UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE SHORTLISTS 2020

UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE SHORTLISTS 2020

The shortlists have been announced for the 2020 UKLA Book Awards, the only national book awards which are judged by teachers. This year’s teacher judges are from Oxfordshire and Renfrewshire and produced what UKLA are calling their ‘most diverse lists ever’, with small imprints dominating the selections in each of the four categories. The criteria for the new category of Information Books 3- 14+, also sought creative non-fiction from a ‘diverse range of voices and perspectives’ where issues and themes are represented “’inter-culturally and with equality’.

The judging process uniquely includes assessing the impact of the books within the classroom and the student’s response to them.

The Shortlists in full

3-6

Mixed written and illustrated by Arree Chung (Macmillan)

The Suitcase [1] written and illustrated by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros (Nosy Crow)

Lubna and Pebble [2] written by Wendy Meddour illustrated by Daniel Egnéus (OUP)

Julian is a Mermaid written and illustrated by Jessica Love (Walker Books)

If All the World Were... [3] written by Joseph Coelho illustrated by Allison Colpoys (Frances Lincoln)

The Visitor written and illustrated by Antje Damm translated by Sally-Anne Spencer (Gecko Press)

7-10+

Slick written by M.M.Vaughan ( Alma Books)

The Eleventh Trade written by Alyssa Hollingsworth (Piccadilly Press)

Race to the Frozen North [4] written by Catherine Johnson, illustrated by Katie Hickie (Barrington Stoke)

The Legend of Kevin [5] written and illustrated by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (OUP)

 The Middler [6] written by Kirsty Applebaum(Nosy Crow)

Armistice Runner [7] written by Tom Palmer (Barrington Stoke)

11-14+

No Fixed Address written by Susin Nielsen (Andersen Press)

 Toffee [8]written by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury)

Catching Teller Crow written by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullin ( Penguin)

Lenny’s Book of Everything written by Karen Foxlee (Pushkin Press)

The Skylark’s War [9] written by Hilary McKay (Macmillan)

Pay Attention Carter Jones [10] written by Gary D. Schmidt (Andersen Press)

Information Books 3 -14+

Mary and Frankenstein written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Jũlia Sardὰ, (Andersen Press)

A Book of Bears written and illustrated by Katie Viggers (Laurence King)

A Child of St. Kilda written and illustrated by Beth Waters (Child’s Play)

Counting on Katherine written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Dow Phumiruck (Macmillan)

Questions I am asked about the Holocaust written by Heidi Fried ( Scribe)

Once Upon a Raindrop written by James Carter and illustrated by Nomoco(Caterpillar Books)

For UKLA, giving classroom practitioners the opportunity to read high quality new children’s books is as important as finding an overall winner. Research carried out by members of UKLA (Cremin et al 2008) clearly demonstrated the links between teachers’ knowledge of children’s books and the likelihood of pupils becoming successful readers. Despite this evidence, teachers are seldom given time to read new books or funding to purchase them when they do. Chair of the Book Awards, Chris Lockwood, said, ‘It was a pleasure to work with such a committed, creative and insightful group of teacher judges. They have chosen some outstanding titles which will make the final selection in June extremely difficult, because all of these books are potential winners of our award.’

12 teachers nominated from the 70 involved in the shortlisting will now form the final judging panel and have the challenging task of reading all the shortlisted books in all categories. Plans for the final judging meeting have had to adapt to the constraints imposed by the Covid-19 epidemic and similarly the winner’s announcement will be postponed until later in the year. A date and venue will be announced as soon as possible.