NEWS RELEASE

STOCKPORT METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

PR 228

11 May 2004

For Immediate Release

STOCKPORT SCHOOLS ARE MAD ABOUT BOOKS

The shortlist for this year’s Stockport schools’ ‘Mad About Books’ awards has been officially announced. Featuring books for children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers, the list includes some well-known and some more unusual titles.

The ‘Mad About Books’ awards, which have now been running for nine years, aim to raise the profile of reading for pleasure within schools, giving children access to some of the best new fiction around, and increasing teachers’ and school librarians’ awareness of new titles.

The awards also help to create a community of readers in Stockport, acting as the focus for discussion of books, and developing links between publishers, booksellers and schools.

Primary and secondary pupils from schools across the borough will take part in the voting process, reading books from the shortlist by the end of the summer term. They then send their votes to the School Library Service.

The winning books will be announced at an awards ceremony held during October in the ballroom at Stockport Town Hall. Children, teachers, parents, governors and librarians will gather to meet the authors and see them collect their prizes - a piece of framed artwork by local school children.

Klaus Flugge, of publishers the Andersen Press, described last year’s event as ‘the best in the Country’ – and this year’s event looks set to top it.

The ‘Mad About Books’ project is organised by Stockport School Library Service and the shortlist is drawn up by a working party of teachers and School Library Service staff.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The shortlist is as follows:

Early Years

Alborough, Jez Some Dogs Do Walker

Dunbar, Joyce Chick Called Saturday Doubleday

Gray, Kes Billy's Bucket Bodley Head

Key Stage 1

Child, Lauren I Am Absolutely Too Small Orchard

Donaldson, J The Snail and the Whale MacMillan

Gray, Kes Our Twitchy Bodley Head

Willis, Jeanne Tadpole's Promise Andersen

Wormell, Chris Two Frogs Random House

Wishinsky, Frieda Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Doubleday

Me Alone

Key Stage 2

Augarde, Steve The Various David Fickling

Corder, Zizou Lion Boy Puffin

D'Lacey, Chris Icefire Orchard

Kay, Elizabeth The Divide Chicken House

Said, SF Varjak Paw David Fickling

Shearer, Alex Sea Legs Hodder

Key Stage 3

Coleman, Michael Going Straight Orchard

Forde, Catherine Fat Boy Swim Egmont

Laird, Elizabeth The Garbage King Macmillan

Key Stage 4

Haddon, Mark The Curious Incident of the David Fickling

Dog in the Night-time

Morpurgo, Michael Private Peaceful Collins

Peet, Mal Keeper Walker

For further information contact Katharine de Lisle, Media and Public Relations, on 0161 474 3071 or katharine.delisle@stockport.gov.uk