If you think your school would like to be part of projects like this in the future this…please get in touch with the Bookfest team now.

Book Award 2020 – our very popular reading development project is well underway, despite the ravages of the Coronavirus.

The project is split into two: Big Book Award 2020 for Years 5 & 6 and the Picture Book Award 2020 for children in Reception, Years 1 & 2.

Both projects are designed to help and encourage all children to develop a love of reading and express their views about contemporary fiction – regardless of reading ability. The Book Award 2020 projects follow on the resounding support and enthusiasm shown by primary schools in Shropshire who have taken part in previous Shrewsbury Bookfest Book Awards since 2010.

I think that Book Award is the best project we have ever taken part in. It has bridged a gap between reading and writing in so much that the children have made a connection with authors. They now realise that they are written by real people. Having the opportunity to engage with them, has meant that they have tried to think about the stories in more detail in order to ask the authors questions. For many children they moved beyond ‘surface’ reading, and reading because they have to, to reading because they want to. Nothing else has engaged an entire class in reading a set of books like this project has.  Greenacres Primary School (Book Award 2018)

An excellent project to raise the profile of reading and writing within the curriculum. I really appreciate the work and commitment from the whole team. The organisation and implementation was faultless. As a teacher it has been a pleasure to take part in the book awards and for our year 6 it has been a very positive experience.  St Leonards Primary School (Book Award 2018)

It has a massive, positive impact on reading and writing in our school. It is the shared experience that brings the whole class together. Reluctant readers are inspired to read, and the choice of texts means there is always something that is suitable for the range of children in the class.  As a teacher, I feel it helps me to keep up to date with current literature aimed at children. This is so valuable.  Castlefields Primary School, Bridgnorth (Book Award 2018)

Shrewsbury Bookfest’s Book Award project demonstrates that the initiative is very successful in achieving its key objective of encouraging a love of reading. Over 95% of those surveyed (Book Award 2018) stated that not only did the project encourage pupils to read more than usual but it also created a positive impact on reading generally.

Book Award 2020 is the sixth time we have delivered this and it launched in September 2019 and will come to an end in September 2020 (delayed ending due to Coronavirus lockdown in the spring 2020).  Through a series of book-related activities designed to capture pupils’ imaginations, build their confidence and skills in reading and critical analysis, Shrewsbury Bookfest has devised this child-led reading development initiative with a proven track record of success.  The University Centre Shrewsbury has providing valuable support and advice to the Book Award project and hosted the one-day conference “Unlocking the Power of Stories” for teachers to launch the project to participating schools.  This conference on 20th November 2019 gave teachers from all participating schools the opportunity to hear and meet leading figures from the world of children’s literature and education in order to gain inspiration and share ideas on how to help children develop a life-long love of reading.

Piers Torday, award-winning children’s author and patron of Shrewsbury Bookfest has commented on Book Award:

“this is led by the children, for the children….they have a voice and a role to play (in the project)”

To give you a flavour of what’s involved, take a look at this short film that was made during Book Award 2018…

If you think your school would like to be part of the NEXT Book Award project…please get in touch with the Bookfest team now.