Fourteen Primary and Junior schools from across Warwickshire have been taking part in the annual Junior Book Awards, which this year has been organised completely digitally by Warwickshire Schools ...
Fourteen Primary and Junior schools from across Warwickshire have been taking part in the annual Junior Book Awards, which this year has been organised completely digitally by Warwickshire Schools Library Service (WSLS).
Over the last 10 weeks, pupils have been reading four shortlisted books, carefully selected by Warwickshire Schools Library Service to include some of the best books published in the preceding calendar year.
The shortlist comprised ‘Swimming Against the Storm’ by Jess Butterworth, ‘Runaway Robot’ by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, ‘Wildspark’ by Vashti Hardy and ‘D-Day Dog’ by Tom Palmer.
Warwickshire Schools Library Service worked with the publishers, authors and Warwickshire Libraries to ensure the books were as accessible as possible for pupils during the Covid-19 pandemic, which included increasing the number of e-book copies available for loan.
The Warwickshire Junior Book Awards usually culminate in a final award ceremony at the Bridgehouse Theatre in Warwick, where pupils and authors come together for a wonderful celebration of reading. Sadly, due to Covid-19, this was not possible this year.
However, pupils have now voted for their favourite book and Warwickshire Schools Library Service are delighted to be sharing their Digital Book Award ceremony with participating schools today (Wednesday 8th July).
This will include exclusive videos from all the shortlisted authors answering some of the pupils' questions, including what has been the nicest and maddest thing they have done during lockdown!
This will be shared more widely with the public on Friday 10th July via their website and Twitter (@WarwickshireSLS). Please visit https://sls.warwickshire.gov.uk/june-2020/book-awards/warwickshire-junior-book-awards-2020-1.
Stella Thebridge, Principal Librarian and Warwickshire Schools Library Service Manager said:
“We are delighted to be sharing our Junior Book Award 2020 digitally with our schools this year. The current situation has given us the opportunity to think creatively about new ways that we can work with our schools in the future.
Councillor Kam Kaur, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation, said:
“I hope that this Award has provided some comfort to pupils during these difficult times and that it has inspired them to continue reading and writing for pleasure, which supports their well-being and learning in these challenging times.”
Warwickshire Schools Library Service will shortly be finalising their longlist for the Year 9 Award that will take place in the Autumn term 2020.
Students will be actively involved in choosing the final four shortlisted books for this Award. They will then read the shortlist and vote for their favourite at the beginning of December 2020.
Warwickshire Schools Library Service are looking at new ways for students to engage and interact with the Award online as well as in person this year.
Their third and longest-standing award, the Warwickshire Secondary Book Award, will take place in the Spring Term of 2021 and is aimed at Years 7 and 8.
For more information please contact schoolslibraryservice@warwickshire.gov.uk
and follow us on Twitter: @WarwickshireSLS