Alan Gibbons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alan Gibbons
Gibbons at The World Transformed 2018 in Liverpool
Born	Warrington, Lancashire, England
Occupation	Novelist, educational consultant
Language	English
Nationality	English
Genre	Children's literature
Years active	1988–present
Notable works	Shadow of the Minotaur, The Edge
Notable awards	Blue Peter Book Award 2000 Shadow of the Minotaur
Children	4

Alan Albert Gibbons (born 14 August 1953) is an English writer. He is famous for his children's books and for supporting libraries.

He has written over 60 books. He has also won many awards. One of his most popular books, Shadow of the Minotaur, won a Blue Peter Book Award.

Gibbons lives in Liverpool, England. He used to be a primary school teacher there. Today, he is a local councillor, which means he helps make decisions for his local area.

Alan Gibbons: Early Life and Career

Gibbons was born in Warrington, Cheshire. His father was a farm worker. When Alan was eight, his father had a serious accident. This meant the family had to move to Crewe, Cheshire.

Before becoming a teacher, Gibbons worked as a journalist. He also had several jobs in factories. In his mid-thirties, he decided to train as a teacher.

How Alan Gibbons Started Writing

While working as a teacher in Knowsley, Gibbons began writing short stories. He wrote them for his students. Later, he started writing books as his main job.

Gibbons is best known for writing books for children and young adults. He has written more than 60 books. These books have been translated into many different languages.

He has won many awards for his writing. These include a Blue Peter Book Award and the Angus Book Award. He was also nominated twice for the Carnegie Medal.

Alan Gibbons: Speaking and Education Work

Alan Gibbons often speaks at big book events. These include the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the London Book Fair. He also visits schools across the UK and other countries. He talks about reading and education.

His books often explore important topics. These include racism, poverty, and fairness in society. Author Michael Rosen said that Gibbons' novels focus on the lives of "working-class children and teenagers." His stories are exciting and often show characters making important choices about their lives and communities.

Campaigning for Libraries

In 2010, Gibbons started a group called the Campaign for the Book. Its goal was to encourage reading and support libraries. He wanted more money and help for library services.

He strongly disagreed with government spending cuts. These cuts meant that almost 800 public libraries might close. Gibbons called this a "cultural crime."

How the Campaign Helped Libraries

As part of his campaign, Gibbons organized 'read-ins' across the country. People would gather in libraries to read and protest the closures. About 110 events took place, with up to 10,000 people joining in.

In 2011, he started a new idea: a National Libraries Day. This day would celebrate reading and libraries. Many groups quickly supported this idea. It became an annual event held on the first Saturday in February. Later, it grew into National Libraries Week.

Gibbons and his Campaign for the Book are part of a larger group called the Speak Up for Libraries Coalition. In 2016, he helped organize a big protest. This protest was for libraries, museums, and art galleries. About 2,500 people attended.

Alan Gibbons: Political Involvement

Besides being a writer and library campaigner, Gibbons has always been a socialist. This means he believes in fairness and equality for everyone. He is also a trade unionist, which means he supports workers' rights.

He was involved in early political groups. He was also the President of the Knowsley National Union of Teachers (NUT).

Campaigning Against School Tests

Gibbons organized a group called Authors Against SATs. This group campaigned to stop the SATs tests in schools. In 2010, they supported teaching unions who decided not to use these tests.

Becoming a Local Councillor

In 2016, Gibbons joined the Labour Party. He was inspired by Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaign. He became a local leader for the Labour Party in Liverpool Walton.

In 2021, he was elected as a Liverpool Councillor for the Warbreck area. This is where he lives.

During his time in the Labour Party, Gibbons spoke at many left-wing events. In 2020, he was briefly suspended from the party. This happened because he allowed a motion supporting Jeremy Corbyn to be passed at a meeting.

In March 2022, Gibbons and six other Liverpool Labour councillors voted against their party's budget. He said he could not vote for cuts that would make life harder for the people he represented.

Because they voted against the party, these councillors were suspended. Gibbons was later expelled from the Labour Party. The party said this was because he gave an interview to a left-wing newspaper called Socialist Appeal.

After leaving the Labour Party, Gibbons became a leader for the Liverpool Community Independents. This is a group of councillors who are not part of a major party. In the 2023 Liverpool City Council election, Gibbons was re-elected as an independent councillor. He won by a large number of votes. In November 2023, Gibbons joined a new political party called Transform.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2000, Alan Gibbons won a Blue Peter Book Award. He won in the 'The Book I Couldn't Put Down' category for his book Shadow of the Minotaur. He was also a judge for the 2001 Blue Peter Book Awards.

He was nominated twice for the Carnegie Medal. He was also nominated twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has won many other awards, including the Leicester Book of the Year and the Angus Book Award.

In 2016, Gibbons received the Fred and Anne Jarvis Award. This was from the NUT. He received it for his work in defending school libraries.

Personal Life

Gibbons lives in Liverpool with his wife and children. He has four children. Sadly, his eldest son, Joe, passed away in a motorcycle accident in 2018.