Libraries Sheffield: And the Winners are ...

On Tuesday 15th November 2016, children from across Sheffield, along with teachers, authors, illustrators, publishers, library staff, special guests and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield gathered at the prestigious Crucible Theatre for the 28th Sheffield Children's Book Award!

What a day it was. This was probably the noisiest, most enthusiastic and fun filled ceremony to date! And all for the love of books!

The ceremony was introduced by Claire South of the Schools' and Young People's Library Service, who talked about everything the Sheffield library service has to offer and why reading is SO important.

Then came BBC's Trisha Cooper who, with her usual boundless energy, worked the children up into a book loving frenzy, ready to announce the book award winners. For the full list of shortlisted titles, all of which are brilliant, please see my previous blog post: The Sheffield Children's Book Award

First up was the Baby Book Award which had a special little party of its own in a room full of bouncing babies led by Martin Harwood the Music Man. Lots of fun was had.

Winner of the Baby Book Award was
Box - Min Flyte and Rosalind Beardshaw.

Back in the main auditorium, special characters (provided by Noodle Performance Arts) such as Frozen's Elsa, a Jedi and a rather smelly pirate, helped Trisha announce the main award winners as follows:

Picture Books:

Category Winner: The Zoomers' Handbook - Thiago & Ana de Moraes

Highly Commended: I Will Love You Anyway - Mick & Chloe Inkpen

Commended: There's a Bear on my Chair - Ross Collins

Shorter and Longer Novels:

Category Winner: Uncle Gobb - Michael Rose & Neal Layton

Highly Commended: Wolf Wilder - Katherine Rundell

Commended: - A Boy Called Christmas - Matt Haig & Chris Mould

Young Adult:

Category Winner: One - Sarah Crossan

Highly Commended: Fire Colour One - Jenny Valentine

Commended: Liquidator - Andy Mulligan

Special Category - Celebrity Authors:

Category Winner: The Bolds - Julian Clary & David Roberts

OVERALL WINNER:

Uncle Gobb - Michael Rosen & Neal Layton

A busy signing session took place after the ceremony, allowing children the opportunity to meet their favourite authors and illustrators. And finally, as if they hadn't worked hard enough, the authors and illustrators spread out across Sheffield into schools and libraries to hold special events with excited school children.

Huge congratulations to everyone who made the shortlist and to those who won prizes. A massive thank you to Jennie Wilson and the team at the Schools' Library Service for working so hard to create a magical and fun award ceremony and to Anne Frost for bringing bundles of babies together for the Baby Book Award.

The Sheffield Children's Book Award was a wonderful day. A celebration of fantastic books, brilliant authors, illustrators and of course, amazing libraries!

A BIG thank you to every person who came along and helped to make this celebration so special.

Same again next year then?

Winners L-R:- Chris Mould, Mick Inkpen, Thiago de Moraes, Chloe Inkpen, Michael Rosen, Lord Mayor Denise Fox, Sarah Crossan, Andy Mulligan, Rosalind Beardshaw, Min Flyte.