You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
The Booktrust Best Book Awards with Amazon Kindle has revealed which judges will be picking the prize winners, with Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman, "Great British Bake Off" host Mel Giedroyc and "Made in Chelsea" star Andy Jordan among those on board.
Giedroyc will host the awards ceremony, set to take place on 2nd July.
"The Apprentice" winner Tom Pellereau will be joined by literary scout John McLay and author and illustrator Lauren Child to judge the 0-5 years category, while TV presenters Cerrie Burnell and Andy Akinwolere will judge the 6-8 group, alongside the Guardian's children's books editor Julia Eccleshare.
Giedroyc will judge the 9-11 category alongside Helen Skelton of "Blue Peter" and DJ and radio presenter Nemone Metaxas alongside school librarian Adam Lancaster. Meanwhile writer and reviewer Amanda Craig, author Louise Rennison, and Andy Jordan will judge the 12-14 age group.
A technology award that will celebrate the best innovations in online literature and technology, with journalist Stuart Dredge will assisting Amanda Craig and Cerrie Burnell in deciding on the winners in the category.
Malorie Blackman and Booktrust President Michael Morpurgo will decide on the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside the Daily Telegraph's culture editor Martin Chilton and Booktrust's c.e.o Viv Bird.
A shortlist of entries will be announced on 27th March.
Blackman said: "I am thrilled to be part of the judging panel for the Lifetime Achievement Award, to help to recognise the outstanding talent in the world of children’s books. We are incredibly lucky in this country to have a wealth of authors and illustrators who have entertained generation after generation with fantastic stories, and it’s important to celebrate this whenever possible. Many of us writing today owe everything to the stories we read at home, at school and in libraries as children, so I couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of honouring achievement in this field."
Bird added: “We're very excited to announce our panel, which is a great mix of some of the nation's most talented writers, respected journalists and popular celebrities.
"There's a lot of fantastic reading ahead for our judges, and we hope they enjoy embracing their inner child in providing a shortlist for the nation’s school-children to choose from. With so many top authors and titles in the running, we anticipate an exciting vote."
Children across the country signed up for the project by schools and libraries will be invited to vote for the overall winners of each specific category.