Very soon, classrooms in Shropshire primary schools will be flooded by a shortlist of contemporary, exciting and unputdownable books for children, chosen by children.

The numbers for this project run into the thousands which is an incredible indication of a strong and energetic young community of readers that is flourishing across the county.

Over a thousand pupils from 41 primary schools will get their hands on these books to mark the start of the seventh Shropshire Bookfest Big Book Award.

These children will begin reading, reviewing and voting for their favourite book for 9-11 year olds from this shortlist which includes award winning children’s authors, new authors and gripping tales of adventure and journeys.

The project will culminate in a celebration of the pupils’ work during the project and announcement of the winning book during the Awards Ceremony at Theatre Severn in April 2022 with the shortlisted authors on stage for the event.

The shortlist, chosen by groups of super readers from 12 Shropshire primary schools from a longlist of over 70 titles submitted by leading children’s publishers, is:

1. ‘The Boy Who Met a Whale’ by Nizrana Farook, published by Nosy Crow
2. ‘Harklights’ by Tim Tilley, published by Usborne Books
3. ‘No Country’ by Patrice Aggs and Joe Brady, published by David Fickling Books
4. ‘SkyWake Invasion’ by Jamie Russell, published by Walker Books
5. ‘Twitch’ by M. G. Leonard, published by Walker Books
6. ‘The Small Things’ by Lisa Thompson, published by Barrington Stoke

The Bookfest Book Award is a highly successful project that has been run every two years in primary schools across Shropshire since 2010. It has been proven to have had a significant impact on inspiring children to read.   

Following the months of disruption and remote learning as a result of the Covid pandemic and lockdowns, primary schools leapt at the opportunity to book onto a project that brings back a sense of joy to reading as well as giving children a chance to collaborate and express their own thoughts and responses to a carefully selected list of books.

Take up in the Book Award 2022 project has been the highest yet and thanks to some energetic and successful fundraising, it comes at a hugely subsidised cost to schools ensuring the reach and scope is as wide as it can possibly be. 

“Never before has the response from schools been so quick, definitive and unquestioning.  Forget the surveys and post project analysis – this response alone was the most demonstrative indication that more and more teachers across Shropshire support this impactful project having seen the positive effect the project has had since we first ran it in 2010.” Says Sophie Peach – chair of Shropshire Bookfest.

Bookings for the whole project had to close ahead of the deadline due to full capacity being reached.

“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, Greenacres Primary School – Book Award 2020.

Primary schools taking part in Big Book Award 2022:

Help!

If you’d like to speak to a member of the Bookfest team to discuss this further, we’d be delighted to hear from you and to help.  Contact us here!