Sharing Stories / Rhannu Storïau

An extra post this month as we share a variety of interactive, video and audio stories for children from around the web.  We'll add more to the list as we find them but here's what we have found so far!

'Highly recommended!' - by the staff at Torfaen Libraries

When our staff are not working at the libraries they like nothing better than curling up with a good book.  We’ve asked them for some recommendations and this month we’re going to focus on children and teenage titles (although adults can read them too!):

The Last Wild by Piers Torday (recommended by Angharad) – ‘A wonderful children’s book (the first in a series of three) about a post-apocalyptic UK where a young boy (who can speak to animals) uses his ability to change the world.  Environmental, funny and touching.’

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Macksey (recommended by Mair) – ‘A charming, positive and uplifting book with lovely illustrations, this book is suitable for everyone.’

Sea / Where the Sea Takes Me by Heidi R Kling (recommended by Skye) – ‘These books are set in Cambodia and follow the love story of Sienna and Deni.  A magical, captivating story where the reader can really connect with the main characters.  Still hoping that this series will be made into a film!’ (For teenagers / young adults)

Lightning Mary by Anthea Simmons (recommended by Mair) – ‘A fascinating, fictional telling of the real-life story of Mary Anning, scientist and fossil collector.’  (For older children and teenagers).

Next month the library staff will be recommending titles for our adult readers.  Until then, enjoy your reading!

Pan nad yw’n staff yn gweithio yn y llyfrgelloedd, ‘does dim byd gwell ganddynt na swatio gyda llyfr da. Rydym wedi gofyn iddyn nhw am argymhellion a’r mis yma rydym am ganolbwyntio ar deitlau i blant a rhai yn eu harddegau (er y gall oedolion eu darllen hefyd!):

The Last Wild gan Piers Torday (argymhellwyd gan Angharad) – ‘Llyfr gwych i blant (y cyntaf mewn cyfres o dri) am DU ôl-apocalyptaidd lle mae bachgen ifanc (sy’n gallu siarad ag anifeiliaid) yn defnyddio ei allu i newid y byd. Amgylcheddol, doniol a gwefreiddiol.’

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse gan Charlie Macksey (argymhellwyd gan Mair) – ‘Llyfr hudolus, cadarnhaol sy’n codi’r ysbryd gyda darluniau hyfryd; mae’r llyfr hwn yn addas i bawb.’

Sea / Where the Sea Takes Me gan Heidi R Kling (argymhellwyd gan Skye) – ‘Mae’r llyfrau hyn wedi eu gosod yng Nghambodia ac yn dilyn carwriaeth Sienna a Deni.  Stori hudolus, sy’n gafael, lle gall y darllenwr gysylltu go iawn gyda’r prif gymeriadau. Dal i obeithio y caiff y gyfres ei gwneud yn ffilm!’ (I rai yn eu harddegau / oedolion ifanc)

Lightning Mary gan Anthea Simmons (argymhellwyd gan Mair) – ‘Adroddiad ffuglennol, gwefreiddiol o stori bywyd go iawn Mary Anning, gwyddonydd a chasglwr ffosilau.’  (I blant hŷn a rhai yn eu harddegau).

Mis nesaf, bydd staff y llyfrgell yn argymell teitlau ar gyfer oedolion. Tan hynny, mwynhewch eich darllen!

The Costa Book Awards

The Costa Book Awards are here once more, recognising English-language books by writers based in Britain and Ireland as they have done for nearly 50 years.  The Costa Book of the Year ('Volunteer:  The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz' by Jack Fairweather) was selected on the 28 January from the winners of each of these five categories:

FIRST NOVEL

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins - 1826, and all of London is in a frenzy. Crowds gather at the gates of the Old Bailey to watch as Frannie Langton, maid to Mr and Mrs Benham, goes on trial for their murder. The testimonies against her are damning - slave, whore, seductress. And they may be the truth. But they are not the whole truth.

NOVEL

Middle England by Jonathan Coe - Beginning eight years ago on the outskirts of Birmingham, where car factories have been replaced by Poundland, and London, where frenzied riots give way to Olympic fever, Middle England follows a brilliantly vivid cast of characters through a time of immense change.

BIOGRAPHY

Volunteer:  The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather - The incredible story of Witold Pilecki, a Polish resistance fighter who volunteered to be imprisoned in Auschwitz where he forged an underground army, sabotaged facilities, assassinated Nazi officers, gathered evidence of the mass murder of the Jews and spread news of the Holocaust to the Allies.

POETRY

Flèche by Mary Jean Chan - Mary Jean Chan evokes the difficulties of reconciling one’s need for safety alongside the desire to shed one’s protective armour in order to fully embrace the world. This is a collection that feels urgent and true, dazzling and devastating by turns.

CHILDREN’S BOOK

Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan - From her den in the mango tree, Asha makes a pact with her best friend, Jeevan, to find her father and sort out all of life’s problems. But the journey is dangerous: they must cross the world's highest mountains and face hunger, tiredness - even snow leopards.

And yet, Asha has the unshakeable sense that the spirit bird of her grandmother - her nanijee - will be watching over her.

Why not try one of these award winners this month?

Mae Gwobrau Llyfrau Costa yma unwaith eto, yn cydnabod llyfrau Saesneg eu hiaith gan awduron ym Mhrydain ac Iwerddon, fel y maent wedi ei wneud am bron i 50 o flynyddoedd. Dewiswyd Llyfr y Flwyddyn Costau ('Volunteer:  The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz' gan Jack Fairweather) ar 28 Ionawr o’r buddugol ym mhob un o’r pum categori yma:

NOFEL GYNTAF

The Confessions of Frannie Langton gan Sara Collins - 1826, ac mae Llundain mewn cynnwrf. Mae torfeydd yn ymgasglu ger gatiau’r Old Bailey i wylio wrth i Frannie Langton, morwyn Mr a Mrs Benham, gael ei dwyn i dreial am eu llofruddio. Mae’r dystiolaeth yn ei herbyn yn ddamniol – caethwas, putain, hudoles. Ac efallai bod hyn yn wir. Ond nid dyna’r gwirionedd cyfan.

NOFEL

Middle England gan Jonathan Coe – Yn cychwyn wyth mlynedd yn ôl ar gyrion Birmingham, lle mae’r ffatrïoedd ceir wedi eu disodli gan Poundland, a Llundain, lle mae terfysgoedd gwyllt yn cael eu disodli gan seremoni agoriadol y Gemau Olympaidd, mae Middle England yn dilyn cast disglair o gymeriadau drwy gyfnod o newid anferth.

BYWGRAFFIAD

Volunteer:  The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz gan Jack Fairweather – Hanes anhygoel Witold Pilecki, ymladdwr gwrthsafiad Pwylaidd a wirfoddolodd i gael i garcharu yn Auschwitz lle lluniodd fyddin danddaearol, gan difrodi cyfleusterau, llofruddio swyddogion Natsiaidd, casglu tystiolaeth llofruddiaeth yr Iddewon a dod â newyddion y Llosgaberth i’r Cynghreiriaid.

BARDDONIAETH

Flèche gan Mary Jean Chan – Mae Mary Jean Chan yn disgrifio anawsterau cysoni angen rhywun am ddiogelwch gyda’r dymuniad i ddiosg arfwisg amddiffynnol er mwyn cofleidio’r byd yn llawn. Mae hwn yn gasgliad sy’n teimlo fel un llawn gwirionedd, sy’n disgleirio a distrywio yn ei dro.

LLYFR PLANT

Asha and the Spirit Bird gan Jasbinder Bilan – O’i ffau yn y goeden mango, mae Asha yn llunio cytundeb gyda’i ffrind gorau, Jeevan, i gael hyd i’w thad a delio gyda holl broblemau bywyd. Ond mae’r daith yn beryglus: rhaid iddynt groesi mynyddoedd uchaf y byd a wynebu newyn, blinder – hyd yn oed llewpardiaid yr eira.

Ac eto, mae gan Asha deimlad ddisyflyd bod aderyn-ysbryd ei nain - ei nanijee – yn gwylio drosti.

Pam na roddwch gynnig ar un o’r rhain y mis yma?

Resolve to read more in 2020!

2020 is here!  The start of a new year is often seen as the time when a person resolves to change a behaviour, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life.

Why not make some reading resolutions this year?  They’ll be some of the most enjoyable ones you try to keep!  We’ve put our heads together here at Torfaen Libraries and thought of a few ideas to get you thinking….

- Read at least one book a month from your local library (you are welcome to read more - our cards let you borrow up to 20 books at a time!).

- If you always read fiction, try a non-fiction title next (or vice versa!).

- Read an eBook on BorrowBox (the service is free with your library card and you can pop into your nearest library to get help setting it up on your device)

- Listen to an eAudiobook on BorrowBox (who doesn’t like being read a story?).

- Try a graphic novel or eMagazine on RBDigital (there are so many titles to try and ALL free).  Here is just a small selection of what you will find online:

- Re-read a book from your childhood (a wonderful idea that will bring back a host of memories).

- Read all the books you received at Christmas (hopefully Santa spoilt you this year).

- Read a book that has been translated into Welsh or English from another language.

Why not try one or two of the above over the next few months?  Or perhaps try them all!

Whatever you decide, we wish you a very happy New Year!

Mae’n 2020!  Mae dechrau blwyddyn newydd yn aml yn cael ei ystyried yn amser pan fydd person yn penderfynu newid ymddygiad, cyflawni nod personol neu, fel arall, gwella ei fywyd.

Beth am wneud rhai addunedau darllen eleni? Y rhain fydd rhai o'r  mwyaf pleserus rydych chi'n ceisio'u cadw! Rydyn ni wedi rhoi ein pennau at ei gilydd yma yn Llyfrgelloedd Torfaen ac wedi meddwl am ychydig o syniadau i'ch annog chi i feddwl….

- Darllenwch o leiaf un llyfr y mis o'ch llyfrgell leol (mae croeso i chi ddarllen mwy - mae ein cardiau'n caniatáu i chi fenthyg hyd at 20 llyfr ar y tro!).

- Os ydych chi bob amser yn darllen ffuglen, rhowch gynnig ar lyfr ffeithiol nesaf (neu i'r gwrthwyneb!).

- Darllenwch e-lyfr ar BorrowBox (mae'r gwasanaeth am ddim gyda'ch cerdyn llyfrgell a gallwch chi alw heibio i'ch llyfrgell agosaf i gael help i'w osod ar eich dyfais).

Gwrandewch ar e-lyfr llafar ar BorrowBox (pwy sydd ddim yn hoffi gwrando ar stori?).

Rhowch gynnig ar nofel raffig neu e-gylchgrawn ar RBDigital (mae cymaint o deitlau ac maent i GYD am ddim). Dyma ddetholiad bach o'r hyn a welwch ar-lein:

- Ailddarllenwch lyfr o'ch plentyndod (syniad rhyfeddol a fydd yn dod â llu o atgofion).

- Darllenwch yr holl lyfrau a gawsoch adeg y Nadolig (gobeithio bod Siôn Corn wedi bod yn hael iawn eleni).
- Darllenwch lyfr sydd wedi'i gyfieithu i'r Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg o iaith arall.

Beth am roi cynnig ar un neu ddau o'r uchod dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf? Neu beth am roi cynnig arnyn nhw i gyd!

Beth bynnag y penderfynwch chi, dymunwn Flwyddyn Newydd dda iawn i chi!

Books make the best presents!

December is here once more.  As the doors on advent calendars begin to open our thoughts turn to Christmas so, for this month's blog, we're going to look at some of 2019's best books for children (of all ages), perfect for loaning from your local library or for putting under the tree for the big day.

The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - The Smeds (who are red) never mix with the Smoos (who are blue). So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love, their families strongly disapprove. But peace is restored and love conquers all in this happiest of love stories. There's even a gorgeous purple baby to celebrate!

The Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams -  It is 2120 and London is in ruins.  The young Prince Alfred has never known a life outside Buckingham Palace – but when strange goings-on breach its walls and stalk the corridors in the dead of night, he is thrust into a world of mystery, adventure and monsters.

The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch by Tom Fletcher - A year has passed since a boy named William Trundle had an incredible adventure with the most extraordinary dinosaur: the Christmasaurus.  Now, William is about to be swept back to the North Pole and meet the icy, mysterious and magical Winter Witch, whose power to control time allows Santa to travel all around the world on Christmas Eve.

The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume 2 by Philip Pullman - Lyra, now twenty, and her daemon are forced to navigate their relationship in a way they could never have imagined as they are drawn into the complex and dangerous factions of a world that they had no idea existed. Pulled along on his own journey too is Malcolm; once a boy with a boat and a mission to save a baby from the flood, now a man with a strong sense of duty and a desire to do what is right. 

Curl up with a good book this festive period!

Mae Rhagfyr yma unwaith eto. Wrth i’r drysau ar galendrau Adfent ddechrau agor, mae ein meddyliau’n dechrau troi at y Nadolig ac felly, ar gyfer blog y mis hwn, rydym yn mynd i edrych ar rai o lyfrau gorau 2019 i blant (o bob oed), sy’n berffaith i’w benthyca gan eich llyfrgell leol neu i’w rhoi o dan y goeden ar gyfer y diwrnod mawr.

The Smeds and the Smoos gan Julia Donaldson ac Axel Scheffler – Dyw’r Smeds (sy’n goch) byth yn cymysgu gyda’r Smoos (sy’n las). Felly pan fod Smed a Smoo ifanc yn cwympo mewn cariad, mae eu teuluoedd yn ffyrnig yn erbyn. Ond daw heddwch unwaith eto ac mae cariad yn rhagori yn y stori serch yma.  Mae yna fabi bach porffor i goroni’r cyfan hefyd!

The Beast of Buckingham Palace gan David Walliams -  Mae’n 2120 ac mae Llundain yn deilchion. Dyw’r Tywysog Alfred ifanc ddim yn gyfarwydd o gwbl gyda bywyd y tu allan i Balas Buckingham - ond pan fo pethau od yn torri trwy’r waliau ac yn troedio’r coridorau yng nghanol y nos, caiff ei daflu i fyd o ddirgelwch, antur ac angenfilod.

The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch gan Tom Fletcher - Mae blwyddyn wedi mynd heibio ers i fachgen o’r enw William Trundle gael antur anhygoel gyda’r dinosor mwyaf anarferol: y Christmasaurus. Nawr, mae William ar fin gael ei ysgubo yn ôl i Begwn y Gogledd i gwrdd â Gwrach y Gaeaf sydd, trwy ei gallu i reoli amser, yn galluogi Siôn Corn i deithio o gwmpas y byd ar Noswyl Nadolig.

The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume 2 gan Philip Pullman – Mae Lyra, bellach yn ugain oed, a’i daemon yn cael eu gorfodi i lywio’u perthynas mewn ffordd na fydden nhw byth wedi dychmygu wrth iddyn nhw gael eu tynnu i mewn i garfannau cymhleth a pheryglus byd nad oedden nhw’n sylweddoli ei fod yn bodoli. Yn cael ei dynnu ar ei daith ei hun hefyd mae Malcolm, a fu unwaith yn fachgen gyda chwch a chennad i achub baban o’r llifogydd, ac sydd nawr yn ddyn gyda synnwyr clir o ddyletswydd ac awydd gwneud yr hyn sy’n iawn. 

Eisteddwch ‘nôl gyda llyfr da dros yr ŵyl!

The Booker Prize 2019

The Booker Prize (awarded annually to the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK or Ireland) has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding fiction for over 50 years.  This year was no exception with not one but two winners of the prize!

We’re going to look at the full shortlist this month, all thoughtful stories that are well worth a read:

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood - More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within…

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo - Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives and struggles of 12 very different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years. 

Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann - Latticing one cherry pie after another, an Ohio housewife tries to bridge the gaps between reality and the torrent of meaningless info that is the United States of America. 

An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma - A contemporary twist on Homer’s Odyssey, Chigozie Obioma weaves a heart-wrenching epic about the tension between destiny and determination.

Quichotte by Salman Rushdie - Inspired by the classic Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, Quichotte is the story of an aging travelling salesman who falls in love with a TV star and sets off to drive across America on a quest to prove himself worthy of her hand.

10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World by Elif Shafak - For Leila, each minute after her death brings a sensuous memory: the taste of spiced goat stew, sacrificed by her father to celebrate the long-awaited birth of a son. Each memory, too, recalls the friends she made at each key moment in her life – friends who are now desperately trying to find her. .

Mae Gwobr Booker (a gyflwynir pob blwyddyn i nofel orau’r flwyddyn yn Saesneg ac wedi ei chyhoeddi yn y DU neu Iwerddon) wedi dod â chydnabyddiaeth, gwobrau a darllenwyr i ffuglen ragorol ers dros 50 mlynedd.  Doedd eleni ddim yn eithriad gyda nid un ond dwy enillydd.

Rydym ni’n mynd i edrych ar y rhestr fer lawn y mis yma, pob un yn stori ystyrlon sy’n werth eu darllen:

The Testaments gan Margaret Atwood – Dros bymtheg mlynedd ers digwyddiadau The Handmaid’s Tale, mae theocratiaeth Gweriniaeth Gilead yn dal i afael yn dynn ar ei grym, ond mae yn arwyddion ei bod yn dechrau pydru o’r tu mewn …

Girl, Woman, Other gan Bernadine Evaristo – Mae Girl, Woman, Other yn dilyn bywydau a brwydrau 12 o gymeriadau gwahanol iawn.  Mae’r rhan fwyaf yn fenywod, yn ddu ac yn Brydeinig ac maen nhw’n adrodd storïau eu teuluoedd, ffrindiau a chariadon, ar draws y wlad a thros y blynyddoedd. 

Ducks, Newburyport gan Lucy Ellmann - Wrth addurno un darten geirios ar ôl y llall, mae gwraig tŷ o Ohio’n ceisio pontio agendor rhwng y gwirionedd a’r llif o wybodaeth ddiystyr sy’n cwmpasu Unol Daleithiau America.

An Orchestra of Minorities gan Chigozie Obioma – Tro modern ar Odyseia Homer, mae Chigozie Obioma’n gweu stori arwrol a dirdynnol am y tyndra rhwng ffawd a rhagderfyniad.

Quichotte gan Salman Rushdie – wedi ei hysbrydoli gan y clasur Don Quixote gan Miguel de Cervantes, stori yw Quichotte am drafeiliwr oedrannus sy’n syrthio mewn cariad â seren o’r teledu ac mae’n cychwyn ar daith ar draws America mewn ymgais i brofi ei fod yn deilwng o’i llaw.

10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World gan Elif Shafak – I Leila, mae pob munud ar ôl ei marwolaeth yn dod â chof synhwyrus: blas cawl gafr a aberthwyd gan ei thad i ddathlu genedigaeth mab. Mae pob cof hefyd yn dod ag atgofion o’r ffrindiau y bu iddi gwrdd â nhw ar bob adeg allweddol yn ei bywyd – ffrindiau sydd ar dân eisiau cael hyd iddi nawr. .