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25th July 2008

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Richard & Judy choose best kids books

11.09.07 Anna Richardson

The producers of Channel 4's "Richard & Judy" have announced the titles that will feature in a one-off children's books special this autumn. Broadcast on 28th October as part of the channel's literacy season, "Richard & Judy's Best Kids Books Ever" will feature 19 books, divided into four ability groups, with two winning titles in each category revealed during the programme.

Nominated in the "Early" (5+) category are Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort (Simon & Schuster), A Very Fishy Battle by Jeremy Strong (Puffin), Someone Bigger by Jonathan Emmett (OUP), and Orchard Books' Poppy and Max and the Fashion Show by Sally Grindley and Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae.

In the "Developing" (7+) group are: Spy Dogs by Andrew Cope (Puffin), You're a Bad Man Mr Gum! by Andy Stanton (Egmont), The World According To Humphrey by Betty G Birney (Faber) and The Girl with the Broken Wing by Heather Dyer (Chicken House).

"Confident" (9+) sees Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk by Angie Sage (Bloomsbury), Sundae Girl by Cathy Cassidy (Puffin), H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education by Mark Walden (Bloomsbury), The Killer Underpants by Michael Lawrence (Orchard), Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (HarperCollins) and Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams (Chicken House), while in the "Fluent" category, contenders are Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie (Simon & Schuster), The Recruit by Robert Muchamore (Hodder), Finding Violet Park by Jenny Valentine (HarperCollins) and Lucas by Kevin Brooks (Chicken House).

Retailers will be able to receive official posters and stickers to identify the participating titles from the beginning of October.

Todays Picks Anna Richardson richard and judy children's

Comments on this article

By AdamBrunt

Lucas and Finding Violet Park are very good books, however The Recruit is very poor and I wouldn't recommend it.

11 Sep 07 21:40

By AdamBrunt

Lucas and Finding Violet Park are very good books, however The Recruit is very poor and I wouldn't recommend it.

11 Sep 07 21:47

By Charlotte Lawrnce

I love love love the Recruit and think it is awesome, I have got many of my friends into the books and would recomend it! I have read the rest of the series and LOVED it! And I cannot wait till the next one comes out October 1st.

11 Sep 07 22:49

By Brad123

Have to agree with AdamBrunt; The Recruit is to the world of literacy as Jade Goody is to the good of mankind.

11 Sep 07 23:14

By Tim

The recruit all the way, its about as mature as you can get without stepping in to the adult section.

12 Sep 07 07:01

By Jasmine

I think it's very dissapointing that the Recruit is on this list. I think this could have been a chance to feature good books which so did not get the attention they deserve, and the Cherub series sells very well. I don't think this list shows the best of contemporary children's fiction at all.

12 Sep 07 08:45

By Nick

The 9+ section certainly seems a rather lazy list, as if compiled by someone whose experience of children's fiction was limited to the Top 10 at WHSmiths. Some are good, some are bad; all are already bestsellers and don't need the publicity.

12 Sep 07 11:56

By Jared Giesige

Robert Muchamore' CHERUB books are the best ever that ive read and i cant wait for the one coming out on the 1st of october!!!!!!!!!

12 Sep 07 13:31

By Amy

Admittedly, I've only read one of the books in the 'Fluent' category, but The Recruit is a page-turner dealing with grown-up issues of child abuse and the death of one's parents, and I think it deserves to do well.

12 Sep 07 16:02

By Luke

The Recruit is, in my opinion, the best book in the fluent category. It is well written, has a good plot, and deserves to win it's category.

12 Sep 07 21:24

By Lucy Palmer

Some of the selected titles do have great merit, but all are linked to the major publishing houses. You should at least try and appear not to be so biased. Many small and independent publishers have some excellent offerings so maybe you should look outside of the box once in a while.

14 Sep 07 09:04

By David

Oh, give me a break! For Book Club read (old) ‘Boys Club’. Nepotism at it’s best. I really can’t be bothered to say any more.

14 Sep 07 09:08

By Antonia

I wouldn't completely agree with the Nepotism comment as far as the younger categories are concerned, but would agree with it when you move in the 9+ and Fluent categories. For crying out loud Cactus take a chance once in a while will you!

14 Sep 07 09:17

By cameron

Cherub by Robert Muchamore are the best childrens books ever.

19 Sep 07 19:29

By Sophie Barbosa

The Recruit is by far the best book on this list, and its successors are even better! The CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore are my favourite and The Recruit deserves to win.

23 Sep 07 20:03

By Karen

I loved 'Tunnels' by Roderick Gordon and Bryan Williams. About 14 year old Will Burrows whose love of digging tunnels, leads to a secret and sinister world beneath the streets of London. Excitement builds with every chapter - i couldn't put it down. A believable fantasy that i really felt part of - can't wait for book 2.

30 Sep 07 16:11

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