The shortlist for the 14th James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award has been announced.
This year’s shortlist features ten varied titles, from fantasy to realism, featuring books that respond to the current climate.
The award, which began 14 years ago, aims to foster a love of reading by introducing Hull’s young people to new writers and titles they might not normally pick up.
Providing inspiration to parents, teachers and children, a delivery of these titles will once again be distributed to schools signed up to Hull Schools’ Library Service, with virtual author visits planned over the coming months.
Children will be able to vote virtually for their favourite stories.
Separated into two age categories, the KS2 shortlist includes:
● Troofriend, Kirsty Applebaum
● Granny Magic, Elka Evalds
● The Highland Falcon Thief, M G Leonard & Sam Sedgman
● My Headteacher is an Evil Genius, Jack Noel
● Pests, Emer Stamp
The KS3 shortlisted entries include:
● Orion Lost, Alastair Chisholm
● Nothing Ever Happens Here, Sarah Hagger-Holt
● Orphans of the Tide, Struan Murray
● After the War, Tom Palmer
● The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Victoria Williamson
Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, chair of Hull Culture & Leisure, said: “With everything that’s going on we’re even more delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for The James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award. Books continue to provide the perfect escapism for both children and parents.
“This award has been running for 13 years, so we didn’t want to let Covid stop us from running it this year. As we enter a third lockdown, the awards will provide a timely escape from long winter days at home.”
Over the course of last year, newly published titles, suitable for young people at Key Stage 2 and 3, were read by Hull Libraries’ army of volunteers, who reviewed and scored each title. This information was then used to draw up the shortlist.
All of the shortlisted books will shortly be available to borrow for free at Hull’s libraries via the ‘Select and Collect’ service.
Find out more about Hull Libraries here.
