World Book Day Award 2016 Launches

“LIFE-CHANGING” LIBRARY MAKEOVER PRIZE TO BOOST READING FOR PLEASURE IN SCHOOLS IN UK AND IRELAND

The World Book Day Award 2016 (WoBoD), which launches today, is offering primary and secondary schools across the country the chance to totally transform their libraries. The Award, funded over two years from a £50,000 donation by bestselling author and reading champion James Patterson, is now in its second year and will see one school win £10,000 of new books, with a 2nd prize worth £5,000, and three third prizes of £3,000 worth of books each. They will also receive the expert advice of a local bookseller to help them make their bespoke selection of books. In addition, the winning school will receive a £10,000 library makeover with equipment courtesy of school library book display manufacturer, Bookspace.

To enter, schools are asked to respond to the creative challenge ‘Where does your reading take you?’ Entries can be submitted in a range of creative formats, including in writing, art, film and photography, and by a single child or by a group (but only one entry per school). The deadline for entries is 1st December 2015, with the winner and runners-up being announced on World Book Day 2016, Thursday 3rd March.

Patterson, who will help judge the prize and who is passionate about encouraging children to read and a staunch supporter of school libraries, said: “I was so impressed by the brilliant response to the first World Book Day Award – all the entries really showcased a love for books and reading amongst kids and their teachers. I hope this year the creativity keeps on coming and that the entries help to remind everyone of the importance of school libraries, and of a kid’s right to have access to books. Reading is a vital life skill and it is important we encourage a love of reading in kids from a young age.”

Joining Patterson on the Award judging panel are: Waterstones Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell; The Sun books columnist and author Natasha Harding; and World Book Day Director Kirsten Grant.

Chris Riddell said: “I love libraries and librarians, especially librarians who have played an important role in my life. School librarians create the readers of the future and need all the support we can give them. James’ generosity will make a huge difference to the winning schools and, even more importantly, bring attention to school libraries nationwide.”

Kirsten Grant said: “One of the joys of this year’s World Book Day was being a judge on the first WoBoD, and marvelling at the passion and creativity that exists in our schools, as well as the huge amount of work that happens every day to celebrate and promote Reading for Pleasure. And this year, for the first time, as well as winning all the books £10,000 can buy, courtesy of James Patterson, the winning school will be able to create an inviting and enticing new space to house them, thanks to Bookspace. It is hugely exciting – I can’t wait to see where the children’s imaginations will take them and what the schools deliver this year.”

The winner of the inaugural WoBoD was Hexthorpe Primary School in Doncaster, which won with a song written and sung by a year 5 class complete with its own stop-motion animation, also made by the class. Head teacher Nicola Parker-Watts said of the Award: “This is a life-changing amount of books for our school and will make a huge difference in the children’s enjoyment of reading and their attainment in general.”

Now in its 19th year, World Book Day is the biggest annual celebration of reading for children and sees 14 million £1 (€1.50) book tokens distributed in schools across the UK and in Ireland. The special £1 books produced to mark World Book Day are a yearly showcase of some of the bestselling writing and illustrating talent published in the UK.

Visit www.worldbookday.com for more information, the latest news and to subscribe to the free monthly World Book Day e-newsletter.