And the award goes to….

The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are the UK’s oldest children’s book awards and although this year’s awards ceremony took place virtually, it was one that we’ll remember for a long time to come at King’s. As a group of Thirds gathered in the library around a big screen to watch the ceremony, they were unaware of the starring role some of them would play in the proceedings.

Imogen Aldridge (3BRD), Lily-Ella Bernard (3GRO), Estella Lally (3DUT), Tom Roberts (3GRO), Elizabeth Melhuish-Bolton (3BRD) and Gemma have formed one of this year’s shadowing groups, in which young readers review and rate the shortlisted books to choose their own winner.

Shadowing groups are run by school and community libraries across the country but it was the King’s group that was chosen to share their thoughts on the books – and announce the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice winner – during the ceremony. Mrs Harding was delighted with their contribution: “They are a wonderful group of pupils and I am so proud of the part they played in this year’s awards ceremony. It’s particularly fitting that the pupil who championed “Run Rebel” so much during the King’s School Book Awards was the one who announced it as the winner.”

Mrs Harding also played her own important part in the awards this year. After many years of coordinating shadowing groups, she became a judge herself for the first time, representing the North West on the judging panel. In the absence of a glitzy award ceremony in London, she dressed for the more low-key occasion in her book dress and was happy to spend the day with the pupils who have spent so much time reading and reviewing this year’s shortlist. She will sit on the judging panel for two years and has her fingers firmly crossed for a big event in 2022!

If you missed the ceremony, you can watch it again here; King’s pupils make their appearance at about 34 minutes in. 

And here are the winners:

Shadowers’ Choice Awards:

• Carnegie: “Run, Rebel” by Manjeet Mann
• Kate Greenaway: “Starbird” written and illustrated by Sharon King-Chai

Medal Winners:

• Carnegie Medal: “Look Both Ways” by Jason Reynolds
• Kate Greenaway Medal: “Small in the City” written and illustrated by Sydney Smith