Young readers urged to vote in CI Children’s Book Awards

This year sees the introduction of a second category for Picture Book of the Year, which showcases the best new illustrated books for younger children.

The awards were launched in 2019 and are a joint initiative between Guernsey’s Guille-Alles Library and the Jersey Public Library and run with the support of sponsor Ravenscroft. As well as celebrating excellence in children’s writing, the awards were set up to help children develop a love of reading for pleasure. Youngsters have until Friday 16 July to read the shortlisted books and vote for their winner at www.cichildrensbookaward.org. The books will be sent to schools taking part in the shortlist discussions, and made available from the library. The winner will be announced at a special ceremony at the Library in September.

‘With so many fantastic nominations to choose from, and with lockdown meaning we had to move our judging process online, picking this year’s shortlists was a real challenge,’ said Jodie Hearn, reading lead at the Guille-Alles Library and one of the award judges. ‘I’m thrilled with our final lists and can’t wait to share them with local children.’

Marketing and public relations executive at Ravenscroft Juliet Bousfield said the books shortlisted would definitely appeal to young islanders and she had thoroughly enjoyed reading them.

‘This is the third year that Ravenscroft has supported the Channel Island Children’s Book Award and it’s fantastic to hear that children are being encouraged to read more and try new authors and genres.’

The winner of the 2020 CI Children’s Book of the Year award was Lisa Thompson’s The Day I Was Erased, the story of an 11-year-old boy who suddenly finds himself erased from his life – as if he never existed – and must find a way to reverse it.

n Children can vote for their favourite book on the awards website, www.cichildrensbookaward.org