Very soon, classrooms across 32 Shropshire primary schools will be flooded by a shortlist of contemporary, exciting and unputdownable books for children, chosen by children.
Over 1,200 pupils will get their hands on these books to mark the start of the 8th 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 tales of adventure and journeys and thought provoking issues and dilemmas.
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 on 30th April 2024 with the shortlisted authors on stage for the event.
The shortlist, chosen by groups of super fast and super critical readers from 12 Shropshire primary schools from a longlist of over 70 titles submitted by leading children’s publishers, is:
‘The Piano at the Station’ by Helen Rutter, published by Barrington Stoke
‘Moonflight’ by Gill Lewis, published by David Fickling Books
‘Lost on Gibbon Island’ by Jess Butterworth, published by Hodder Children’s Books
‘The Night Animals’ by Sarah Ann Juckes, published by Simon & Schuster
‘The Boss of Everyone’ by Danny Wallace, published by Simon & Schuster
‘A Tricky Kind of Magic’ by Nigel Baines, published by Hodder Children’s Books
I just wanted to share with you what a huge success Bookfest Book Award is at our school. The children have never read so avidly, and there is so much book talk happening – it’s incredible. We have reluctant readers who are engaged, focused and getting such satisfaction from reading the books.”
Deputy Head Teacher – Bicton Primary School during Book Award 2022
Primary schools taking part in Big Book Award 2024:
| Alveley Primary School | Oxon Primary School |
| Baschurch C/E Primary School | Packwood Haugh School |
| Bicton CE Primary School | Pontesbury CE Primary School |
| Castlefields Primary School, Bridgnorth | Prestfelde School |
| Cheswardine Primary School | Radbrook Primary School |
| Claverley Primary School | Rushbury CE Primary School |
| Clee Hill Community Academy | Short Wood Primary School |
| Greenacres Primary School | Shrewsbury High School Junior |
| Greenfields Primary School | St John’s Catholic Primary School |
| Hinstock Primary School | St Laurence CE Primary School |
| Lilleshall Primary School | St Lawrence CE Primary School |
| Longden CE Primary School | St Leonards CE Primary School |
| Longnor CE Primary School | St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Madeley |
| The Martin Wilson School | The Wilfred Owen School |
| Muxton Primary School | Tibberton CE Primary School |
| Norton in Hales CE Primary School | West Felton CE Primary School |
If you’d like to speak to a member of the Bookfest team to discuss this project further, we’d be delighted to hear from you and to help. Contact us here!
Registered Charity Number: 1120177
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