After two years of not being able to hold our awards ceremony in-person, we were delighted that on Thursday 30 June, over 300 students, teachers and librarians from 7 secondary and 5 primary schools filled the Kenneth More Theatre to celebrate our nineteenth annual Redbridge Children’s Book Awards. The Mayor, Councillor Thavathuray Jeyaranjan also attended. Everyone enjoyed poet, Bella Cox’s energetic, fifteen minute performance. They loved the conversation I had with shortlisted author Angharad Walker and she and Bella were mobbed by eager students wanting to get their books, programmes and scraps of paper signed.
Loud cheers accompanied the announcement of the winners of the 2020 Redbridge Children’s Book Award.
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston, won the Children’s category.
- Ace of Spades by Fariday Abike-iyimide won the Teenage category.
It was also a chance for the writing and poetry competitions winners to be presented with their prizes. I was delighted that local author, Eithne Cullen, who helped me to judge the competition, was also able to attend.
Poetry Competition
- Choices by Anjal Atwal (Downshall Primary School) won the junior category.
- Choices by Adsaya Sukirthan (Woodford County)won the teenage category.
Short Story Competition
- Lizzi’s Computer Adventure by Chiara (Fairlop Primary School) won the junior category.
- Short Story by Yunis Khan (Valentine’s High School) won the teenage category.
In the quiz, Valentine’s High School won both the children’s and Teen sections
Many thanks to everyone who attended, especially Angharad Walker who gave up her time to make the afternoon special, students and teachers who participated so enthusiastically and most of all, my team in the Redbridge Schools’ Library Service and the staff at the Kenneth More Theatre who worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure the afternoon was such a success.
The Redbridge Children’s Book Award is organised by Redbridge Schools’ Library Service.
For more information visit the Vision website.
Post Author Nina Simon
Manager Redbridge Schools’ Library Service
Do More 