Julia Donaldson, author of the bestselling children's book The Gruffalo, talks about her love of performance, her new book Stick Man and her hearing loss in a full-length interview. And we test the latest home loop systems to help increase your enjoyment of television and make it easier to hear conversations.
Julia Donaldson, on her lasting interest in performance
When Julia Donaldson, her husband and toddler son moved to France for a year in 1979, they didn't have room for many toys. Two-year-old Hamish pretended that sticks or pieces of cardboard were violins or boats or knives and forks, or whatever he wanted them to be. "He would say, 'This is an ice cream cone, Mummy,' " she recalls. "He was a very imaginative child."
Unconsciously, Donaldson says, she drew on her son's early games as inspiration for her new book, Stick Man. In it, a dog thinks the Stick Man is a stick, a swan weaves him into its nest, a girl plays Pooh sticks with him, a boy uses him to make a snowman's arm, and a father uses him as a flagpole for a sandcastle.
Stick Man is the latest in a string of successful children's books, plays and songs by Donaldson, dominated in the public's mind by the immensely popular rhyming story, The Gruffalo. The book stars a mouse who takes a long walk through a forest, where he meets a variety of creatures whom he scares off by claiming that he is on his way to meet a fictional gruffalo. Then the mouse meets a real gruffalo – but finds a cunning way to survive. The Gruffalo has sold over two million copies, has been translated into 40 languages and won three prizes. Though published in 1999, it was the number one book in a 2008 survey by the National Year of Reading of parents with children under 16. There are plans, perhaps next year, to make The Gruffalo into an animated film for television – part of the book's appeal is its stunning illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Donaldson now lives in Glasgow, where the family moved to in 1989 and where she started writing books. Today, they still take an interest in her work, and are the first to read any new books.
Donaldson now lives in Glasgow, where the family moved to in 1989 and where she started writing books. Julia's story can be read in full in One in Seven magazine. Join RNID now to get your copy.
Product review: we report on the latest home audio loop systems
If you've ever tried your hearing aid on the 'T' setting when you see the loop sign at a bank or post office counter, theatre or cinema, you'll have no doubt experienced the clearer sound and reduced background noise that a correctly installed loop can offer. Those same benefits are possible in the home, with a domestic audio loop system that you can use for listening to the television or for following conversation, for example. Since our last report on home loops, newer systems have become available. Essentially, there's not much difference between them except in the finer details, which our technical testing and volunteers help to tease out.
A loop of wire needs to be fitted around the edge of your living room. This is essential as it sends the signal to your hearing aid. Connect the loop wire to the amplifier, then the amplifier to your TV set (or whichever sound source you want to listen to)...
See the full product review with 'at a glance' comparison chart in One in Seven magazine. Join RNID now to get your copy.
Our vision: we update members on RNID's strategic review.
Over the last six months we have been reflecting on the history of RNID and our origins. When the organisation was founded in 1911, RNID's purpose was to "promote and encourage the prevention and mitigation of deafness and the better treatment, education, training, employment and welfare of people who are deaf or hard of hearing".
Since that time we have had had many successes in campaigning; we led the coalition of groups campaigning for newborn screening and, without us, many of you would not have digital hearing aids. We also have a strong track record in delivering improved access to employment, education, aids to living, transport and leisure. Through our residential and community care services, we have enabled thousands of people to live independently or in an environment where they feel fulfilled and well supported. We are one of the major funders of hearing research in the UK. Our technology and biomedical research teams have already informed us of some of the common causes of deafness and hearing loss and we believe that we are on road to finding new treatments and cures. Not surprisingly, we have become experts in hearing and hearing loss and its impact on people's ability to communicate. We have used that knowledge to take action on the prevention of deafness; our award-winning Don't Lose the Music campaign goes from strength to strength as we work with more young people.
RNID Chief Executive Jackie Ballard says: "As we approach our centenary, we have been thinking about how we can respond to the challenges we face, including: an ageing population; more families opting for cochlear implants and a noisier world. "One thing really struck those involved in the review – how can we encourage people to value their hearing more and take action to protect and preserve it?".