BfK News: January 2011
AWARDS
Eleanor Farjeon Award
Congratulations to Seven Stories, winner of the 2010 Eleanor Farjeon Award for ‘distinguished services in the world of children’s books’. Founded in 1996, Seven Stories is a unique museum that covers British children’s literature from the 1930s to the present.
Society of Authors 2010 Educational Writers’ Award
The 2010 Award which focuses on books for 12-18 year olds published in 2009 and 2010 has been awarded to Bill Bryson for A Really Short History of Nearly Everything (Doubleday), abridged and edited by Felicia Law.
The judges, school librarian Maggy Campbell, teacher Louise Gerrard and writer Stewart Ross, said: ‘Deeply engaging, A Really Short History of Nearly Everything triumphantly links an informal approach to profound content, without being in any way trivial or condescending. The language is fresh and appropriate for younger readers, the illustrations are charming and helpful, and the design uncluttered and accessible. It is, in short, a very rare creation indeed – a non-fiction book for younger readers that may be classed as literature and that fact, coupled with the genius of being able to explain the concepts behind life, the universe and everything in such an accessible and entertaining way, makes this book a winner.’
The other shortlisted titles were Do You Think You’re Clever: The Oxbridge Questions by John Farndon (Icon); Shakespeare on Toast: Getting a Taste for the Bard by Ben Crystal (Icon) and A Slice of Pi by Liz Strachan (Constable).
The Blue Peter Book Awards 2011 category shortlists
1. Best Book with Facts
Do Igloos Have Loos? by Mitchell Symons (Doubleday)
How the World Works by Christiane Dorion, illustrated by Beverley Young, pop-ups designed by Andy Mansfield (Templar)
What You Need to Know Now: The World in Facts, Stats and Graphics by Joe Fullman, Ian Graham, Sally Regan and Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Sheila Collins, Mik Gates, Jim Green, Katie Knutton, Phillip Letsu and Hoa Luc (Dorling Kindersley)
2. Most Fun Story with Pictures
Alienography by Chris Riddell (Macmillan)
Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman (Egmont)
Lunatics and Luck (The Raven Mysteries) by Marcus Sedgwick, illustrated by Pete Williamson (Orion)
3. Favourite Stories
Dead Man’s Cove (A Laura Marlin Mystery) by Lauren St John (Orion)
A Web of Air (Mortal Engines) by Philip Reeve (Scholastic)
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay (David Fickling Books)
Joe McCulloch, Deputy Editor of Blue Peter and Chair of Judges, commented, ‘The books shortlisted for this year’s awards are all a fantastic read, so I don’t envy the young judges’ task in picking the winners!’ The final nine books will be judged by a selection of young Blue Peter viewers who will decide the winners in each category and the overall winner of Blue Peter Book of the Year 2011. The award is administered by Booktrust. For further information: www.booktrust.org.uk
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010
Louise Yates is the winner of the Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under with Dog Loves Books (Jonathan Cape). Chair of Judges Michael Rosen said: ‘An outrageous idea, beautifully told and illustrated. Sometimes, what you want from a new book is a surprise, something fresh and odd. So this book leaves behind some of the staples of present-day humour and gives us humour on every page with a dog that just wants to read books.’
Louise Rennison is the winner of the Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen with Withering Tights (HarperCollins). Michael Rosen said: ‘This is a witty, wry, inside view of what it feels like to be a gawky, witty girl who knows what’s going on around her, is detached enough to comment on it all, but carried along in the flow all the same. There’s a gag on every page with loads of funny situations and people.’
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize was founded in 2008 by Michael Rosen as part of his Children’s Laureateship. It is the first prize of its kind; founded to honour those books that simply make children laugh. Further information from www.booktrust.org.uk
