Chris Riddell Chatterbooks activity pack

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Chris Riddell

About this pack

Chris Riddell is a prolific author and illustrator whose huge range of award winning work covers picture books and fiction for older children. He was appointed Children's Laureate for the period of 2015-2017, a position he is more than qualified to fill. Find out more about Chris and his fantastic books in this Chatterbooks pack.

This pack is brought to you by The Reading Agency. Chatterbooks [ www.readinggroups.org/chatterbooks] is a reading group programme for children aged 4 to 12 years. It is coordinated by The Reading Agency and its patron is author Dame Jacqueline Wilson. Chatterbooks groups run in libraries and schools, supporting and inspiring children’s literacy development by encouraging them to have a really good time reading and talking about books. The Reading Agency is an independent charity working to inspire more people to read more through programmes for adults, young people and Children – including the Summer Reading Challenge, and Chatterbooks. See www.readingagency.org.uk

Contents 3 Things to talk about 4 Activity ideas: Warm ups 6 Longer activities 8 Chris Riddell’s books 13 Answers For help in planning your Chatterbooks meeting, have a look at these Top Tips for a Successful Session

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Things to talk about

Have you read any books Chris Riddell has illustrated or written? Which are your favourites?

Chris Riddell has a very distinct illustration style. What do you notice about this style? Look at the colours he uses, the shapes he draws and the similarities between his various characters.

Chris Riddell has been the Waterstones Children’s Laureate from 2015-2017. The role of the Children’s Laureate is to promotes and encourage children's interest in books, reading and writing. Previous laureates include Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson and Jacqueline Wilson. Have you read any books by these authors? Which are your favourites and why?

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Activity ideas WARM UPS Wordsearch : Chris Riddell’s Characters All these words are characters from Chris Riddell’s books or books that he has illustrated. Look for them in the squares below - across, down, diagonally, and from right to left. The Wordsearch solution is at the end of this pack OTTOLINE LETTIE PEPPERCORN BABY BOD YORK JIM CORALINE FLO SKRITCHETT MR MUNRO HAGGFIEND C L O R N W Q F T U S N U P J G

D A E X V N M L C Z A S F Q B R G U J D O W C O R A L I N E A T

Z G C B T O V S Z A D E I M B B A H S D T H I K T Y P K L I Y G

U A T E O D E R Y I O C A Q B I

O G K S L P F I Z C X R E W O G L G J Y I L G T E N Z X K V D G

P F O A N A T C O M A S U C H L J E L P E Y N H V C P A O N G E

L E T T I E P E P P E R C O R N

C N X T Z R A T F X N W X I J B V D B I A X N T J U D A B D G P

J I M C U O L J M D S Z C E V Q Z C X K B Q Z R B J R U O M U H

W J R Y I P M H F D A Z C O S X X C B M N C S J P B V Y W C M B

Chris Riddell Quiz

1. Riddell has illustrated more than 150 books since his career began. TRUE/FALSE

2. Riddell was born in South Africa TRUE/FALSE

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3. Riddell is one of 10, with 9 brothers and sisters. TRUE/FALSE

4. When he was a kid, Riddell bunked off tennis lessons to go to the Tate Art Gallery.

TRUE/FALSE

5. Raymond Briggs (Who created The Snowman) was Riddell’s tutor during his degree at University TRUE/FALSE

6. Riddell draws his illustrations using a feather dipped in dragon’s blood. TRUE/FALSE

7. Riddell’s favourite book as a child was Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown TRUE/FALSE

8. Riddell first started writing and drawing at the age of 18. TRUE/FALSE

9. Riddell’s favourite book shop is the Alligators Armpit in Richmond. TRUE/FALSE

10. Riddell draws comics for the famous newspaper, The Observer. TRUE/FALSE

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LONGER ACTIVITIES

Drawing together

"Everybody Can Draw. Don’t think about it, just do it." – Chris Riddell Chris Riddell strongly believes that drawing together, like reading together, is a bonding experience. This activity will get your group drawing together. You will need: coloured pens or pencils and a big roll of paper, wall lining paper would be good. Pick out some quotes or titles of children’s books, write or print them out onto pieces of paper and put them in a shoebox. Each child picks out a piece of paper and draws what it makes them think of on the big piece of paper. Everyone can draw at the same time, that’s the fun. When everybody has finished, admire the piece of art you have created together! Can you guess which picture matches which quote or book title?

Create your own sketchbook

Since Riddell became the Children’s Laureate in 2015, he has created a sketchbook, drawing a new page every day. You can take a look at his sketchbook here.

Your group can use exercise books or why not get them to create their own books? You can easily create an 8 page book using just a single sheet of A4 paper. There are videos on youtube to show you how, such as this one.

Once your group have sketchbooks, they can fill them up. They could do like Riddell and take them home to complete a page each day or if you want to fill them up during the session why not fill them using favourite book characters or cutting out images and words from magazines.

Drawing with Chris Riddell

There are lots of videos on youtube of Chris Riddell demonstrating how to draw various characters from his books. For example in this video he draws Ishmael - The Ghost of a Mouse from his book Goth Girl. Watch one of these videos with your group and get everyone to have a go at drawing one of Riddell’s characters.

You could also get your group members to have a go at making their own videos. They could demonstrate their own drawing, or something else they are good at such as craft, telling a story or acting out a scene from a book.

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Children’s Laureate for a day

The Children's Laureate is a well known writer of children's books who promotes and encourage children's interest in books, reading and writing.

A new one is chosen every two years.

Children’s Laureates have done lots of different things to encourage children to enjoy books, reading and writing. They have created exciting children’s book festivals launched competitions and toured around libraries across the country.

Ask your group to imagine they are the new Children’s Laureate. How would they get other kids interested in books, reading and writing? Share everyone’s ideas. Children could draw a picture or write about their idea too.

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Chris Riddell’s books

The Emperor of Absurdia Chris Riddell Macmillan Children's Books 9781509813735

Welcome to Absurdia: a strange and wonderful land where nothing is quite what it seems. Trees are birds, umbrellas are trees, and the sky is thick with snoring fish. Join one small boy as he tumbles out of bed into a crazy dreamland of wardrobe monsters, dragons - and amazing adventure

Wendel and the Robots Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Books 9781509813742

If his inventions go wrong, Wendel just throws them away and starts again. So when Clunk, his robot assistant, fills the sock drawer with cups and saucers and makes tea in a Wellington boot, Wendel throws him on the scrapheap and makes himself a new assistant: the Wendelbot. But he gets more than he bargained for, and soon Wendel finds himself on the scrapheap. Can he win back his workshop from the mighty Wendelbot? Let the robot battle commence!

Mr Underbed Chris Riddell Andersen Press 978-1842709429

When Jim kindly allows Mr Underbed to sleep in his bed he is unprepared for all the other night-time visitors who want to share it too!

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Alienograph: Or, How to Spot an Alien Invasion and What to Do About it Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Books 978-1405050609

Do you know the difference between a Nostromian Weevil and a Zyglon Tentacle Beast? Could you resist an invasion of Purple Peekons? And can you outwit a Fantabbydosian? No? You need this book!

Witchworld Emma Fischel & Chris Riddell Nosy Crow 9780857634177

The witches of Witchworld have no need for old-fashioned wands or broomsticks, not when they have shiny Spellsticks and super-whizzy Skyriders instead. And no one has a cauldron anymore, just a cupboard full of Potions2Go. Flo Skritchett lives with her mother, the editor-in-chief of celebrity and Lifestyle magazine, Hocus Pocus, and her witchteen sister. All is well, until her grandmother flies in to town and warns them that Witchworld is in danger from a Ghoul Attack! No one believes her – after all, Ghouls died out years ago and she still rides around on a broomstick, for goodness’ sake! But Grandma’s right, and soon Flo starts to wonder if

modern witchcraft can save them or whether they’ll have to look to the Old Ways after all…

Emma Fischel grew up in the country, the middle of five children, and had a happy, muddy childhood. She now lives in London and has three nearly grown-up children of her own – two boys and one girl, all very tall, and extremely useful at changing light bulbs she can’t reach. Emma writes both fiction and non-fiction.

Other books in the series:

Witchmyth Emma Fischel & Chris Riddell

Nosy Crow 978-0857634245

Witchwild Emma Fischel & Chris Riddell

Nosy Crow 978-0857634986

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Books 978-0330450287

Introducing Miss Ottoline Brown, an exceptionally inquisitive Mistress of Disguise, and her partner in crime, Mr. Munroe. No puzzle is ever too tricky for the two of them to solve . . .

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Ottoline lives in a stylish apartment in Big City with a small hairy creature called Mr. Munroe. Together they look after the Brown family's eclectic collections - and dabble in a spot of detective work. So they are the first to the scene of the crime when a string of high-society dog-nappings and jewel thefts hits Big City. Ottoline (who luckily has a diploma from the Who-R-U Academy of Disguise) and Mr. Munroe go undercover - and expose an ingenious scam masterminded by furry feline crook, the Yellow Cat.

Other books in the series:

Ottoline Goes to School

Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Books

978-0330472005

Ottoline at Sea Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Books

978-0330472012

Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Books 978-1447201748

Ada Goth is the only child of Lord Goth. The two live together in the enormous Ghastly-Gorm Hall. Lord Goth believes that children should be heard and not seen, so Ada has to wear large clumpy boots so that he can always hear her coming. This makes it hard for her to make friends and, if she's honest, she's rather lonely.

Then one day William and Emily Cabbage come to stay at the house and, together with a ghostly mouse called Ishmael, the three children begin to unravel a dastardly plot that Maltravers, the mysterious indoor

gamekeeper, is hatching. Ada and her friends must work together to foil Maltravers before it's too late! Other books in the series:

Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death

Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Books

978-0230759824

Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright

Chris Riddell Macmillan Children’s Book

978-1447277910

The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell Bloomsbury 978-0747594802

When a baby escapes murderer intent on killing the entire family, who would have thought it would find safety and security in the local graveyard? Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has eccentric childhood learning about life from the dead. But for Bod there is also the danger of the murderer still looking for him - after all, he

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is the last remaining member of the family. A stunningly original novel deftly constructed over eight chapters, featuring every second year of Bod's life, from babyhood to adolescence. Will Bod survive to be a man?

Neil Gaiman has long been one of the top writers in modern comics, as well as writing books for readers of all ages. He is listed in the Dictionary of Literary Biography as one of the top ten living post-modern writers, and is a prolific creator of works of prose, poetry, film, journalism, comics, song lyrics, and drama. Neil Gaiman's work has been honoured with many awards internationally, including the Newbery and Carnegie Medals.

The Edge Chronicles 1: The Curse of the Gloamgozer: First Book of Quint Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell Corgi Childrens 978-0552569620

Fourteen-year-old Quint Verginix is the only remaining son of famous sky-pirate Wind Jackal. He and his father have journeyed to the city of Sanctaphrax – a great floating rock, bound to the ground below by a chain, its inhabitants living with their heads literally in the clouds. But the city hides a dangerous secret: deep inside the great rock, something horrible lurks. With his father away, Quint may be the only one who can save Sanctaphrax from the dreaded curse of the gloamglozer . . .

Paul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers – from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror.

Other books in the series:

The Edge Chronicles 2: The Winter Knights: Second Book of Quint

Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

Corgi Childrens 978-0552569637

The Edge Chronicles 3: Clash of the Sky Galleons: Third Book of Quint

Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

Corgi Childrens 978-0552569644

The Edge Chronicles 4: Beyond the Deep Woods: First Book of Twig

Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

Corgi Childrens 978-0552569675

The Edge Chronicles 5: Storm Chaser: Second Book of Twig

Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

Corgi Childrens 978-0552569651

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The Snow Merchant Sam Gayton & Chris Riddell Andersen Press 9781783441778

Lettie Peppercorn lives in a house on stilts near the wind-swept coast of Albion. Nothing incredible has ever happened to her, until one winter's night, when the night the Snow Merchant comes. He claims to be an alchemist - the greatest that ever lived - and in his suitcase, he carries his newest invention: snow.

Sam Gayton lives in South London. In 2009 he completed the Writing for Young People MA at Bath Spa University. He loves American novels, Italian food and the English countryside. When he’s not writing, he likes

playing old board games, strumming his guitar and joining as many rock bands as possible (currently at seven). Sam often visits schools and libraries across the country to talk about his magical books.

Coraline Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell Bloomsbury 978-1408841754

There is something strange about Coraline's new home. It's not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It's the other house - the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black-button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back.

Fortunately the Milk Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell 978-1408841792

You know what it's like when your mum goes away on a business trip and Dad's in charge. She leaves a really, really long list of what he's got to do. And the most important thing is DON'T FORGET TO GET THE MILK. Unfortunately, Dad forgets. So the next morning, before breakfast, he has to go to the corner shop, and this is the story of why it takes him a very, very long time to get back.

Featuring: Professor Steg (a time-travelling dinosaur), some green globby things, the Queen of the Pirates, the famed jewel that is the Eye of Splod,

some wumpires, and a perfectly normal but very important carton of milk.

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Wordsearch solution C L O R N W Q F T U S N U P J G

D A E X V N M L C Z A S F Q B R

G U J D O W C O R A L I N E A T Z G C B T O V S Z A D E I M B B

A H S D T H I K T Y P K L I Y G U A T E O D E R Y I O C A Q B I

O G K S L P F I Z C X R E W O G

L G J Y I L G T E N Z X K V D G P F O A N A T C O M A S U C H L

J E L P E Y N H V C P A O N G E L E T T I E P E P P E R C O R N

C N X T Z R A T F X N W X I J B V D B I A X N T J U D A B D G P

J I M C U O L J M D S Z C E V Q

Z C X K B Q Z R B J R U O M U H W J R Y I P M H F D A Z C O S X

X C B M N C S J P B V Y W C M B Chris Riddell Quiz ANSWERS

1. TRUE

2. TRUE

3. FALSE – Riddell is the middle child of 5 children.

4. TRUE

5. TRUE

6. FALSE - Riddell draws in pencil, inks over the lines with a brush, and then adds colour.

7. TRUE

8. FALSE – Riddell first started drawing and writing at five years old in the back pew of his father's

church.

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9. FALSE - Riddell’s favourite book shop is the Alligators Mouth in Richmond.

10. TRUE