Hodder Children's Books

Cressida Cowell and Lauren Child who have donated copies of "Peter Pan" and "The Shrinking of Treehorn" respectively.

Lauren Child said " I first discovered The Shrinking of Treehorn when I was ten, my headmistress read it to the whole school. It is a perfect story for any age, very funny, very clever with beautifully strange illustrations, and there is a touch of the subversive about it. I loved it, my class loved it, my headmistress loved it. If it it possible to have such a thing as one favourite book, then this might be it. I never tire of reading it or of looking at the drawings, and it has been a huge influence on my work. A few years ago I got a parcel in the post, inside was a copy of The Shrinking of Treehorn, inscribed with the words, "thank you for liking Treehorn and saying so! Florence Parry Heide, a Clarice Bean fan". It is one of my most treasured possessions". Lauren Child

Cressida Cowell said "Peter Pan was one of my favourite books when I was a child. Captain Hook was my favourite villain and I gave Alvin the Treacherous a hook in his honour... A story about an island, and growing up, and flying, and a villain with a hook.The story of Peter Pan entered my bones, and without even thinking about it, the map of the Neverland was the inspiration for the Isle of Berk, it`s ‘zig-zag lines` can be seen haunting the story of ‘How to Train Your Dragon`. There were no conscious parallels - but without thinking I, too, had written a story about growing-up, and an island, and flying, and a villain with a hook. For me, the joy of books is that they are like opening the doors to someone else`s Neverland. And when I open this book, I am a child again."

The auction opens on Thursday 9 June 2011 and closes at 14.00 on Friday 24 June 2011. The book lots will also be on display to the public at the Barbican library from 9 June to 26 June 2011.

All proceeds go towards our work supporting disadvantaged children and families who struggle with their literacy skills.

If you would like to bid for one of these books or to find out more about the other books in the auction visit:

http://auction.literacytrust.org.uk/itemlist.aspx