Our First Online Ceremony!

This year the Surrey Libraries' Children’s Book Award has gone online – with its first ever ‘virtual ceremony’!

Despite the current closure of schools, the participating Champion schools have still been busy reading and voting for their favourite titles. Take a look at our online awards ceremony below!

The ceremony features work from our 10 Champion schools, participating library Chatterbooks groups, as well as videos from our shortlisted authors, and - most importantly - the announcement of the winner of this year’s award!

So have a watch, and then scroll down to congratulate the winner with us!

Have you watched? Then join us in saying a huge congratulations to...

Claire Barker and 'Picklewitch and Jack'! 

 

Thank you all for getting involved with the Surrey Libraries Children's Book Award for our 10th year! Even though this has been a bit of a different experience for us all, we hope you've enjoyed reading and talking about the books as much as we have!

We hope you'll join us again next year!

Haslemere Library Chatterbooks have now read all five books. Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we are now in the process of voting.

Book Review: Sherlock and the Baker Street Curse!

We're fast approaching the time for some of our wonderful shortlisted authors to visit our champion schools! Are you excited? We certainly are!

Today we've got another lovely book review to share with you all, written by another one of our fab team, Neil! Here's a secret for you all: Neil loved this book so much that he dressed up as the main character for World Book Day this year!

So, without further ado, let's hear what Neil thought of 'Sherlock and the Baker Street Curse' by Sam Hearn!

 

Sherlock and the Baker Street Curse – Review

The second book in Sam Hearn’s Baker Street Academy series brings the welcome return of schoolboy detective Sherlock and his super smart friends, John Watson and Martha Hudson, as well as arch nemesis, James Moriarty. This wildly inventive story follows Sherlock’s attempts to solve the mystery of a centuries old curse, and a scary ghost who has been haunting the Academy.

The book is easy to read, with lots of action, and comic book style illustrations which help to bring the story and the characters to life.

I had great fun trying to crack the case before Sherlock did, and would recommend this book to anyone who likes puzzles, riddles, and being the smartest kid in the class!

Have you read 'Sherlock and the Baker Street Curse' yet? What did you think? Let us know in the comments, or on Twitter @SurreyLibraries!

An Author Appears! Say 'Hello!' to Claire Barker!

 

Today we're excited to be able to introduce you to one of our fab shortlisted authors - Claire Barker! Claire is the author of the Picklewitch and Jack books, as well as the Knitbone Pepper, Ghost Dog series.

Claire lives all the way in Devon (quite far away from us in Surrey!), but is very kindly coming to visit us to see FOUR different schools! We're all excited to meet her, and we can't wait to introduce her to you, too!

If you'd like to know more about Claire, you can visit her website HERE

You can also find Claire on social media!
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Book Review: Night of the Living Ted!

Hello, everyone!

We're all enjoying reading the shortlisted books - have you started reading them? Do you have a favourite yet?

Today's post is a review of Barry Hutchison's 'Night of the Living Ted', written by one of our wonderful Book Award team, Laura!

Night of the Living Ted - Review

'Night of the Living Ted' by Barry Hutchison is about Lisa Marie and her step brother Vernon. They are looking for a birthday present for their father when they discover that the Create-a-Ted shop is giving away free Halloween bears! They make a bear for themselves, as well as an Elvis bear for their father - however, that night, the bears come to life! The book tells the story of how Lisa Marie and Vernon are able to learn to work together and become closer as a family. The book looks at several themes, such as peer pressure and families, and explores how the main characters are able to overcome challenges. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I would give it a 4/5. 

This is the first book in a new series, so if you enjoy this book there are more adventures for Lisa Marie and Vernon to come!

Do you agree with Laura's review? Let us know what you thought of 'Night of the Living Ted' in the comments, or on Twitter @SurreyLibraries!