Scottish Children’s Book Awards shortlist unveiled

THE shortlist for the latest Scottish Children’s Book Awards (SCBA) has been unveiled.
Alex McCall, author of Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens, one of the winners of last year's Scottish Childrens Book Awards. Picture: Phil WilkinsonAlex McCall, author of Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens, one of the winners of last year's Scottish Childrens Book Awards. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
Alex McCall, author of Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens, one of the winners of last year's Scottish Childrens Book Awards. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

The list, featuring nine books which will be read and voted on by tens of thousands of children, includes two former SCBA winners and one debut author.

The shortlist, which celebrates the most popular children’s and young adult books by Scottish authors or illustrators, is split into three age categories - bookbug readers (aged 3-7), younger readers (8-11) and older readers (12-16).

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Popular subjects which recur in the six books from the older categories include mysteries and the Second World War while animals feature in all three bookbug picture books.

Over the next five months, children in Scotland will get a chance to read the three shortlisted books in their age category and vote for their favourite by February 5 next year.

A free copy of the three bookbug category books will be given to every primary one child during Book Week Scotland.

The three winning titles will be announced at an award ceremony on March 2.

Jasmine Fassl, head of schools at Scottish Book Trust, the organisation which runs the awards, said: “The Scottish Children’s Book Awards are a perfect way to celebrate Scotland’s talented authors and illustrators while also helping participating children to develop an independent love of books and reading.

“Hundreds of schools and libraries from literally every corner of Scotland involve tens of thousands of children in reading and reviewing the shortlisted books every year, proof of both the eagerness of Scottish young people to make their voice heard and of the quality of the shortlisted books.”

THE SHORTLIST

Bookbug readers

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• Never Tickle a Tiger by Pamela Butchart and Marc Boutavant (Bloomsbury)

• Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit Book Burglar by Emily MacKenzie (debut author) (Bloomsbury)

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• Mouse’s First Night at Moonlight School by Simon Puttock (former winner in 2006) and Ali Pye (Nosy Crow)

Younger readers

• The Nowhere Emporium by Ross Mackenzie (former winner in 2011) (Floris)

• The Mysteries of Ravenstorm Island: The Lost Children by Gillian Philip (Orchard)

• The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird (Macmillan)

Older Readers

• Black Dove White Raven by Elizabeth Wein (Egmont)

• The Piper by Danny Weston (the pseudonym of Philip Caveney) (Andersen)

• Trouble on Cable Street by Joan Lingard (Catnip)