Children's Book Award 2008 Shortlist

Five Little Ducks Illustrated by Anthony Lewis Child’s Play (International) Ltd

Best Friends Illustrated by Mark Chambers Tango Books

It’s Raining! It’s Pouring! We’re Exploring! by Polly Peters and illustrated by Jess Stockham Child’s Play (International) Ltd

The winner will be announced on 16 October 2008.

A Judge's Perspective on the 2007 Award Process

By Alexandra Strick

The Nasen (National Association for Special Educational Needs) & TES Special Educational Needs Book Awards were created to recognise books, authors and publishers that promote knowledge and understanding of inclusion and inspire children with special educational needs and their teachers.

Now in their sixteenth year, the awards are widely recognised as representing excellence and best practice in books and resources for special educational needs.

The scope of the awards has grown over the years and two new categories were intoduced in 2007 to recognise the large number of 'non book' resources that are now available to support young people with additional needs.

Having been working in the world of children's book and disability for a number of years, I have always kept a keen eye on these awards, and collected valuable book ideas from their long and short lists. So when I was invited (via Booktrust) to join the judging panel for the 2007 Nasen Children's Book Award, I leapt at the chance.

Particularly pleasing was the fact that I would be sitting alongside three "real" young people on the panel - students from the Earls High School, Dudley (West Midlands) whose views and enthusiasm were to lend the whole process a valuable new insight.

Also on the panel were Ros Bartlett (assistant headteacher of the Earls and past chair of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups) and Kathy Saunders (children's literature consultant and author of Happy Ever Afters who also brought considerable expertise and experience to the proceedings.

The judging of the awards took place over summer 2007. Bulging packages of books arrived at our homes and we did our best to read and score them all against the core criteria before meeting at the TES offices to prune them down to just three winners. The meeting was both enjoyable and thought-provoking, with plenty of the obligatory 'lively debate'.

With the criteria for guidance, we knew we were looking for books which would:

  • appeal to the target audience in terms of readability and presentation
  • offer positive and inclusive images
  • demonstrate high quality of story/text
  • enhance the knowledge and understanding about children with special educational needs.

One of our only disappointments in the process whas that the number of entries was disturbingly low, and indeed some of those entered failed even to meet these criteria. Surely creating an inclusive, accessible, engaging read is something that every book should be striving for?

I for one would take this opportunity to urge every publisher to take a look at their list in the light of these criteria - and if it does not include a good percentage of books that tick all these boxes, perhaps this is something that they will want to consider reviewing.

However, the good news is that we found several books which met all the criteria and in very different and exciting ways. The Ding Dong Bag by Polly Peters and illustrated by Jess Stockham is an extremey lively and original story of two boys who set out to 'catch' noises.

Not only does one of the boys happen to wear a colourful wrist splint (so subtly and naturally included that it may well go unnoticed by the majority of readers), but the author/illustrator also point out that the book could also be of great value in considering autistim.

Dan and Diesel by Charlotte Hudson and illustrated by Lindsey Gardiner is a highly imaginative picture book which describes the unique relationship between a boy and his guide dog. The text is simple and effective, illustrations delighful and vibrant, and the book raises all sorts of ideas and discussion topics for young readers.

However, the overall winner was The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd published by David Fickling Books. This is a highly entertaining mystery novel in which a boy steps into a pod of the London Eye only to disappear apparently into thin air. The reader joins Ted, the boy's cousin, in his attempts to unravel the mystery.

The juding panel agreed that the book is completely unputdownable, and the cast of characters (especially Ted, who is on the "high-functioning" end of the autistic spectrum) are engaging and fully rounded, making the book a complete delight to read.

We were very pleased with our winners, and left the deliberations looking forward to the Awards ceremony in October.

Little did we know that Siobhan Dowd was to pass away on 21 August, after a long battle with breast cancer, bringing an air of poignancy to the October ceremony. The event was held at the British Library on the eve of the NASEN conference in London. Siobhan's husband Geoff Morgan collected the award on her behalf.

We look forward to 2008, hoping to see many more entries for this important award which recognises that all children's books should be accessible and inclusive.

Shortlist and Winner:

  • Dan and Diesel by Charlotte Hudson and illustrated by Lindsey Gardiner published by Red Fox Picture Books
  • The Ding Dong Bag by Polly Peters and illustrated by Jess Stockham published by Child’s Play (International) Ltd
  • The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd published by David Fickling Books (Overall Winner)