On Thursday morning 28^th April 2022, Theatre Severn will be packed to the rafters with children, teachers and authors all together at long last in a joyful, fizzing, buzzing celebration. 

The Shropshire Bookfest Big Book Award 2022 project is a child-led reading development project to find the book published in the last two years that Shropshire pupils aged 9-11 years LOVE the most.

Since January 2022, 6 inspirational children’s books have helped sweep away the anxieties brought about by Covid to introduce contemporary literary landscapes to classrooms for children to immerse themselves in and allow their creative minds to run free.

“I just wanted to share with you what a huge success Bookfest 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 Headteacher – Bicton CE Primary School

Nearly 2,000 pupils and teachers will watch the Awards Ceremony unfold either in Theatre Severn or in their school halls via a live-stream and to celebrate the creative pieces of work produced by pupils inspired by this superb shortlist, chosen by and for children:

                The Boy Who Met a Whale by Nizrana Farook, published by Nosy Crow

                Harklights by Tim Tilley, published by Usborne Books

                Twitch by M. G. Leonard, published by Walker Books

                No Country by Joe Brady, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, published by David Fickling books

                SkyWake Invasion by Jamie Russell, published by Walker Books

                The Small Things by Lisa Thompson, published by Barrington Stoke

Big Book Award 2022 Awards Ceremony Programme

10am – 12 midday – Thursday 28th April 2022