Libraries Sheffield: The Sheffield Children's Book Award

The Sheffield Children's Book Award is brought to you by Sheffield Libraries and is a celebration of our favourite children's books of the year! This Award is a way to share with you books that children will love to read, whilst also promoting inclusion, diversity and empathy in great stories.

Right about now we would ordinarily be counting up your votes for this year's shortlisted titles, readying for our ceremony in November, but like many things, Covid-19 has meant a change of plans. Don't fear, the book award is still happening. Watch this space for more details.

However, we still have an exciting bunch of beautiful books that we want to promote and enjoy on this year's shortlist so for the next few weeks we'll be blogging about each category of shortlisted titles and giving you a closer look at each one.

Vote for your Favourite!

Why not read the books for yourself and let us know which is your favourite?

Get a closer look at each title in our Instagram Highlights

Then submit your vote via our online form.

Shorter Novels

Our fourth category is the Shorter Novels Reads. The crucial first steps into reading for children, where the storytelling really starts to come into its own.

The House of Light

Written by Julia Green

Illustrated by Helen Crawford Wright

Published by Oxford

The sea gives and the sea takes. The sea took Bonnie's mother away from her, to a new life on a distant shore. And now it has brought her three things: A boat, a boy and a chance to be free. A moving story of courage and friendship.

Watch the lovely author Julia Green as she reads an extract from The House of Light.

The Land of Roar

Written by Jenny McLachlan

Illustrated by Ben Mantle

Published by Egmont

When Arthur and Rose were little, they were heroes in the Land of Roar, an imaginary world that they found by climbing through the folding bed in their Grandad's attic. Roar was filled with things they loved - dragons, mermaids, ninja wizards and adventure - as well as things that scared them (including a very creepy scarecrow).

Now the twins are eleven, Roar is just a memory. But when they help Grandad clean out the attic, Arthur is horrified as Grandad is pulled into the folding bed and vanishes. Is he playing a joke? Or is Roar ... real?

Watch Mrs S read an extract from The Land of Roar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYT9Gm1ctTs

D-Day Dog

Written by Tom Palmer

Published by Barrington Stoke

Jack can't wait for the school trip to the D-Day landing beaches. It's his chance to learn more about the war heroes he has always admired - brave men like his dad who is a reserve solider. But when his Dad is called up to action and things at home spiral out of control, everything Jack believes about war is thrown into question. Finding comfort only in the presence of his loyal dog, Finn, Jack is drawn to the heart-wrenching true story of one particular D-Day paratrooper. On 6 June, 1944, Emile Corteil parachuted into France with his dog, Glen, and Jack is determined to discover their fate.

Watch Tom read chapter one of D-Day Dog to his gorgeous dog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4etGq_ozA0E&list=PLCiSf6_XvoCUv3xFdx8sbnxm0A2Q9Gebc