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Announcing the six books on the Big Book Award 2024 shortlist

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

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. 

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 SchoolOxon Primary School
Baschurch C/E Primary SchoolPackwood Haugh School
Bicton CE Primary SchoolPontesbury CE Primary School
Castlefields Primary School, BridgnorthPrestfelde School
Cheswardine Primary SchoolRadbrook Primary School
Claverley Primary SchoolRushbury CE Primary School
Clee Hill Community AcademyShort Wood Primary School
Greenacres Primary SchoolShrewsbury High School Junior
Greenfields Primary SchoolSt John’s Catholic Primary School
Hinstock Primary SchoolSt Laurence CE Primary School
Lilleshall Primary SchoolSt Lawrence CE Primary School
Longden CE Primary SchoolSt Leonards CE Primary School
Longnor CE Primary SchoolSt Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Madeley
The Martin Wilson SchoolThe Wilfred Owen School
Muxton Primary SchoolTibberton CE Primary School
Norton in Hales CE Primary SchoolWest 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!

21/04/2026

Announcing the Shropshire Bookfest Big Book Award 2026 Winner!

read more

03/01/2026

Announcing the shortlist for Big Book Award 2026…

read more

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shropbookfest

May we introduce Darcie Mitchell, author and 3rd p May we introduce Darcie Mitchell, author and 3rd place (KS1) in the Shropshire Bookfest Readers to Writers 2023 creative writing competition, from Hinstock Primary School with her first book 'Rosie & The Lost Friends'
Congratulations to all 1500 pupils from all 29 pri Congratulations to all 1500 pupils from all 29 primary schools who were inspired by their children's author workshop leaders to write some amazing books for the Readers to Writers 2023 creative writing competition #writingforpleasure
This is Ella. Back in 2016, aged 11, she won the f This is Ella. Back in 2016, aged 11, she won the film trailer comp in our Book Award 2016 project when she was at Greenfields Primary Sch Shrewsbury. And now before she heads off to the big wide world @UniofNewcastle she's doing some volunteer work for us #allgrownup #greatfuture #proudBookfest #readingforpleasure #readingforlife
Bookfest spent an amazing morning yesterday at Gre Bookfest spent an amazing morning yesterday at Greenfields Primary School with Beech, Poplar and Oak classes who with their fantastic teachers have taken the Readers to Writers 2023 project to the maximum by producing some wonderful creative writing. The freedom they've been given to let their imaginations fly is producing results that are taking their teachers by surprise. Good luck everyone and huge congratulations on becoming AUTHORS!

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