bemelmans and his naive-sophisticated line mixed with rich colour.

4.Edwardo the Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World by John Burningham

This is a wise and funny book about a boy who is judged as bad by adults. But when one adult wrongly assumes he is being a helpful boy when he tips a bucket of water over a dog, he gradually becomes good. BUT, not simply good, he becomes good and bad, like all of us. He becomes a normal boy. I love that.

5.The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman

Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman make such a good duo, and this my favourite of all of their books. It opens with a pencil poised ready to draw, and before long it has created a world populated with rather cranky individuals, pets, and talking objects that make demands for names, food, companions, etc. Then pencil draws a rubber that threatens to rub everything out, but there's a clever twist...

Thanks Helen for more fun books to check out! It's not surprising that a lion one features on your list. I'm delighted to see a Madeleine book, as I loved those stories when I was little (although don't think I've read that particular one). I don't know about you, but I'm certainly hoping that How To Hide A Lion will win! You can vote for it here.

Other bloggers taking part in the tour with guest posts for the book they have been assigned are....

FCBG Blog who on Twitter is @FCBGNews   

 

The Book People Blog who on Twitter are @TheBookPeople and @RedHouseBooks

Storyseekers who ho on Twitter is @StoryseekersUK  

Rainy Day Mum who on Twitter is @rrainydaymum 

Mammasaurus  who on Twitter is @MammasaurusBlog

Childtasticbooks who on Twitter is  @Childtastic

Library Mice who on Twitter is @librarymice 

Playing by the Book who on Twitter is @playbythebook   

Chicklish who on Twitter is @Chicklish 

 

We Sat Down who on Twitter is @WeSatDown 

Go check them out!