YOUNG CITY READS

Francesca Simon’s The Sleeping Army

Project Duration: 6 March – 22 May 2014

‘What a thrill to have all of Brighton & Hove reading THE SLEEPING ARMY and then coming together at the end to discuss it – I can’t wait to talk about the book and meet all my readers at the event in May. What a brilliant way to bring a city together and support reading’ Francesca Simon, Jan 2014

In spring 2014 primary school classes from across Brighton & Hove took part in our ‘Big Read’. Following the success of our 2013 project with Michael Rosen which saw 32 local schools share in Emil’s adventure, we returned with bestselling author Francesca Simon and an action-packed story for classes to get their teeth into.

The Sleeping Army is the first in a gripping adventure series from the creator of Horrid Henry.

The concept is simple: one book by one author is selected for the whole community to read, discuss, debate and creatively engage with. Primary school classes are being invited to register as a group to read the book together in class and to participate in a range of special activities. Every class that signs up purchases the set of books in their own way, then receives free weekly emails and resources from the YCR team, designed to enhance the shared experience of the story and encourage reading for pleasure. The initiative is most appropriate for KS2 classes, however last year saw children from Years 3 - 8 take part, as well as mixed age extra-curricular groups.

Once pupils read the book in class they concluded their adventure by being part of our finale event at Brighton Dome on Thurs 22 May, 1.30pm.

About the book

The Sleeping Army tells the story of Freya, an ordinary girl living in modern Britain, but with a twist: people still worship the Viking gods. She’s caught in her parents’ divorce, and shuttling between bickering adults is no fun. One evening, stuck with her dad on his night shift at the British Museum, she is drawn to the Lewis Chessmen and Heimdall’s Horn. Unable to resist, she blows the horn, waking three chess pieces from their enchantment; the slaves Roskva and Alfi, and Snot the Berserk. They are all summoned to Asgard, land of the Viking gods, and told they must go on a perilous journey to restore the gods to youth. If Freya refuses she will be turned into an ivory chess piece but, if she accepts her destiny and fails, the same terrible fate awaits her. Brilliantly funny, original and a wholly new take on the Norse myths - and the travails of contemporary family life.

Meet Adam Stower

Illustrator of ‘The Sleeping Army’

Adam Stower is an illustrator of children’s fiction. He lives and works by the sea in Brighton on the south coast of England. He has been illustrating for over 20 years.

Adam studied art at college, gaining a first class BAHons degree in Illustration at the Norwich School of Art and a Masters degree in Narrative Illustration at Brighton University.

Adam has illustrated fifteen picture books to date, six of which he wrote himself. He has also illustrated many chapter books for children both here and in the USA.

He has been short-listed for numerous national and international awards including the Dundee Children’s Picture Book Award 2013. Adam won the 2010 Red House Book Award and most recently the Wanda Gag Read Aloud Book Award 2013 in the US.

Aside from his illustration work for children, Adam also does regular editorial and advertising illustration work. Adam often visits schools, and libraries where he entertains children with readings from his books and with live drawing demonstrations. For the past 3 years he has been invited to host illustration workshops abroad.

Adam has enjoyed drawing ever since he was old enough to hold a crayon. Here are ten things you might be interested to know about Adam (O.K. there are 12):
1. Adam works in a studio in Brighton that he shares with other illustrators. The windows leak when it rains.

2. Adam loves being in Brighton. When it is sunny he sneaks away from work for a swim in the sea.

3. Adam’s first published illustration was in his school magazine when he was just 9 years old.

4. Adam grew up in Switzerland by Lake Zurich but went to a boarding school in Norfolk, England during term time.

5. Adam’s favourite author is Roald Dahl.

6. Adam has illustrated everything from wine bottle labels to school maths books but his favourite thing to illustrate is children’s fiction, especially picture books. Adam’s first picture book Two Left Feet was published in 2004. Since then he has illustrated 15 books, 6 of which he wrote himself.

7. Adam likes to work with traditional materials. He sketches out the drawings with pencil to get it right. Then he goes over it with a dip pen and black indian ink. Once that is dry, he adds colour using watercolour paint or coloured inks.

8. Adam loves sketchbooks and encourages everyone to get one and fill them with doodles from their imagination or sketches from real life.

9. Adam has worn a beard for so long he can’t remember what his face underneath looks like.

10. When Adam was little, his red felt tip pens were always the first to run out (his drawings had a lot of fire, laser beams and superhero’s capes in them).

11. When Adam is working he likes to listen to audio books or comedy shows. They keep him company and stop him from wandering off to make more cups of tea.

12. His favourite food is freshly baked bread. And biscuits.