Windows Into Other Worlds: Here are the winning entries, full of the wonderful worlds you've explored in books

Published on: 15 July 2019 Author: Candy Gourlay

Author and current BookTrust Writer in Residence Candy Gourlay talks us through the brilliant drawings and words she received, as part of her creative competition for schools. 

I was worried when three big FAT envelopes from Booktrust squeezed into my letter box. I knew they contained all the entries to the Windows Into Other Worlds Competition that I had set as BookTrust’s Writer in Residence. The envelopes looked awfully large and well-stuffed.

When I opened the envelopes, leafing through the entries, I was smiling and laughing and going, “Wow!’ so much that one of my children popped their head into my office to ask if I was all right.

Reader, I pored over every single one. I made many piles on my desk as I read and re-read them. A longlist of entries from children age 4 to 7, a longlist of entries from children aged 8 to 11. Then I made a shortlist of each longlist. But it wasn’t short enough, because I LOVED so many entries. Then I went to bed and promised myself I would really, really winnow them down in the morning. And then, for a long time, I couldn’t.

Reader, it was hard.

But in the end, I found a winner.

Winner: Freddie dives into the world of Tiddler

It is four-year-old Freddie Ferguson from Mrs Houda’s Reception class at Thelwall Community Infant School in Warrington, Cheshire. Freddie’s homage to Tiddler by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler was moving and magical and made me wish I could be a sea creature (an octopus, actually) and explore the gorgeousness of the world under the ocean.

'When I read the book Tiddler [by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler], I imagine I turn into Freddie the Fish. The sea is so deep and blue with lots of strange sea creatures. I would be a leopard fish and swim faster than the speed boats. I get tangled in the seaweed and a turtle rescues me.'

Totally, utterly beautiful, Freddie! Every member of your Reception Class will receive a copy of my own undersea picture book, Is It a Mermaid? – fabulously illustrated by Francesca Chessa. And you, Freddie, will receive a bundle of my books. I hope you enjoy them!

Thankfully, I was allowed to choose two runners-up!

Runner-up: Tyler takes a magic carpet ride

One runner up is eight-year-old Tyler Judges-Smith from Mrs Daly’s class in Fleetdown Primary School in Dartford, Kent.

Tyler chose The Arabian Nights as his window to another world and his drawing caught my eye with its little figures and minarets. When I inspected it more closely, I realised, amongst others, I was looking at the scene where the robbers are realising that their plot to kill Ali Baba had been foiled by Ali’s faithful servant girl. Flying overhead with a delicious 'Ahh' speech bubble is Aladdin on a magic carpet!

Tyler also picked a wonderful passage from his book:

'Here is a ring on a silver dish, put it on your finger and make a wish. Here is a genie who waits in a flask.'

Thank you, Tyler, I loved studying your illustration and remembering how much I loved the wondrous tales from The Arabian Nights, when I was a kid – there were so many stories in your picture, it was like reading a book!

Runner-up: Quin considers a different outlook on the world

The other runner-up is 10-year-old Quin Thirsk from Latymer Prep School in Hammersmith, London. Quin’s entry is a masterpiece! At the centre is an arresting portrait of the hero, Christopher [from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time], hands clapped over his ears, his face twisted in pain at the chaos around him. Around him are the things that comfort him – prime numbers, a code to facial expression, and a rigid time schedule – and the disturbing event that disrupts his sense of order: the dead dog (I love the dead dog’s expression).

Quin writes:

'I love how, even though the book is set in England, everything is different when seen from Christopher’s perspective. Christopher’s world is different to my world because he sees and remembers so much more detail. However he does not understand it in the way I do. That’s what makes his world interesting.'

Congratulations to Quin and Tyler, you will each receive a bundle of my books. I hope you enjoy them!

I am so happy for Freddie, Tyler and Quin … but I’m sad I wasn’t allowed to pick more winners. There were so many beautiful pieces of work!