Manchester Book Award facts for kids
The Manchester Book Award is a special project in Manchester, UK. It's like a big reading competition for young people! It's organized by the School Services at the Manchester Library & Information Service. This award helps young readers discover amazing new books and celebrate their favorite authors.
Each year, students, teachers, and librarians help choose a longlist of twenty-four children's books. To be chosen, books must be new stories (not sequels) published between July 1st and June 30th, and written by authors living in the UK. Reading groups in schools and libraries then pick six books from this longlist to create a shortlist.
In January, young people across Manchester get to vote for their favorite book from the shortlist. They can vote online or at libraries and schools. For example, voting for the 2009 award ended on March 5th.
The winner of the award is announced every year at a special ceremony. This event takes place at the City of Manchester Stadium. Students from all 24 state secondary schools in Manchester attend the ceremony. Famous people often help announce the winner. For instance, in 2009, Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh announced the winner on March 11th.
Past Winners
Here are some of the amazing books that have won the Manchester Book Award:
- 2009 Six Steps to a Girl by Sophie McKenzie
- 2008 Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie
- 2007 Beast by Ally Kennen
- 2006 Stuff by Jeremy Strong
How Books Are Chosen
The Manchester Book Award has a cool process for finding the best books. It starts with many nominations and narrows down to one winner.
The Longlist
First, a "longlist" of twenty-four books is created. These books are suggested by secondary school students, school staff, and library staff. Publishers also suggest books. For a book to be on this list, it must be a brand-new story, not part of a series. The author must live in the UK, and the book must have been published in the past year.
The Shortlist
Next, reading groups in schools and libraries get involved. They read books from the longlist. Then, they choose their top six favorites. These six books make up the "shortlist." Being on the shortlist is a big achievement for an author!
Voting for the Winner
After the shortlist is announced, it's time for the young people of Manchester to vote! Students can vote for their favorite book from the shortlist. They can cast their votes online or at their local library or school. This makes the award truly special because young readers decide the winner.
