Robots dominate book awards

One of Scotland’s youngest authors is among the winners of the 2015 Children’s Book Awards, announced today at a ceremony in Edinburgh to mark World Book Day.

28,000 Scottish school children voted in the awards which are designed to encourage literacy through engagement, and 21-year old Alex McCall’s debut novel Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens won the 8-11 category.

“Being able to go into school and meet the children that you are writing for is fantastic enough as it is. Knowing that those kids have voted for you makes it even better,” he said.

Other winners include Ross Collins and Sean Taylor for picture book Robot Rumpus in the Bookbug 3-7 category, and Cathy MacPhail for the thriller Mosi’s War in the 12-16 category.

The awards are run by Scottish Book Trust, and its head of schools Jasmine Fassl, said: “These awards are built on the simple premise that if children are encouraged to voice their opinions about the books they have read, they tend to get a lot more excited about reading. There is nothing nicer than celebrating the books that children themselves have enjoyed reading, and the continuing success of the awards is down to everyone who is involved in encouraging the children to vote – the authors, illustrators, teachers, publishers, parents and librarians – who are passionate about giving children a love of reading for life.”

Leonie Bell, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, congratulated the winners, adding: “The award not only encourages reading, which impacts on education, wellbeing and imagination but by taking an active role in the vote they are taking steps in their journeys as independent readers.”