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Enthusiasm about reading can be infectious, and how better to spread the word about a great book than to start your very own book award? Below are some examples of how people are getting everyone involved, listed in order of region.
Is there a book award running in your local area? Let us know - email sarah.osborne@literacytrust.org.uk. |
We currently don't have any awards listed in this area.
Sefton Super Reads Book Award
The Sefton Award began in 2005 and is organised by the Sefton School Librarians' Support Group, whose members work in secondary schools across the borough. It is aimed at pupils in Year's 8 and 9, however, many older pupils get involved.
Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Award
The Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Award has been running annually since 1986 and is the longest running book awards selected, judged and voted on by children. It is supported by the University of Central Lancashire. The shortlist for books for 2007 was announced after the young judges read a staggering 116 titles submitted this year. The shortlist was judged by a panel of 14-year-olds guided by children's author Hazel Townson. For more information about the Award, contact Jake Hope at the Lancashire Young People's Library Service. For more information, visit
www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/children/cboty/default_new.asp
Wirral Paperback of the Year 2004
Year 8 and Year 9 pupils from 15 Wirral schools spent the autumn and spring terms reading and discussing a list of 20 new paperbacks. Early in the summer term each school pronounced its own shortlist, and from these a Wirral shortlist was announced. In June, 46 pupils representing eight of the schools met to discuss the merits of each book. Across the nightingale floor, by Lian Hearn was the clear winner.
For further information contact Mary Bryning atl marybryning@wirral.gov.uk
Waverton village book award
The
Guardian reported that locals in Waverton, a rural village in Cheshire, decided to judge a host of British first novels, published during the past 18 months, and offer a small cash prize to the best one. They came to their conclusion by getting everyone in the village to read them.
The inspiration for the Good Read Award came from the French village of La Cadiere, in Provence, where a similar scheme had been running for a couple of years after a doctor decided to give his neighbours something to talk about other than their physical ailments. In Waverton, organisers Wendy Smedley and Gwen Goodhew had similar hopes for turning the community into one large reading group. 'We started with around 60 novels and people's votes have whittled them down to 24,' said Wendy. Books were left in special boxes at the post office, the hairdresser's, the golf club, the village hall and the doctor's waiting room.
(Guardian, 30 June 2004)
Sheffield Children's Book Award
The award began in 1988 and was first started to encourage children and young people to read, and to highlight the best books to read. In 2006, 166 Sheffield schools took part. Each school chooses a book category for the class and are given a start up pack of ideas and a collection of books to read and review. The scheme has the support of publishing hosues and sponsors.
Each child votes for their favourite book and the votes are collected over summer. An award ceremony takes place in November for the winners. For more information, including this year's shortlist and lists of previous winners, visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/libraries/tots-2-teens/sheffield-childrens-book-award
Rotherham Children's Book Award
Over the summer term, Rotherham school pupils are read and voted on the variety of titles short listed for the 2007 Rotherham Children's Book Award, set for July 13th in the Great Hall of Rotherham's Magna Science and Adventure Centre. This awards, now in their 7th year, will feature children's authors Peter J. Murray and Lucy Daniel Raby (both of whom have books included in the shortlist) as well as last year's winner, Timebomb author Nigel Hinton. The shortlist, which includes such titles as The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julie Golding and Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud, was agreed on by a group of teachers seeking to include a varied and challenging selection of books primarily directed at Year 5, 6 and 7 pupils. For more information, email Joy Blaker at joy.blaker@rotherham.gov.uk.
Doncaster Children's Book Award
Doncaster Children's Book Award is a joint project involving Doncaster's young people and its school and public libraries. The key success of the scheme has been to give the students as much control, and ownership as possible. Thus they choose the long and short book lists, they set the criteria against which the books are judged, they design the website and the logo for the publicity posters, and their votes alone decide the eventual winner. Not only are students encouraged to read the list of titles, but they also take part in events and activities organised by schools and local libraries. Visit www.doncasterbookaward.net to find out more information.
We currently don't have any awards listed in this area.
Birmingham KS3 Book Award
Each year Birmingham holds a different themed KS3 Book Award. For 2007/08 the theme was 'dares'. Individual schools champion a particular book on a shortlist and vote for their favourtie. For more information, plus resources and links, visit www.myvotes.bgfl.org/35/
Coventry's Inspiration Book Awards
Coventry School Library Service purchased the software that had been developed for the key stage three (KS3) book awards in Birmingham. Funding for this came from Excellence in Cities and Standards Funds for KS3. The website software they purchased to run this award allowed them to run up to 50 polls simultaneously and just one book award suddenly did not seem enough. Coventry Inspires Reading for Life was born and Coventry Libraries and Information Service quickly came on board.
Featuring Big Brother style voting on a dedicated website www.myvotescoventry.org, this initiative aims to involve everyone, throughout the whole community, to discover, enjoy reading and then vote on the best books for their age group or their special interest. The project has a choice of 168 books in the 14 categories for children, young people and adults.
The idea that any one member of the family who finds the website could spread the message to older or younger family members or friends, appealed to everybody. The website offers direct links to Find your local library and to reserve the short-listed books. Links also provide information about authors, publishers, other books, and useful information for parents about Bookstart and Footsteps Into Books in Coventry.
Panels of librarians, teachers, literacy consultants and advisers chose the six shortlists for children and young people. Their only criteria were that the books should be a brilliant read: the sort of books that would inspire the reading habit. Ideally the books should also be available in paperback and not have won a major national award before. Mark Williams, the Literature Development Officer for Coventry, took on the difficult task of selecting the eight genres to feature for adults and the 12 short-listed books for each.
To really encourage participation in these awards the Children's Young People and Learning Directorate provided the funding to ensure that every school in the city has a set of the appropriate shortlists. The Early Years Service also funded the supply of the shortlist for the very youngest readers to all nurseries and early years settings. SLS, with the help of Peters Library Suppliers, took on the mammoth task of ordering, sorting and delivering nearly 5000 books in time for the launch.
The website was launched on October 5th 2006 and readers are already sending in their comments and voting. 8 January 2007 will see the first eliminations from the shortlists. Every week after that, the two books with the least votes will be voted off. The eventual winners will be invited to an Oscar- style award ceremony later in the year when they intend to able to celebrate their success and the growth of Coventry as a city dedicated to reading and literacy.
(Coventry City Council, October 2006)
Solihull Children's Book Award
The first John Lewis Solihull Children's Book Award was presented on 22 April 2005. A long list of 12 books was drawn up, and 14 schools took part in whittling it down to a shortlist of three.
John Lewis's sponsorship meant that every school in the borough was able to receive a set of the short-listed books. Reading groups were set up, and senior schools and feeder primaries were able to work together, with events such as a visit to the local primary Year 5 group by a group of Year 7 pupils.
The children voted for their favourite and were encouraged to write book reviews. Over a third of schools in the area took part in the voting, and one school compiled a scrapbook of reviews, which they then had signed by the authors.
The presentation ceremony was attended by Michael Lawrence, who wrote the winning book, Nudie Dudie, and Andrew Norris, who wrote The Touchstone. Bowvayne, the third author who wrote A Turn in the Grave was in Australia but sent a video to the event.
For more information contact, Margaret Hemming, School Librarian, Lode Heath School on 0121 7041421.
Staffordshire YTF Book Award for Young Teenage Fiction
The Staffordshire YTF Book Award aims to develop a love of reading and to promote and celebrate contemporary fiction. There are six books shortlisted which can be voted for by 11-14 year olds. Visit www.sln.org.uk/bookaward for more information.
Essex School Library Service in conjunction with The Stanway School in Colchester have run the Essex Book Award in 2007 and 2008. A shortlist of six quality titles is chosen by librarians at Essex SLS. Secondary students are then invited to read, review and give marks out of 10 for each of the chosen shortlist. A secret ballot means no-one knows the winner till the final moment. In 2008 Tim Lott’s modern fairy tale Fearless was an outright winner and in May 2008 we welcomed the author to Essex School Library Service’s to accept the award and share his thoughts with us. His audience enjoyed a lively and thought-provoking session with Tim. For further information please contact nickie.carpenter@essexcc.gov.uk
Set up in 2007 by a group of librarians, the first year's theme was 'from page to screen'. After talking to the students, the award has two categories: 'teen screen' for 11 to 15 year-olds and 'movie classics'. Five books were nominated in each category by the students themselves, before being read, discussed and voted on. The awards ceremony was an Oscar's-style red carpet event held in a local independent cinema in July. The award has been a great success with a very low drop out rate and several spin off competitions, such as designing a trophy. The award attracted some funding from local business, however, as the award gathers momentum they are hoping eventually to be able to provide each participating student with book voucher.
Berkshire Children's Book Award
The Berkshire Children's Book Award is an award for the best, recently published book written for young people. Over 50 schools have involved pupils aged between 11 and 14 in nominating their favourite books. Public libraries and bookshops across Berkshire are also involved.
For more information visit http://www.els-online.org.uk/
Southern schools book awards
The Southern schools book award aims to re-establish and strengthen the reading habit for the 13-plus student. Attention is drawn to 'books well worth reading' and an inclusive attitude is adopted towards ICT and other activities. Students are involved with the creation of a website, and the award links schools through the region via email. The award also expands to bookmark and poster design competitions, book review guides and the production of a regular newsletter between schools.
Teachers and librarians drew up a shortlist of books which students then read, reviewed and debated to select their favourite book. To find out more visit www.ssba-online.co.uk/index.htm
Kernow Youth Book Award, Cornwall 2008
A youth book award started by school librarians in Cornwall and supported by the public library service and Cornwall County Council. The aim is to promote and encourage reading and give Cornish young people (aged 11-14) the chance to feel involved in an award that is locally based. Young people were asked to design the logo for the award, which begins in 2008. Each school has selected judges to read and decide the order of the shortlist for their school. These local votes will be tallied to give a county order which will be announced at the awards ceremony in Easter 2008. Other students are encouraged to read the list of titles and take part in events and activities organised by schools and local libraries. The overall criteria against which the books are to be judged is 'would you recommend this title?
Southwark Schools' Book Award
The Southwark Schools’ Book Award is a pilot transition reading project linking nearly 400 Year 6 and 7 pupils in the following Southwark schools: City of London Academy, Bacons College, Albion Primary, Alfred Salter Primary, Alma Primary, Peter Hills Primary, Redriff Primary, Southwark Park Primary and Surrey Square Juniors.
Teachers, librarians and pupils will read, review and vote on their favourite book over the coming half term with a winner being announced in July. Funding was provided from the Excellence in Cities Transition Fund which allowed the organisers to supply all schools with copies of the shortlisted books as well as drama workshops run by Dave Cryer, English/drama specialist. The organsiers hope to extend the project across the borough in 2008 and involve as many schools as possible as well as linking with the local public library service. For more information, visit www.slideshare.net/LTay007/southwark-schools-book-award-2007/ and http://blog.cityacademy.co.uk/
Hillingdon Secondary Book of the Year
Since 2003, the Schools' Library Service of Hillingdon has held the Hillingdon Secondary School Book of the Year Event. Secondary school pupils across Hillingdon read and select their favorites amongst the shortlisted titles. In the final awards event, schools are encouraged to create displays and presentations about their favorite books. Past winners include
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpugo, Cornelia Funke's
Inkheart and
Jimmy Coates: Killer by Joe Craig. For more information, contact Beverley Jervis at 01895 250715 or visit
www.hillingdon.gov.uk.
Cranbrook's big read
Cranbrook Primary School, Angley School and Cranbrook School joined together in a project to provide young people aged 4 to 18 with ideas of the best books available. The aim of the project is to promote the joy of reading and to encourage children and teenagers to read more. They produced a booklet of their recommended reads which was published just in time for the summer holiday. All the books listed were nominated and voted for by the children.
Pembroke literary review
Taking the adult dimension out of reading is encouraging pupils to pick up books and enjoy them. Every Thursday lunchtime members of the West Wales children's book group congregate in the library at Pembroke School to review and select the titles they deem worthy of inclusion in the Red House children's book awards shortlist. Shortlisted books, and eventual winners, are entirely chosen by children - adult opinion counts for nothing.
Liz Smith, Pembroke School's librarian, who oversees the weekly sessions, says that bookishness has earned credibility because the students run their own show with minimum adult intervention. "They like to ask me what I think of the books, but they are glad that I don't have a say in the final selection," she says. Book club member Eleri Evans, 13, said: "I enjoy the debating aspect of the book group. Even if I dislike a book, I'll look for something positive to say about it. Having to review it makes you see it in a different way, it makes you wonder what someone else might like about it." The West Wales group operates under the umbrella of the Federation of Children's Book Groups.
(TES, 8 April 2005)
Catalyst Book Award - North Lanarkshire
Pupils from all 25 secondaries in the area cast almost 1,000 votes for the four shortlisted books selected by the Catalyst Fiction Group, which comprises school and public librarians working within North Lanarkshire Council. The award was set up by The Catalyst Fiction Group to promote teenage fiction in North Lanarkshire’s secondary schools and community libraries and encourage a higher level of teenagers reading for enjoyment.
The group was established in 2004 and the awards ceremony has quickly established itself as a major event on the schools' and public libraries’ calendar. For further information on the North Lanarkshire Catalyst Book Award, visit the website at www.northlan.gov.uk
Angus Book Award 2007
Over 500 Angus pupils gathered in Montrose Academy in December 2006 for the launch of the Angus Book Award 2007. Since the first book award in 1996, the event has captured the imagination of S3 pupils throughout the county. Pupils will read their way through the shortlist, before voting for their favourite in a secret ballot. Launching the 2007 award in front of pupils from all eight Angus secondary schools was author and the current holder of the award, Graham Joyce. HE said: "The Angus award has become a major event in the young adult book world. The young people of Angus take part in a massive popular vote, advocating their favourites and presenting the awards. The excitement and energy of the award ceremony is sensational."
For more information visit www.angus.gov.uk/bookaward/default.htm
South Lanarkshire Children's Book Award
Set up in 2004, pupils in their third year at 10 participating secondary schools vote for their favourite from a shortlist of five books. For more information about the award and the previous winners, visit
http://www.slc-learningcentres.org.uk/bookaward/details08.htm
Falkirk Council RED Book Awards
2007 marked the first year of the Falkirk Council's RED Book Awards, with Anne Cassidy's
Looking for JJ emerging as the winner. The RED Book Awards-RED standing for Reading, Enjoy, Debate-allows pupils from Falkirk's eight secondary schools to present and dramatise shortlisted titles, previously voted on and debated by hundreds of their peers from the 100 titles nominated. Books nominated in the RED Book Awards should be suitable for S2 and S3 pupils and have a certain "wow" factor.
The Scottish Children's Book Award
The Scottish Book Trust and the Scottish Art's Council have launched a Scottish Children's Book Award to be voted for by young readers. Teachers and librarians are being invited to set up groups of children, who will read a shortlist of titles published in 2005. There are three categories: seven and under, 8 to 12 year-olds and 13-16 year olds. Groups will read the shortlisted titles during the autumn term and vote in November. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh in December. For more information email info@braw.org.uk
We currently don't have any awards listed in this area.
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