This is an archive of Young Readers Year Round Events through 2012
Lord Mayor of Birmingham Launches Young Readers Year Round
24th January 2012
The new Young Readers Year Round programme for 2012 was launched on Tuesday 24th January by The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Anita Ward in Birmingham Library Theatre.
The launch was followed by the first YRYR event:Curtis Jobling presents WEREWORLD.
Curtis Jobling
24th January 2012
Schools Event at Birmingham Central Library Theatre as part of YRYR
Schools Event at Birmingham Central Library Theatre as part of YRYR
Curtis introduced his new book - WEREWORLD: Shadow of the Hawk
This event was attended by 6 schools, packing the library theatre. Curtis was magnificent, introducing the audience to his animation skills and creating great participation. He read from his latest book and told of his love for writing, reading, books and libraries. A brilliant start to Young Readers Year Round! Read more..
National Libraries Day
4th February 2012
Events and activities for young and old at Birmingham Central Library
Read more..
World Book Day
1st March 2012
Read more
Sufiya Ahmed
Rachel Caine
4th June 2012
The regional final of a national performance poetry project taking place in schools and youth groups across England from February to July 2012, inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hundreds of 13 -16 year olds from five participating schools (Broadway, Holyhead, Stockland Green, Queensbridge and Woodrush High) are working with established spoken word artists to learn about poetry and performance throughout spring and summer. This slam competition showcases the best of their writing and performance. The highest scoring team will go on to represent the West Midlands at the national Shake the Dust weekend in London from 5 - 8 July 2012. With performances by Jam Jah Sound System feat. Juggla and special guest judges Akala, Sic'Nis and Charlie Dark. Part of the Cultural Olympiad 2012.
4th July - SCHOOL EVENT
Young Storyteller of the Year
10th March 2012
The Library Theatre miraculously came alive with stories and tales from the four corners of the world and from ancient times to the present day.
The event was the annual competition for the Young Storyteller of the Year 2012.
The day was full of energy and vigour with young people from 14 to 25 bringing words and worlds alive on stage. With the vast talent on display the future of Storytelling in the UK looks very bright.
Make sure you come along to the Book Bash at Aston Hall on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June to see the winners and highly commended storytellers take to the stage in the Storytelling Marquee, don't miss 'Banterous Potential' and Florence Schechter.
Sufiya Ahmed
14th March 2012
Special event for schools, promoting Sufiya Ahmed's new book "Secrets of a Henna Girl" at Birmingham Library Theatre
The Great Kindle Relay Project
6 weeks plus 6 schools plus 1 author
times the possibilities of new technology
equals 1 exciting new piece of digital storytelling!
Young Readers Birmingham (YRYR) are working with author Simon Cheshire and six Birmingham schools to create a new piece of writing exploring the new possibilities an ebook reader provides. Follow the Great Kindle Relay Project blog, find out what they come up with and add your own ideas!
Rachel Caine
15th May 2012
Sink your teeth into an afternoon with Rachel Caine.
Young Readers Birmingham (YRYR) in partnership with Peters Books
Rachel discussed her bestselling Morganville Vampire series, and signed books.
Special Event for school librarians (or public librarians) to attend either on their own - or with students.
Held at Peters Books, 120 Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham B5 6RJ
4th June 2012
Birmingham Lord Mayor's Show
As part of the Lord Mayor's Show Young Readers Birmingham (YRYR) present Big Brum Theatre-in-Education Company atBirmingham Library Theatre with a production of 'The Giant's Embrace'
Things are hotting up. The smoke from his oven is choking us all. Even the great rains can’t put it out. The Giant is always hungry, always on the look out for what he can take and put in the pot. He’ll swallow anything or anyone that gets in his way. What about the little people? What to do? We’d better teach him a lesson before he starts on us… Join Big Brum, internationally renowned for its theatre work for young people, for an interactive storytelling experience for children aged 5 to 7 years.
9th June 2012
'Shake the Dust':
WM Final National Performance Poetry
WM Final National Performance Poetry
Young Readers Birmingham (YRYR) supports The Drum in partnership with Apples & Snakes and Write Down Speak Up
The regional final of a national performance poetry project taking place in schools and youth groups across England from February to July 2012, inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hundreds of 13 -16 year olds from five participating schools (Broadway, Holyhead, Stockland Green, Queensbridge and Woodrush High) are working with established spoken word artists to learn about poetry and performance throughout spring and summer. This slam competition showcases the best of their writing and performance. The highest scoring team will go on to represent the West Midlands at the national Shake the Dust weekend in London from 5 - 8 July 2012. With performances by Jam Jah Sound System feat. Juggla and special guest judges Akala, Sic'Nis and Charlie Dark. Part of the Cultural Olympiad 2012.
This event took place at 'The Drum Arts Centre', 144 Potters Lane, Aston B6 4UU
The New Optimists: How will science change the future?
What are the challenges facing humanity in the 21st Century and how can scientists make a difference? Come along to this event and find out what leading Birmingham scientists are optimistic about!
11th July - SCHOOL & OPEN EVENT
Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
Young Readers Birmingham (YRYR) presented a special event for schools, promoting Jodi Picoult and her daughter, Samantha Van Leer's new book "Between the Lines" Download an extract from 'Between the Lines' Watch some videos of Jodi and Samantha at the event below:
OCTOBER
Black History Month
Young Readers Present:
Young Presenter's Workshop - October
EVENT POSTPONED - TO BE RESCHEDULED
Young Readers Birmingham is pleased to announce that Nataylia 'Nat' Roni (Sky, BBC and Cbeebies Presenter) will be facilitating a one day workshop during Black History Month for Media Students.
What's Love Got To Do With It? - 13th October
Saturday 13th October 2pm - 3.30pm (Central Library Theatre)
with writers Sagheer Afzal, Yasmin Hai and Bali Rai.
(Yasmin Hai photo copyright Charlie Hopkinson)
What's Love Got To Do With It? will be exploring the subject of love, life and relationships for young Asians today.
Free event - tickets must be booked via: 0121 236 4455 or www.birminghambookfestival.org
Thursday 4th to Saturday 13th October
Birmingham Book Festival
NOVEMBER
DAVID MASSEY - 15th November
On her first tour of duty in the war-torn country, Private Nielson is pulled into a dangerous intrigue surrounding a mysterious young Afghan girl. In her search for the truth, Elinor’s loyalties are divided between her colleagues and the displaced Afghan children she must protect. What she discovers makes her question everything she believes about love and war.
After heading up an aid expedition during the Romanian revolution, David Massey witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of conflict on young people. Their resilience and ability to be instruments of change inspired David to write Torn. His research for the novel revealed some startling realities for teens serving in the conflict in Afghanistan.
1.45pm - 2.45pm Thursday 15th November 2012
Birmingham Library Theatre
This was a free event for years 9 and 10.
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GARETH P. JONES - 16th November
Gareth writes and performs songs for each of his books and is a master of highly interactive and energetic events for children aged 6‐12 years.
CONSTABLE & TOOP, Gareth's latest book is 20% Gruesome, 40% Funny, 30% Historical, 10% Scary. A darkly comic Dickensian ghost story from the Blue Peter Award winner.
Sam Toop lives in a funeral parlour, blessed (or cursed) with an unusual gift. While his father buries the dead, Sam is haunted by their constant demands for attention. Trouble is afoot on the 'other side' ‐ there is a horrible disease that is mysteriously imprisoning ghosts into empty houses in the world of the living. And Sam is caught in the middle ‐ will he be able to bring himself to help?
Gareth P. Jones has woven a darkly comic story, a wonderfully funny adventure that roams the grimy streets of Victorian London.
Gareth P Jones divides his time between writing books, producing TV programmes, spending time with his wife and son, Herbie, and playing the slightly ludicrous number of stringed instruments in his front room. He recently won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Prize 2012 for THE CONSIDINE CURSE. THE CASE OF THE MISSING CATS, the first book in The Dragon Detective Agency series, was nominated for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. THE THORNTHWAITE INHERITANCE won the Hounslow Junior Book Award, the Calderdale Book Award, Leicester Children's Book Award, Sefton Super Reads, Doncaster Book Award, Rotherham Children's Book Award, and Fantastic Book Award, Lancaster.
POETRY SLAM EVENT - 22nd November
GARETH P. JONES - 16th November
Gareth writes and performs songs for each of his books and is a master of highly interactive and energetic events for children aged 6‐12 years.
Sam Toop lives in a funeral parlour, blessed (or cursed) with an unusual gift. While his father buries the dead, Sam is haunted by their constant demands for attention. Trouble is afoot on the 'other side' ‐ there is a horrible disease that is mysteriously imprisoning ghosts into empty houses in the world of the living. And Sam is caught in the middle ‐ will he be able to bring himself to help?
Gareth P. Jones has woven a darkly comic story, a wonderfully funny adventure that roams the grimy streets of Victorian London.
Listen to the CONSTABLE & TOOP song:
Watch the CONSTABLE & TOOP book trailer
10.30am - 11.30pm Friday 16th November 2012
Birmingham Library Theatre
This was a free event for years 5 and 6.
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POETRY SLAM EVENT - 22nd November
POETRY SLAM EVENT
involving 5 Schools: Four Dwellings, Lordswood Girls, Hillcrest, George Dixon, Lordswood Boys.
Poetry Slam events will be run in the schools by Dreadlockalien & Spoz around 'Anti-Bullying'.
Teams will then get professional poet coach mentors and master classes will be run on
Wednesday 21st November 2012.
Teams will then get professional poet coach mentors and master classes will be run on
Wednesday 21st November 2012.
Then....
THE SCHOOLS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD in a dramatic
ANTI-BULLYING POETRY SLAM EVENT
6pm - 9pm Thursday 22nd November 2012
Central Library Theatre
Just turn up and enjoy!!