Centuries of Stories
Published on 25. September 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-00-733691-3 (ISBN)
Description
An anthology of twenty specially commissioned stories from top children's authors, each story set against the background of one of the last twenty centuries.
Twenty specially commissioned stories by the best contemporary writers for children to celebrate the last 2000 years: Michael Morpurgo, Henrietta Branford, Vivian French, Jean Ure, Robert Swindells, Mary Hoffman, Annie Dalton, Melvin Burgess, Gillian Cross, Alan Durant, Theresa Bresling, Bernard Ashley, Jenny Nimmo, Geraldine McCaughrean, Pete Johnson, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeremy Strong, Adele Geras, Malorie Blackman and Margaret Mahy.
Each story is fictional but set against the background of one particular time and place in one century. Settings are worldwide, and include England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, China, America and Africa. Story themes range from the Crucifixion to Space Exploration; Romans in Britain to the Mongols in China; Irish saints to medieval monks; the Vikings, Saxons as well as elves, fairies and giants.
A range of genre from humour to fantasy make this a brilliantly balanced collection with something to suit every taste.
Gripping - often scintillating, sometimes uncompromising - aimed at the 10 plus age group, by today's finest authors.
Specially commissioned by Wendy Cooling, a highly respected and well-known anthologist. This collection promises to be around for years to come and will be a treasured gift for adults and children alike.
Twenty specially commissioned stories by the best contemporary writers for children to celebrate the last 2000 years: Michael Morpurgo, Henrietta Branford, Vivian French, Jean Ure, Robert Swindells, Mary Hoffman, Annie Dalton, Melvin Burgess, Gillian Cross, Alan Durant, Theresa Bresling, Bernard Ashley, Jenny Nimmo, Geraldine McCaughrean, Pete Johnson, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeremy Strong, Adele Geras, Malorie Blackman and Margaret Mahy.
Each story is fictional but set against the background of one particular time and place in one century. Settings are worldwide, and include England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, China, America and Africa. Story themes range from the Crucifixion to Space Exploration; Romans in Britain to the Mongols in China; Irish saints to medieval monks; the Vikings, Saxons as well as elves, fairies and giants.
A range of genre from humour to fantasy make this a brilliantly balanced collection with something to suit every taste.
Gripping - often scintillating, sometimes uncompromising - aimed at the 10 plus age group, by today's finest authors.
Specially commissioned by Wendy Cooling, a highly respected and well-known anthologist. This collection promises to be around for years to come and will be a treasured gift for adults and children alike.
Reviews / Votes
... It's a splendid collection, and a marvellous showcase for the writers. GuardianWith writers of this calibre, expectations should be rightly high, but even their greatest fans will be impressed by the ingenuity with which they have interpreted their brief. Irish Times
From the first opening to the last re-reading,... it's a lovely book. TES
... rated highly for 10 - 12 year olds Bookseller
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Target group
Primary & secondary/elementary & high school
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 9 to 11 years
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
24 b/w illus
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
286 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-733691-3 (9780007336913)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Wendy Cooling has been a teacher, Head of Children's Book Foundation and is now well-known as a freelance children's book consultant and anthologist. She appears regularly on radio and television, talking about Children's Books; works across the country with teachers; librarians and the inspectorate on literacy matters and began the Book Start project which has been taken up nationally. Wendy works with a variety of publishers too, compiling booklist and advising on literacy and educational matters.