Shropshire Bookfest’s Book Awards is a child-led reading development initiative delivered into Shropshire primary schools every two years, for two age groups: The Big Book Award for children aged 9 – 11 years and Picture Book Award for 5 – 7 year olds (call for submissions to the Picture Book Award will go out in January 2022).
In September this year, Shropshire Bookfest launches this project for the 7th time to Shropshire primary schools. This highly regarded project offers not just a book award scheme but an opportunity for schools to stock their libraries with contemporary children’s books and a series of book-related activities designed to capture pupils’ imaginations, build their confidence and develop their skills in reading and critical analysis.
“Book Award has children at its very heart which is what makes it so special. They are encouraged and engaged in reading books that they would not always read. Children have books in common which helps to develop a community of readers regardless of their ability. Book Award helps to connect children within the class allowing conversations about books in common that would not always naturally take place.”
Class Teacher – Bookfest Book Award 2020
‘Big Book Award’ Entry Criteria:
Fiction title(s) submitted must have been first published in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland, in the English language, between 1st August 2020 and 31st July 2021.
Author must be resident in the UK.
Books must be suitable for ages 9 to 11.
Stand-alone titles only – not part-way through/at end of an existing series.
Must be available in paperback by 30th September 2021.
Maximum number of submissions – 5 titles per publisher/imprint.
Please supply three copies of each nominated title by 1st September 2021.
Please send nominated titles to: Joanna Hughes, The Old Greyhound, 20 Main Road, Dorrington, Shropshire, SY5 7JW. joanna.hughes@shropshirebookfest.co.uk
Shropshire Bookfest is quite unlike any other regional book award. Child led and centred, it generates not only a very healthy order sheet for each title, but a response from young readers that beats hands down anything I’ve ever experienced at other awards for its passion, imagination and creativity.”
Piers Torday, Bookfest Book Award 2014 shortlisted author
‘Big Book Award’ Timeline:
1st September 2021: Closing date for submissions to the longlist. (Year 6 readers from local primary schools will choose a shortlist of 6 titles from the publishers’ submissions.)
Early November 2021: The shortlist will be announced.
January to March 2022: Pupils from all participating schools across Shropshire will read the shortlist, enter into the associated competitions (art, creative writing and film trailer), comment on and vote for the winning title and author.
28th April 2022: The winner of the Shrewsbury Bookfest Book Award will be announced at an Awards Ceremony to be held at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury. It is usual that all the shortlisted authors attend the Award Ceremony. All schools taking part in the project will be invited. Those schools unable to attend the Ceremony will have the event live-screened into their classrooms.
Key Facts About Big Book Award:
The Shropshire Bookfest Book Award project for primary schools was first launched in 2010, increasing its reach and complexity each time in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.
Total number of participating primary schools in Book Award 2020: 39
Total number of participating pupils in the Big Book Award 2020: 1432
Number of titles on shortlist: 6
Total number of copies of shortlisted titles purchased by the Bookfest BIG Book Award project in 2020: 1,142.
Past winners: David Walliams – The Boy in the Dress (2010), Liz Pichon – Tom Gates (2012), Megan Rix – The Bomber Dog (2014) Jane Elson – How to Fly with Broken Wings (2016), Kieran Larwood – The Legend of Podkin One-Ear (2018), Ben Davis – What’s That in Dog Years? (2020)
The project is funded by a combination of trusts and foundations and by participating schools.
Registered Charity Number: 1120177
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