The Big Book Award: 

A child-led reading development project delivered into Shropshire primary schools to find the book published in the previous two years that children aged 9 – 11 years old love the most.  

The first Book Award project in 2010 was an immediate and overwhelming success, so we have run the project every two years since then.  We have developed its scope and widened its reach each time.  

The Picture Book Award:  

This project for KS1 was first delivered in 2018 in response to demand from the education sector in Shropshire, to follow the aims and ideals (i.e. to generate a love of reading for younger children) of the established Big Book Award, this time focusing on Years 1 and 2 (children aged 6 to 7 years old).  The Picture Book Award followed the aim to generate a love of reading for younger children and to provide a platform to inspire and influence younger pupils.  A ‘buddy reading system’ was be implemented where KS2 readers help KS1 readers throughout this project.

Book Award 2022 Calendar:

December 2021

• Big Book Award shortlist of 6 books is announced.
• Big Book Award shortlist books and materials are distributed into every classroom by Bookfest volunteers.
• How to Make the Most out of Book Award 2022 film is released to all schools and teachers.

January 2022

• Teachers launch Big Book Award to their pupils who begin reading, reviewing and sharing the shortlist of 6 books.
• Release of film to the Big Book Award pupils explaining their role as ‘judges’ as they begin to read and eventually vote for their favourite book.

February 2022

• Art CPD for all teachers (for Big Book Award & Picture Book Award teachers).
• Teachers and pupils access the bespoke drama workshops produced by Pentabus Theatre to inspire their creative responses to the Big Book Award shortlist.

March 2022

• Big Book Award voting and competitions deadline (25 March)
• Picture Book Award longlist reviewing begins.

April 2022

• Big Book Award Awards Ceremony at Theatre Severn (28 April) to reveal winning book, author and art, writing and creative response competition winners.

June 2022

• Picture Book Award shortlist of 4 books is announced.
• Picture Book Award shortlist books and materials are distributed into every classroom by Bookfest volunteers.
• Picture Book Award children read and review the shortlist.

July 2022

• Announcement of winning author and book for Picture Book Award and school competition winners.