News Archive

PRESS RELEASE – 25/01/2006
City of Discovery Picture Book Award Launched

An innovative literary award, launched in Dundee, is breaking new ground in its approach to selection, short-listing and judging.

The Dundee City of Discovery Picture Book Award aims to recognise excellence in story-telling for children as well as encouraging youngsters to read and it looks set to join the Dundee International Book Prize as one of the major literary prizes on offer.

The Award, which will carry a significant cash prize, is being judged by two age groups of youngsters from a panel of 14 participating schools throughout the city. Primary 1 children - at whom the books are mainly aimed - will enjoy looking at and listening to the stories and make their feelings known.

However, an older age group - those in primary 6 - will play an important role also. This age group will read the stories to the youngsters, analyse their reactions, draw up reports and then also have a vote.

Already, a short-listing process has been undergone at two pilot schools, reducing the entries to just four. These are:

"Looking After Louis" by Lesley Ely & Polly Dunbar - Frances Lincoln Children's Books

"Spookyrumpus" by Tony Mitton & Guy Parker-Rees - Orchard Books

"Mr Beast" by James Sage & Russell Ayto - Harper Collins Children's Books

"The Fairy Tale Cake" by Jonathan Langley & Mark Sperring - Chicken House Thanks to funding from the City of Discovery Campaign, the awards are offering a winning prize of £1000 and £200 to each of the three runners-up. Each short-listed author and illustrator will also receive a limited edition Denis the Menace figure, donated by DC Thomson Ltd.

Lord Provost John Letford, Chairman of the City of Discovery Campaign, said: "This is another string to our literary bow, and again emphasises that this is a creative and inspiring city.

" The Picture Book Award will work well alongside the Dundee International Book Prize in putting the City of Discovery firmly on the literary map."

Moira Foster of the City Council's Education Department, and Stuart Syme from Leisure and Communities, the organisers of the new Award, said: "The project aims to provide opportunities for young people to engage with the picture book genre; explore and discuss text and art work; promote the value of reading for enjoyment and to an audience, celebrate excellence in writing and illustration; work in partnerships with community libraries; be creative; and experience the voting process.

"As well as their role working with the younger children, the primary 6 age group will also organise the voting system and organise a promotional display about the award in their local libraries."

Fourteen schools are taking part this year - each partnered with one of the city's 14 public libraries. It is anticipated that a different group of schools will take part in the next Award. This year the schools are Ardler, Glebelands, St Joseph's, Barnhill, Rosebank, Dens Road, St Pius, Fintry, Mid Craigie, St Columba's, St Margaret's, Hillside, Gowriehill and Newfields. Around 800 children will take part in total.