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Summary Further details
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Alan Brown: Further Details Portfolio Author of these story books/novels: Latest books: Hoot and Holler - picturebook I Am a Dog - picturebook Dead Good - picturebook The Smallpox Slayer - narrative non-fiction Tolpuddle Boy - narrative non-fiction For details see full list: The Incredible Journey of Walter Rat 6-9yrs Hodder Children's, the adventures of a water rat travelling down river to the sea; King of the Dark Tower 8+ yrs Hodder Children's, based on the folk story in which Rowland rescues his sister Helen from the King of the Elves; A Dog of my Own 7+ yrs Hodder Children's, Tom wants a puppy, gets one, and nearly loses it; Sword and Sorcery 11+yrs Hodder children's, Art battles against his enemies in a world where Albion exists only as islands in the sea; Author of these picture books: Humbugs 4-6yrs Hodder Children's, Simon grows flowers for the bees and the family feast upon honey; Hoot and Holler 4-6yrs Hutchinson/Red Fox ISBN 009408988, two owls lost in the Great Wood learn to express their true feeling for each other; Windhover 5-7yrs Collins, the adventures of a kestrel chick growing up in a nest in a school; Nikki and the Rocking Horse 5-7yrs Collins, Nikkin wants a rocking horse and Mum makes her one. But can it gallop?; Old Hushwing 5-7yrs Collins, when the builders come, Billy has to find a new home for a barn owl; The Dreaming Tree 5-7yrs Collins, can Erica save her dreaming tree when the road is widened? Her quest takes in all four seasons of the year; Turtle's Song 6-9yrs Queensland University Press ISBN 070223219X, the poetic story of a green turtle's precarious life; I Am a Dog 4-6 yrs Red Fox ISBN 0099413272, A boy has to choose between pretending to be a dog, and having one; Dead Good 10+ yrs Friends of the General Cemetery, Sheffield ISBN 0953999432, the larger than death lives of the residents of Sheffield's Victorian cemetery, order by phone on 0014 2798402; Author of these narrative non-fiction: The Smallpox Slayer 10+ yrs Hodder Children's ISBN 0340787732, how Dr Edward Jenner developed the world's first vaccine by experimenting on a young boy who he infected with smallpox; Tolpuddle Boy: Transported to Hell and Back 10+ yrs Hodder Children's ISBN 0340852038, how the famous Martyrs were sent as convicts to Australia for swearing illegal oaths of allegiance to their union, from the point of view of James Brine, the youngest martyr. sample of work: Reference 1 Alan Brown recently ran two workshop sessions for us, involving groups of teachers and children. We considered both of the sessions to be highly successful and feedback from those concerned was extremely positive. Our workshop included a writing session for a group of boys of mixed ability. Alan provided them with an opportunity to place themselves in an historical setting, giving them a range of background information and stimulating them to use their imaginations to produce a piece of writing, which they could then share with the group. The resultant pieces of writing were of high quality and the children gained great satisfaction from the process, ending the session with a real sense of achievement. The session proved to be good motivation for further work in the classroom. The second workshop was intended to give both information and inspiration to the teachers and was very productive. Alan was able to discuss ideas about how to approach non-fiction narrative writing in the primary school, sharing his sources of research and knowledge of how to apply them in the classroom. All the staff left the session having gained a greater understanding and enthusiasm for the writing process. We were very satisfied with Alan's contribution to the day and I am delighted to recommend him as a visiting author to other schools. Teacher, Duddon St Peter's CE Primary School Reference 2 Alan Brown worked in partnership with Mid Pennine Arts and two Lancashire primary schools in a small nature reserve, Fox Hill Bank, managed by the Wildlife Trust in Autumn 2002. Sixty children between the ages of 9-11 years took part. The week-long project involved researching the history of the site, a former calico mill, and responding to the site's new identity as a wildlife reserve. Alan's contribution to the workshops was inspirational for both pupils and teachers. High high level interpersonal skills allowed him to build a real rapport with the children in a relatively short time. Children were encouraged to develop thinking skills, writing and drafting skills; they worked collaboratively to share ideas and they were sensitively supported to share their finished pieces in front of an audience. Writing workshops were held in the Reserve before continuing the work in the school classrooms. The emphasis for the project was based on narrative writing which linked past and present. Teachers praised the quality of the writing produced saying that for some of their children this was the highest standard of written work they had produced. Children commented ' ... talking in the woods was great ... I loved listening to Alan talking about the people who worked in the mill ... I've never seen a heron before ... Alan listened to my story ...' Two separate anthologies, one for each school, were produced in which each child had a piece published. In addition several pieces were selected for a professional publication of children's writing from East Lancashire schools. In addition, Alan mentored a second writer, Laura Sheridan, who had little experience of working with educational groups during a part of the project. Laura commented that the experience had given her '... an insight into a different way of working and the confidence to pursue my interest in working with children groups. The outdoor workshops have also been an inspiration for her own writing ...' Education Officer for Mid Pennine Arts |
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