Children’s Books Come To Life In North England

Media Release
15 April 2009

Children’s Books Come To Life In North East England

Witches, wizards, villainous Vikings, heroic Roman Centurions and Cheshire Cats are some of the magical characters that call North East England home. A land of magnificent medieval castles, dazzling cities and dramatic coastlines, the region has inspired many popular children’s books, from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland to David Almond’s award-winning Skellig.

As part of its family holiday and short break promotion, North East England’s tourism body, One North East, has launched an online guide to children’s fiction, which launches on 2 April 2009 at www.visitnortheastengland.com/childrensbooktrail, to help families create their own special trails throughout the region; discover the exciting locations featured in their favourite stories; and reveal the birthplaces of famous authors.

With sample itineraries, local transport information and suggestions of the best places to eat, drink, and stay, the site features a range of locations at the heart of the region’s literary history.

The trail begins in the south of the region, in the pretty village of Croft-on-Tees where Lewis Carroll spent his childhood years. His father was a rector at the local church, where the carving of a smiling cat on the wall is thought to have inspired the famous Cheshire Cat in Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The cat is best viewed while seated in a pew, where the animal reveals a broad grin that disappears as soon as you stand up.

The links with Lewis Carroll continue in Sunderland, a modern city within easy reach of beautiful coast and countryside. It is thought that carpenters working at Sunderland’s shipyards inspired Carroll’s ‘Walrus and the Carpenter,’ a link that is commemorated with a walrus sculpture in Mowbray Park. Winner of Britain’s Best Park 2008, ahead of London’s Regent’s Park, Mowbray is a green oasis in the city centre, beautifully restored to its former Victorian splendour.

Sunderland is also the birthplace of Terry Deary, author of almost 200 books including children’s favourite the ‘Horrible Histories’ series.

Not far from here is the historic city of Durham, where visitors will find the impressive cathedral, which, together with the neighbouring castle, is a World Heritage Site. Described by Bill Bryson as “the best cathedral on planet earth,” Durham Cathedral features in Anne Colledge’s ‘Falling into Fear’, an engaging tale of a deaf girl who slips back in time to learn important lessons about life. Based in Durham, Colledge writes stories for children that feature deaf heroes and issues affecting the deaf community.

A particularly exciting stop along the trail, Newcastle is a vibrant city offering an exciting blend of the modern and historic. The city’s popular Theatre Royal has featured in Lorna Hill’s much loved Sadler’s Wells ballet series, which have a mixture of London and North East settings.

Newcastle is also the birthplace of David Almond, author of ‘Skellig’, the popular story of a troubled young boy who finds comfort in friendship with a strange creature he discovers when his family moves house. The book’s plaudits include the Carnegie Medal in Literature in 1998 and the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award the same year.

Travelling north of Newcastle is Hadrian’s Wall, Britain’s greatest Roman monument. A World Heritage site, the wall is the setting of children’s stories that bring the region’s fascinating Roman history to life, including Alice Leader’s ‘Power and Stone’, which is set in 130 AD just as work on the wall was nearing completion.

Continuing further into Northumberland, the website’s trail takes in Alnwick Castle, the film setting of Harry Potter’s school Hogwarts. This magnificent medieval castle boasts impressive architecture, stunning landscape, fine art treasures and great children’s activities.

Northumberland-based children’s author Rosalind Kerven was inspired by the magical island of Lindisfarne (Holy Island), the site of the first Viking attack on England in the 8th Century, which spurred her to write her highly-acclaimed series for seven -eleven year olds, Grim Gruesome Viking Villain.

“There’s always a feeling of adventure just around the corner in the North East’s wild, unspoilt landscapes,” said Rosalind.

“It’s a fantastically inspiring place for a children’s writer and young readers will certainly get a sense of this if they follow the new trail.”

With high moors, bleak hills, sparkling rivers of salmon and the widest, whitest, emptiest beaches in the country, North Northumberland is an ideal place to unwind and has helped inspire work such as ‘Glint’, Ann Coburn’s story of a mystical world of witches and were-creatures. The local legends, ruined castles and violent past of Berwick upon Tweed have often fired Coburn’s imagination and the local scenery is sure to inspire both young and older minds alike.

Supporting the regional online trail is Seven Stories, the national centre for children’s books. Tales are collected, celebrated and brought to life here through an exhibition, storytelling and crafts programme, designed to spark the imaginations of children and adults alike. Within easy reach of Newcastle’s iconic Quayside, Seven Stories is just one stop along the trail, which winds its way throughout North East England.

To find out more about these and other exciting locations linked to the region’s literary heritage download your free copy of the guide at www.visitnortheastengland.com/childrensbooktrail from April 2009.

ENDS

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