UKLA Book Award Winners 2017 announced

The winners of the UKLA Book Awards, which are chosen by teachers, have been announced with the winners including The Journey by Francesca Sanna; There's a Bear On MY Chair by Ross Collins; and The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen by Susin Nielsen.

The winning books are judged on the criteria that they 'enhance all aspects of literacy learning'. The teachers are able to share the books with their classes and discover what genuinely works with young readers in each of the three age categories. The Journey by Francesca Sanna is the first picture book to win the 7-11 category. The judges found that it provoked a powerful response from children of all ages. The Journey was also shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and was awarded the 2017 Amnesty CILIP Honour. The 2016 Amnesty CILIP Honour winner, There's a Bear On MY Chair by Ross Collins, has also won the UKLA 3-6 category, demonstrating that human rights are a very current classroom topic. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen by Canadian author Susin Nielsen won the 12-16 category with American author and illustrator Brian Selznick's The Marvels being Highly Commended. Research carried out by members of UKLA (Cremin et al 2008) clearly demonstrated the links between teachers' knowledge of children's books and the likelihood of pupils becoming successful readers. Despite this evidence, teachers are seldom given time to read new books or funding to purchase them when they do. Awards chair Lynda Graham said, "It was very moving to hear the teacher judges, from all across Scotland, describe the impact within schools of their being involved in these awards. Not only did it open their eyes to the value of picturebooks for all ages but it galvanised their pupils' enthusiasm for reading." Andrew Lambirth, president of UKLA, said, "We know that literature broadens the reader's experience of the world and sense of the possible and thus should have a central place in classrooms and educational contexts. Children need access to a rich range of high quality literature and our awards highlight some of the very best literature currently available to children and young people in the UK." The judges commented on each of the winning books as follows: 12-16 years The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen by Susin Nielsen (Andersen Press) The judges said: 'A really good book changes the way you see the world' and this book demonstrated that powerful effect in the judges' classrooms. This is indeed a remarkable book: with a diary format that is a gift for engaging with reluctant readers and for creative writing; multi-faceted authentic characters that evoke empathy and provoke intense class discussions of relevant topics such as bullying, divorce and family breakdown; and yet is also warm, humane, sensitive and funny, The judges also presented a Highly Commended award to The Marvels written and illustrated by Brian Selznick, published by Scholastic. The judges commented that this beautiful and special book provides a unique experience for the reader and the judges wished to commend a unique method of telling the story: first through cinematic wordless pictures then by narrative text. With the immediately accessible images you create your own narrative and this engages the interest of even the most reluctant of readers in fiction and the power of story. 7 to 11 years The Journey written and illustrated by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye Books) The judges reported that this important book for our times was used throughout their schools and had impact and meaning for all ages and abilities. This story of a mother seeking a safe refuge for her family really demonstrated the power of pictures to inspire discussion, empathy and creative writing. The powerful simple language was both challenging without being intimidating and the whole book provoked such rich responses from children that it was truly outstanding 3 to 6 years There's a Bear on MY Chair by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow) The judges said this was a superb example of how interesting words and evocative pictures should work together and one which also demonstrates a very clever use of design; with differing font size and colour expressing tone, emphasis and volume. The clever rhyme reads aloud very well and the perfectly expressive and humorous illustrations really engage young children in discussing the story and the issues of restorative justice that it raises, providing a wonderful stimulus for dramatic re-telling. The Shortlists in full: 3-6 The Lion Inside written by Rachel Bright and illustrated by Jim Field (Orchard Books) There's a Bear on MY Chair written and illustrated by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow) A Hungry Lion or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals written and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins (Simon and Schuster) Grandad's Island written and illustrated by Benji Davies (Simon and Schuster) Tidy written and illustrated by Emily Gravett (Two Hoots) The Bear and the Piano written and illustrated by David Litchfield (Frances Lincoln) 7-11 Little Bits of Sky written by S.E Durrant and illustrated by Katie Harnett (Nosy Crow) Gorilla Dawn written by Gill Lewis (Oxford University Press) Pugs of the Frozen North written and illustrated by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (Oxford University Press) The Wolf Wilder written by Katherine Rundell and illustrated by Gelrev Ongbico (Bloomsbury) The Journey written and illustrated by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye Books) Time Travelling with a Hamster written by Ross Welford (HarperCollins) 12-16 The Smell of Other People's Houses written by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (Faber and Faber) The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen written by Susin Nielsen (Andersen Press) Orbiting Jupiter written by Gary .D. Schmidt (Andersen Press) Railhead written by Philip Reeve (Oxford University Press) The Marvels written and illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic) Fire Colour One written by Jenny Valentine (HarperCollins)