Keen readers collaborate on Carnegie Award

Just days ahead of the Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Awards ceremony, students from King’s and The Catholic High School spent an enjoyably bookish afternoon in our Wickson Library discussing the shortlist. 

In both schools, students have been reading the shortlisted books in their shadowing groups for the awards. Shadowing groups are run by school and community libraries across the country to give young people an opportunity to read, discuss and ultimately vote on their favourite book. 

Organised by King’s Librarian Mrs Harding, and English Teacher Mrs Ireland from The Catholic High School, students came together to share their opinions on the books over sandwiches and cake, including this magnificent cake baked by Olivia in Thirds to represent one of the Greenaway-nominated books, The Midnight Fair. 

Mrs Harding said: “This afternoon was about the books and it was great to see so much enthusiasm for the students. It was a truly joyous celebration of their love of reading, and wonderful to see such a positive collaboration between the students and our schools.”

The visit concluded with a vote on the students’ favourite Carnegie shortlisted book. 

There were some mixed opinions, but the final vote was a draw between Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock and October, October by Katya Balen.

The winners of the Carnegie and Greenaway Medals will be announced on Thursday, 16 June at a ceremony in London when the results of the Shadowers’ Choice will also be revealed.