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Lucy Mangan and Miriam González Durántez and have joined the judging panel for the story writing prize organised by Walker Books, Mumsnet and Gransnet.
Mangan, a journalist, and González Durántez, a lawyer and the partner of deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, join a panel led by former children’s laureate Anthony Browne. Also judging are Walker Books publisher Denise Johnstone-Burt, Mumsnet c.e.o. Justine Roberts and Gransnet editor Cari Rosen.
The theme of this year’s competition is animal stories for children aged four to seven and the organisers received 635 entries.
Johnstone-Burt said: “We were delighted by the originality and number of high quality stories submitted for the competition this year. It was extremely heart-warming to see such enthusiasm and that the art of storytelling is alive and well in families all over the country.”
The winners, who will be announced 10th February, will receive £500 and see their stories published in an anthology from Walker Books.
This year’s shortlist in full:
The Tale of the Winged Lion by Eilidh Mackay
The Great Meerkat Escape by Nina Hoole
Otto’s Colours by Lois A. Johnson
The Monster in the Laundry by Zoe Barnes
The Dragon’s Wish by Sally Hodges
Wagger the Wonderful by Jean Farrell
Tortoise’s Late Breakfast by Rachel Rowlands
The Elephant Carnival by Kate Robinson
Juliet and the Snow Swan by Tuey Mac
Little Miss Wolfy Good by Jenny Davis
Atuki and Serai by Jo Tiddy
B is for Bone by Georgina Sewell
Colin and the Cat and the Farm of a Thousand Rats by Jeremy Sallis
Basil the Brave by Alice Westlake
Captain Yuri and the Space Mission by Susannah O’Brien
The Hedgehog Who Wouldn’t Sleep by Alison Webb
A Pile of Panda by Julie Innes
Bigfoot and Littletoes by David Smith
Misty and Mina by Monisha Bhaumik
Up In the Trees is Not For Me! by Lindsay Littleson