Awards, Awards, Awards!

The blog has been quiet owing to a few days away in Devon with my family but I have still been keeping tabs on events in the book world for you...

Last night I had the pleasure of joining publishers, authors, children and their families as well as other librarians and book review magazine editors at Walker Books for the announcement of the Branford Boase award.

Anyone unfamiliar with this award and wanting more information should visit the website at http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/BBA/bbastart.html However what I will tell you is the this award, for the a first time novelist and their editor went to the thrilled and very nervous Lucy Christopher for her book Stolen. Lucy's editor Imogen Cooper also received an award and between them they offered thanks to a great team at Chicken House and most especially Barry Cunningham for spotting Lucy's talent. She will certainly be an author to watch, as will all those who reached the shortlist for this award has a habit of finding authors who certainly make it bog after their first novel and continue to write with strength and imagination!

This award is the only one to recognise the editor as well as author of a new novel, it is a hugely encouraging award and comes with a beautiful hand carved presentation box as well as a nice cheque! Julia Eccleshare, chair of judges was equally complimentary and Lucy was keen to note the strong competition that she had been up against so do take a look at all the authors on the shortlist and watch out for them becoming big names.

At the same time an award was also presented to six young people, winners of the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, their stories can be read on the website and their names could certainly be ones to look out for in future years.

Thanks to Walker Books for sponsoring the award and throwing such a great party, it was a lovely mix of people and a great atmosphere, a true celebration of new and emerging talent that will hopefully continue to go from strength to strength.

Carnegie & Greenaway Medal Winners Announced

What a fabulously sunny day for taking a trip up to London, heading to BAFTA on Piccadilly and enjoying the reception and announcement for the CILIP Carnegie and Greenaway Children's Book Awards 2009.

With a strong shortlist this year for both awards it was always going to be difficult to choose the winners. This award however is unique, there are no commercial aspects to it, books are selected entirely by librarians and judged by them too. Children shadow the award, reading the books and posting their comments on the specially designed website and with over 3,800 reading groups shadowing this year there are plenty of reviews to read!

Kirsty Wark introduced proceedings reminding the assembled audience of the importance not only of libraries, as a haven and inspiration for children but also of some of the classic books that had given her, and many of us pleasure. The phrases 'You are never alone with a book' and 'Read to Live as quoted by Joy Court chair of the 2009 judging panel summed up the feelings of all those gathered. We were there to celebrate the very best books that have been published in the last year and whilst there can only ever be one winner all those on the shortlist are in fact winners.

However without further preamble I should tell you that the winners were - for the Kate Greenaway medal Catherine Rayner with the beautiful, funny and heartwarming 'Harris Finds His Feet'. For the Carnegie Medal the first ever posthumous award was presented to Siobhan Dowd for the wonderful and evocative Bog Child.

Catherine Rayner was stunned by her win, honoured and flattered. She explained how hard it had been to complete this book and had lots of thanks for all those who had supported her.

The sisters of Siobhan Dowd accepted her prize and were followed by a moved David Fickling who made a passionate speech on her behalf.

On behalf of Armadillo and the team, congratulations to the two winners and to all those authors and illustrators who made it onto the long and shortlists. Let us all continue to inspire children and create more generations of readers.