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The Jamie and Angus Stories.

Article Excerpt
by Anne Fine, illustrated by Penny Dale, published by Candlewick Press

In The Velveteen Rabbit, the Skin Horse explains that becoming "Real" for a toy is a long process in which the toy gradually looks shabbier and shabbier as its hair and eyes and whiskers get all "loved off." But for Angus, Jamie's "DRY-CLEAN ONLY" stuffed Highland bull, that process is abbreviated by one unfortunate trip through the washing machine. For readers of The Jamie and Angus Stories, the enduring, warmly drawn friendship between the title characters is real from first page to last. With help from Penny Dale's affectionate drawings, which portray Angus with as much personality as he has in Jamie's imagination, Anne Fine has created a bull, a boy, and a loving family who are funny, endearing without being precious, and, above all, genuine to the core.

I'M THRILLED TO be here for such a lovely reason. There's nothing more heartening than coming to fetch an award--especially an award as prestigious and valued as this one; nothing that cheers an author more than knowing that the book she wrote is not only being read, but appreciated as well. I'm well aware of the contribution made by my illustrator, the very distinguished and excellent Penny Dale, who's done so much to make this book inviting and accessible. I wish she were here, too, to thank in public. I owe her a great debt. And I'd very much like to take this chance to thank both of the publishers concerned, Walker Books UK and Candlewick Press here, for taking such tremendous editorial care, both of me and the text, and producing such lovely, smooth, pickup-able editions.

Those of you who know my work well may have been a bit surprised by...

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