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Forget the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Booker Prize or even Richard
and Judy’s Best Read, the literary award all great authors have their
eye on in 2008 is the Explore Book Award.
Children across Wigan Borough are being given an exclusive opportunity
to vote for their own favourite book as part of a new initiative
launched by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s library service.
The Explore Book Award is Wigan and Leigh’s very own book award.
Children aged 16 and under from across the borough can now vote for
their own favourite reads to find the winner of the first ever Explore
Book Award. Voting slips are available in all of Wigan Borough’s sixteen
libraries.
During the summer of 2007 pupils from a selection of the borough’s
schools were asked to determine shortlists for the 2008 Explore Book
Award. The feedback was so great that the award has been split into two
categories with seven books nominated in each. One list is aimed at
children aged nine and over, and the other at teenagers.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Children’s Project Officer Rob Sanderson
said: “We have found that there is a real appetite for reading among the
borough’s children so we came up with this award to try and harness that
enthusiasm. The Explore Book Award is open to all children and we would
also like as many schools as possible to get involved too.
“We are hoping that some of the short listed authors will be able to
visit our borough’s schools and libraries as part of the build up to the
award. Christmas is the perfect time for children to get reading and
cast their votes for their own perfect, must-read book. All votes must
be registered by Friday 9th May 2008, so make sure that you get your
vote in on time!”
Writer, broadcaster and Patron for Wigan Borough’s Libraries Stuart
Maconie is supporting the awards: “What a great idea! I’m starting to
wish I’d written a children’s book just so I could be nominated. I’m
delighted to see that young people across the borough have had a chance
to put forward their own nominations and they have shown great
enthusiasm for reading. Get voting now and make sure you can influence
who wins the first ever Explore Book Award.”
The books short listed for the 2008 Explore Book Awards are:
Kids’ shortlist (aged nine and over):
‘Sundae Girl’ by Cathy Cassidy (published by Puffin Books)
‘Dragonsdale’ by Salamandra Drake (published by Chicken House)
‘Cat Among the Pigeons’ by Julia Golding (published by Egmont Press)
‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ by Derek Landy (published by HarperCollins
Children’s Books)
‘Urgum the Axeman’ by Kjartan Poskitt (published by Scholastic
Children’s Books)
‘Physik’ by Angie Sage (published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
‘I Am a Cloud, I Can Blow Anywhere’ by Jonathan and Shirley Tulloch
(published by Egmont Press)
Teens' shortlist (aged 13 and over)
‘The Black Tattoo’ by Sam Enthoven (published by Corgi Children’s Books)
‘Girl, 15, Flirting for England’ by Sue Limb (published by Bloomsbury
Children’s Books)
‘Worse Than Boys’ by Catherine MacPhail (published by Bloomsbury
Children’s Books)
‘Ringmaster’ by Julia Golding (published by Egmont Press)
‘Sure Fire’ by Jack Higgins and Justin Richards (published by
HarperCollins Children’s Books)
‘Spellgrinder’s Apprentice’ by N. M. Browne (published by Bloomsbury
Children’s Books)
‘Blade of Fire’ by Stuart Hill (published by Chicken House)
Every child and young person in the Wigan Borough is entitled to vote
and every vote can make a difference. Voting slips are available in all
of Wigan Borough’s sixteen libraries. For further information contact
Rob Sanderson on 01942 486977.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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Charlize, Dylan, Jordyn and Jonathan
from Platt Bridge Community School with a selection of the short listed
books
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