About the Royal Mail Awards
The best books of the year as voted for by Scottish Children
Now the biggest UK children’s book prize, the Royal Mail Awards are an innovative nationwide reading project in which children and young people from every corner of Scotland read and vote for their favourite books in 3 age group categories.
What people say about the Royal Mail Awards:
Children
“I’ve learned that books are interesting and I enjoy reading now.” North Ayrshire School Pupil
Teachers
“Taking part in the Royal Mail Awards has been quite simply the best possible experience to open up the excitement and joy of reading to my pupils. Books and reading are now much more a part of their world.” Mrs Black, P7 teacher, St Peter's Primary School, West Dunbartonshire
Press
“Keeping literacy at the top of the agenda and making children’s books part of the literacy scene in Scotland.” Times Educational Supplement Scotland
Key facts about the 2007 Awards:
- Over 9,000 children were involved and an amazing 4,300 votes were cast.
- Over 250 schools and libraries in every corner of Scotland, from Aberdeen to Dumfries; Shetland to Arran, took part.
- The 2007 awards ceremony brought 400 young judges from across Scotland together to see their peers act out the winning books, and generated huge attention on TV and in the newspapers.
Background
The Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books were originally set up by the Scottish Arts Council in 1999 and is now run by Scottish Book Trust. The awards recognize excellence in Scottish writing and illustration for children across three categories: Early years (0-7 years), younger readers (8-11 years), older readers (12-16 years). There is also a special Gaelic category, which in 2008 will take the form of a creative writing competition for Gaelic-speaking children across Scotland.
Books published in these categories between January and December 2007 by authors and illustrators resident in Scotland are eligible for the 2008 awards.
The winners of the awards are decided entirely by children and young people in schools and libraries across Scotland, reading and voting for their favourite books. In 2007, over 9,000 young voters registered to take part from all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
Scottish Book Trust is seeking to encourage teachers, librarians and booksellers to set up reading groups of children in each age group category in schools, libraries and bookshops across Scotland. The groups will read the shortlisted titles during the autumn 2008 term, and will be able to vote online or by post for their favourite books. They can also send review(s) of the shortlisted titles and enter the review competition for the best reviews.
The winners of both the awards and the review competition will be announced at a special awards ceremony in November 2008.
Any school, library or bookshop in Scotland can take part in judging the awards. If you would like to get involved, click here.
The Royal Mail Awards are managed by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with the Scottish Arts Council, and supported by Crerar Hotels, the Times Educational Supplement Scotland and Waterstone's.
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