Category Archives: Author of the Month

CEL Open Day – 16th March

Dear CEL Members and Volunteers,

We invite you to the CEL Open Day! We will celebrate the work of Roald Dahl on Saturday March 16 with extended opening hours from 1:00-5:00 pm. There will be a craft, games, storytimes, and a bake sale. Please invite your friends and acquaintances to learn more about the CEL.

We are looking for baked good donations for our bake sale. Please send a message to info@celstuttgart.de if you can contribute.

Thank you for your support and hope to see you there!

The CEL Board

Spotlight on Eric Carle

He’s been featured on the *CEL Monthly Spotlight* before, but it seems fitting that this month we take another look at designer, illustrator and writer Eric Carle, who passed away aged 91 on Sunday.
Eric was born in the US but moved to Germany with his parents in 1935 when he was six. He graduated from art school in Stuttgart and moved back to the States in 1952, starting work at The New York Times as a graphic designer.
Perhaps best known for his read-aloud favourite The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle wrote over 70 books which are beloved by children and parents the world over.
His distinctive illustrations and innovative use of colour are instantly recognisable.
You can find more information about him and how he came up with his book ideas at eric-carle.com and carlemuseum.org. There are also great resources to download for creating your own collage illustrations using the same method that he did.
And of course, the Children’s English Library has a wonderful selection of Eric Carle’s books for you to check out and enjoy. E-mail contactless@celstuttgart.de to request one.

Book Profile – Room on the broom

One of our most borrowed books is the modern day classic from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. A fun tale of a friendly witch and her unique group of companions, it’s a fun ride from start to finish. If you haven’t already, check it out when you’re next at CEL.

 

March’s Spotlight in on Geography!

In keeping with World Book Day, March’s Spotlight in on Geography!

CEL has lots of great items on geography. In picture books there is “The Scrambled State of America”, and in games there is “British Isles Puzzle and Poster”. Of course in the nonfiction 900s, there are lots of books to teach us about specific countries or areas of the world. There are 7.7 billion people in the world living in 195 different countries, let’s learn about somewhere or someone new!

February’s Spotlight is on Quentin Blake!

Quentin Blake is a British cartoonist, writer and illustrator best known for illustrating books written by Roald Dahl. He won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002 for his lasting contribution to children’s literature. Besides Dahl’s books, he’s illustrated for Joan Aiken, Elizabeth Bowen, Sylvia Plath, Roald Dahl, Nils-Olof Franzén, William Steig, and Dr. Seuss. All the Quentin Blake books CEL carries are found in Picture Books. Come check one out today!

January’s Spotlight is on Lions

You probably already know that a group of lions is called a pride. Did you know that the average pride consists of around 15 lions, including several adult females and up to four males and their cubs of both sexes? There are lots of books starring lions at the library. For example, in picture books there is “There’s a Lion in my Cornflakes!” by Michelle Robinson, “Christian the Lion” by Ruth Knowles in JF and in Nonfiction there is “Lion” by David Kennett (599). Come check one out at the library!

December’s Spotlight is on Hugh Lofting

Hugh Lofting is the creator of beloved character, Dr. Dolittle. Lofting is a British author who was a civil engineer before he became a children’s author. Lofting served in the British Army in WWI and instead of writing to his children about what he was experiencing, he wrote imaginative stories to them that became the basis for Dr. Dolittle. Lofting’s Dolittle books are found in the JF area of the library. Come check one out today!

October’s Spotlight is on…

… of course, our Halloween books.

We have so many great Halloween books at CEL, they’re truly not to be missed. In Picture Books we have “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson, in Early Readers we have “The Witch who was Afraid of Witches” by Alice Low, in JF we have, of course “The Worst Witch” by Jill Murphy and in Teen we have “10 Spooky Stories” by R.L. Stine. Come check one out today!

September’s Spotlight is on the Cam Jansen series!

The Cam Jansen series is written by David Adler, an American author who was a math teacher before he became a children’s author. The series is about a fifth grade female detective named Jennifer “Cam” Jansen. She’s nicknamed Cam for her photographic memory, which aids her in solving mysteries. The Cam Jansen series is in the JF section of the library, come check one out today!

May’s Spotlight is on C.S. Lewis

Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast (which was then in Ireland) in 1898. His is best known for his works of fiction, including The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis wrote more than 30 books, which have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold millions of copies! Lewis attended Oxford University, with his studies interrupted by the first World War (he eventually went back and finished his studies after the war). Lewis and fellow novelist J. R. R. Tolkien were close friends. They both served on the English faculty at Oxford University. Come check one of his books out today!

(Don’t forget the CEL AGM tomorrow – Wed. 8th May 19:30)