Children Pick Winners Of Book Award

Councillor Rob Appleyard, the Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, will be presenting the Centurion Book Award, as voted for by local children, on Monday 11 June.

The winning book, which will be announced on the day at Royal High School, Bath, has been chosen by members of secondary school reading groups from across Bath and North East Somerset. Around 100 pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 have been meeting regularly in their own schools over the last few months to decide on their favourites.

The children chose a shortlist of their seven favourite books and have been reading and reviewing them in reading groups in their schools to find the winner. Each school reading group will vote for their favourite and the book with the most votes from all the reading groups across Bath and North East Somerset will be the winner. This year’s prize is a picture by local artist Nadine Wickenden.

Some of the children will attend the presentation and talk about the books they have read. The event will also feature a guest appearance from Ally Kennen who writes books for teenagers.

Local head teachers have praised Bath & North East Somerset Council’s libraries for introducing the book award which encourages children to join their school reading groups and learn to analyse and review books as well as reading for pleasure.

Councillor Rob Appleyard said: “School librarians across the district have been working with Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Library Service and publishers to develop this great initiative. The children involved have been really enthusiastic and involved. Projects like this remind us all that books and reading can generate great excitement for young people and can be a fantastic way of bringing people together.”

Gill Atkins, School Librarian at Hayesfield School, said: “The pupils have enjoyed reading all the books and are looking forward to attending the award ceremony and meeting one of their favourite authors. It’s been great fun for us all and we can’t wait to find out who has won.”

 This year’s shortlist:

• “My Sister lives on the mantelpiece” by Annabel Pitcher
• “We can be Heroes” by Catherine Bruton
• “My name is Mina” by David Almond
• “Reckless” by Cornelia Funke
• “Quarry” by Ally Kennen
• “Young Sherlock Holmes: Black Ice” by Andrew Lane
• “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth” by Jeff Kinney