The Scottish Children's Book Awards shortlists have been announced today! It's an eclectic selection from a mess loving monster to an accidental time-traveller and an angel with a terrible sense of direction. The choices are:
Bookbug readers (3-7 years)
Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan)
A string of paper dolls go on a fantastical adventure through the house
and out into the garden. They soon escape the clutches of the toy
dinosaur and the snapping jaws of the oven-glove crocodile, but then a
very real pair of scissors threatens. A stunning, rhythmical story of
childhood, memory and the power of imagination from the author of
The Gruffalo, and new illustrating talent Rebecca Cobb.
What’s the Time Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori (Bloomsbury)
Accompany Mr Wolf as he goes about his daily routine from breakfast
to bedtime - and get to know the real Mr Wolf! Little ones will enjoy
recognising familiar faces from a plethora of nursery rhymes, including
Little Red Riding Hood (masquerading as the post girl), three cheeky
little pigs (who make prank calls), a cat who's a dab hand at the
fiddle, plus four and twenty blackbirds. An
enchantingly original story inspired by the well-known playground tag
game, this is also perfect for practising telling the time.
Jumblebum by Chae Strathie and Ben Cort (Scholastic)
A funny story... all about the importance of tidying up. Johnny thinks
that
his room has its own special style. But his mum thinks
his room
is... a MESS! Johnny doesn't care... until all the chaos
attracts the
terrible Jumblebum Beast. Will Johnny end up in the
Jumblebum's tum -
or can his secret plan save the day?
All P1 children in Scotland will receive a free copy of each of these books during
Book Week Scotland in November.
Younger readers (8-11 years)
Black Tide by Caroline Clough (Floris)
Toby's dad and little sister have been kidnapped by pirates, and Toby is
left alone in the aftermath of the terrible Red Fever epidemic, which
has wiped out much of the world's population. Menacing tribes of
super-intelligent dogs are gaining ever more ground in Scotland, moving
northwards. A mysterious figure called The General is leading a group of
villains who are kidnapping people and imprisoning them in a place he
calls New Caledonia. But where is this New Caledonia and what does The
General plan to do with his captives? Toby sets out on a perilous
mission to find New Caledonia and, he hopes, his family. This is the dramatic
sequel to Red Fever, which won the Kelpies Prize in 2010.
The Accidental Time Traveller by Janis MacKay (Floris)
One ordinary day, Saul is on his way to the corner shop when a girl
appears suddenly in the middle of the road. She doesn't understand
traffic, or the things in shops, and she's wearing a long dress with
ruffled sleeves. Her name is Agatha Black. Agatha Black is from 1812,
and Saul needs to find a way to get her back there. With help from his
mates Will and Robbie, he tries to work out how to make time travel
happen. This pacy, time-travelling adventure from Janis MacKay, author
of the Magnus Fin series, is full of funny misunderstandings and
gripping action.
Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti (Floris)
Mischievous fairies? Stranded mermaids? Smelly troll? Whatever your
supernatural dilemma, call the Really Weird Removals company! Luca and
Valentina's uncle Alistair is a paranormal investigator. When he
realises the children can see the supernatural creatures that share our
world, he invites them to join his team. With the help of Camilla, a
friendly ghost, the Really Weird Removals team save a real-life stranded
Nessie, help a selkie come ashore, and befriend werewolves. But this
exciting new world is also packed with danger. When confronted by
malicious kelpies and hungry vampires, can their wayward uncle keep the
children safe?
Older readers (12-16 years)
Ferryman by Claire McFall (Templar)
When Dylan emerges from
the wreckage of a train crash onto a bleak Scottish hillside, she meets a
strange boy who seems to be waiting for her.
But Tristan is no ordinary teenage boy, and the journey across the desolate, wraith infested wasteland is no ordinary journey. Life, death, love - which will Dylan choose?
The Seeing by Diana Hendry (Bodley Head)
1953. When wild, dangerous, break-all-the-rules Natalie arrives in
the quiet town of Norton, thirteen-year-old Lizzie is drawn irresistibly
to the new girl from the wrong side of the tracks. As
the girls grow closer, Natalie and her strange, eerie brother, Philip,
reveal a shocking secret. For Philip has a second sight, and all around
them he sees evil - 'left-over Nazis' lying in wait until the time is
right for revenge. Natalie and Philip believe it's up to them to root
these people out of Norton. Lizzie is swept up in what starts as a thrilling game - but the consequences of Philip's 'gift' quickly spiral into disaster. A chilling, powerful tale from Whitbread Award-winner Diana Hendry.
The Book of Doom by Barry Hutchison (Harper Collins)
The second hilarious book in the comic fantasy Afterworlds sequence.
There’s panic up in Heaven. They have mislaid the Book of Doom – the most important object in existence. They
think Satan might have stolen it, so to save
the world fifteen year
old Zac and his angelic guide Angelo are sent to retrieve it. Sadly
directions aren’t Angelo’s strong point and they soon find themselves
just as lost as the book, wandering through Afterworlds such as Valhalla
and Hades and encountering some colourful characters along the way. Can the hapless pair make it to Hell and back?
The awards are run by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Creative Scotland and are voted for entirely by children - nearly 32000 last year! All over Scotland for the next seven months (until 7 February 2014), children will be reading and voting. Do you know some who would like to join in?
The winners will be announced on Wednesday, 5th March 2014.
The shortlist for the Scottish Children's Book Awards was announced this morning. Here are 8 of the 9 happy authors: the gentlemen are (left to right) James Kilgore, John Fardell, Barry Hutchison and Jonathan Meres. The ladies are Elizabeth Laird, Julia Donaldson, Elizabeth Wien and Catherine Rayner. The awards are voted for by Scottish children, who now have seven months to read the books before the winners are announced on World Book Day (7/3/13). Information on how to get involved can be found by following the link above.