Literacy news
Cardiff student wins over the judging panel in peer recommendation competition, ReadThis.
29 Mar 2012
We are delighted to announce that the winner of our ReadThis competition is Year 8 student Caitlin from Howell’s School in Cardiff.
Caitlin was one of hundreds of students across the UK who entered our peer recommendation competition by choosing their favourite book and promoting it in the most creative way they could think of.
The judging panel debated long and hard over a shortlist of brilliant and creative entries of all shapes and sizes – from films, to radio interviews, to interactive games – but eventually agreed that Caitlin’s book campaign was a worthy winner.
The campaign, which promoted The Wedding Planner’s Daughter by Coleen Murtagh Paratore, included putting up little pictures around the school to catch people’s attention, running a “design a wedding dress” competition and throwing a party in the library with bunting, cakes and film screening of Bride Wars.
The judging panel said:
“The amount of work Caitlin had put in was incredible and well-thought out. She really tapped in to her core audience and found creative ways of getting them to take notice of the book.”
Howell’s School in Cardiff, where Caitlin is a student, are very proud that someone from their school has won the competition. Jane Wilks, from Howell’s School said:
“I am so delighted for Caitlin, she really did put so much into her campaign and we all had great fun joining her in the activities and readings she arranged. The (ReadThis) competition was set as a challenge for our very active Reading Club members, and the campaigns have moved way beyond the classroom into the whole school. Everyone was aware of the books that were being promoted due to the efforts of the students involved".
The girls really enjoyed the challenge and look forward to getting involved in more Literacy Trust competitions in the future.”
Other highly commended entries:
- Thea from Sydenham School in London, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever. Thea made a film in which she interviewed the book’s main character in a very simple but effective way. View film
- Siena from Loughborough High School in Leicestershire with Withering Tights. Siena’s campaign included being interviewed live on BBC Radio Leicester, a brave and clever idea. Listen to interview.
- Jack from Glenthorne High School in Surrey with Yes Man. Jack’s film trailer was slick and entertaining, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching it! View film.
- Jack from Bury Grammar School for Boys in Lancashire with Alex Rider: Stormbreaker. Jack created a very clever interactive game based on the book’s plot. View game (view as slideshow to get the full effect).
Our next literacy competition, The Big Diamond Jubilee Read, will run throughout the summer term and is supported by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. Find out more.
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