Press area

Booktrust’s press office provides accurate and up to the minute news about Booktrust’s projects for journalists.

We provide information on the latest prizes and events, interviews with key Booktrust spokespeople and prize associates, images, statistics and evaluation.

Our press campaigns and close relationships with the media serve to raise the public profile of Booktrust through national, regional, broadcast and online coverage.

For more information, contact Katherine Solomon, Booktrust Publicity Coordinator:

t 020 8875 4583
e katherine.solomon@booktrust.org.uk

... or Alice Ingall, Booktrust Press Officer

t 020 8875 4827
e alice.ingall@booktrust.org.uk

Press releases

The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Competition shortlist is announced (Word .doc 222Kb)

Blue Peter Book Awards 2010 Winners Announced (Word .doc 456Kb)

The longlist for The Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award is announced (Word .doc 200Kb)

A new generation of Silver Scribblers as publishers turns to the over 60s (Word .doc 263Kb)

The reading project lifeline for children in care (Word .doc 318Kb)

Booktrust launches its first reading and writing project for the over 60s (Word .doc 262Kb)

Short story novice clinches the BBC National Short Story Award (Word .doc 301Kb)

Bookseller's first novel wins the JLR 2009 (Word .doc 188Kb)

All-women shortlist for the BBC National Short Story Award (Word .doc 302Kb)

Neil Gaiman wins the Booktrust Teenage Prize (Word .doc 141Kb)

Winners of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009 announced (PDF 115Kb)

Shortlist revealed for the Blue Peter Book Awards (Microsoft Word .doc 448Kb)

Global concerns for an international JLR shortlist (Microsoft Word .doc 199Kb)

Children's bookshelves invaded as they become overrun with DVDs and video games (Microsoft Word .doc 860Kb)

The nation's favourite nursery rhyme revealed (Microsoft Word .doc 360Kb)

Booktrust Early Years Awards winners announced (Microsoft Word .doc 263Kb)

Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist announced (Microsoft Word .doc 148Kb)

Nii Parkes, Booktrust's second online writer in residence announced (Microsoft Word .doc 94Kb)

Roald Dahl Funny Prize shortlists announced (Microsoft Word .doc 283Kb)

Booktrust Early Years Awards shortlists announced (Microsoft Word .doc 259Kb)

Judges for the 2009 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize are announced (Microsoft Word .doc 92Kb)

Booktrust reveals the newspaper critics' most popular summer reads (Microsoft Word .doc 29Kb)

Exclusive new story by Patrick Ness, Booktrust's online writer in residence (Microsoft Word .doc 96Kb)

Winner of the Kim Scott Walwyn Prize 2009 announced (Microsoft Word .doc 92Kb)

The launch of Booked Up and Booktime 2009 (Microsoft Word .doc 306Kb)

Booktrust launches Bedtime Reading Week as part of National Family Week 2009 (Microsoft Word .doc 98Kb)

Bill Bailey to judge Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009 (Microsoft Word .doc 300Kb)

Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009 young judges competition announced (Microsoft Word .doc 145Kb)

Kim Scott Walwyn Prize shortlist announced (Microsoft Word .doc 101Kb)

Edith Bowman to judge Booktrust Early Years Awards 2009 (Microsoft Word .doc 103Kb)

Booktime's book for 2009 is unveiled (Microsoft Word .doc 201Kb)

Winner of the Booktrust: Power of Reading Award announced (Microsoft Word .doc 116Kb)

Launch of the 2009 BBC National Short Story Award (Microsoft Word .doc 238Kb)

Blue Peter Book Awards winners to be announced on World Book Day (Microsoft Word .doc 464 Kb)

Launch of the 2009 Kim Scott Walwyn Prize (Microsoft Word .doc 89Kb)

30 January 2009

Response to ‘PC rewrite’ of Bookstart Rhyme

'The changes made to the much loved “Drunken Sailor” nursery rhyme had absolutely nothing to do with politically correctness or the references to alcohol. We held over 4,000 events for National Bookstart Day last year, the theme of which was pirates. We wanted to find a rhyme which would fit in with this subject and this one has a tune which is instantly recognisable by all.

'These sessions are attended by thousands of children of varying ages and the inclusion of action lyrics like “wiggle” and “tickle” offers parents and children an opportunity to interact, have fun and enjoy acting out the rhyme together. However, we also think that it is fine to have fun with rhymes and play about with the words to make them accessible to new audiences.'

The Booktrust: Power of Reading Award launched (Microsoft Word .doc 115Kb)

Winner of the 2008 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize announced (Microsoft Word .doc 355Kb)

Winner of the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize announced (Microsoft Word .doc 767Kb)

Winners of the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize announced (Microsoft Word .doc 284Kb)

Blue Peter Book Awards shortlist announced (Microsoft Word .doc download 366Kb)

John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2008 shortlist (Microsoft Word .doc download 328Kb)

Pirates Ahoy in biggest ever National Bookstart Day (Microsoft Word .doc download 366Kb)

New reseach into children's reading (Microsoft Word .doc download 815Kb)

Letterbox Club evaluation results (Microsoft Word .doc download 144Kb)

2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist announced (Microsoft Word .doc download 757Kb)

Early Years Awards shortlists announced (Microsoft Word .doc download 198Kb)

John Llewellyn Rhys Prize judges announced (Adobe .pdf download 116Kb)

National Bookstart Day 2008 (Microsoft Word .doc download 48Kb)

Early Years Awards judges announced (Microsoft Word .doc download 116Kb)

Kim Scott Walwyn Prize shortlist announced (Microsoft Word .doc download 108Kb)

Booktrust launches translated fiction website (Microsoft Word .doc download 102Kb)

Big Picture campaign announces Ten Best New llustrators (Microsoft Word .doc download 235Kb)

Launch of Get London Reading 2008 (Microsoft Word .doc download 149Kb)

Exhibition and book to support Big Picture campaign (Microsoft Word .doc download 958Kb)

Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008 judges announced (Microsoft Word .doc download 358Kb)

Deaf children to receive free books from Bookstart (Microsoft Word .doc download 358Kb)