• To alert young people to 'books well worth reading'
• To re-establish and strengthen the reading for pleasure habit.
• To promote the ethos that it's OK to read!
• To create a mechanism for lively book discussions
• To link young people across the region through the common medium of books
• To offer young people their 'own' book award.
How will it happen?
In a nutshell librarians, teachers along with students select the short-list from the publisher's nominations. The criteria for these nominations are that the books must have been published for the first time
in paperback between April 1st and March 31st just prior to the award year
by an author resident in the UK . Books are aimed at the Year nine age range.
Students begin reading, reviewing and debating in September with voting in December.
January sees the results of the voting at the 'Presentation Evening'
to which all the shortlisted authors are invited. The winning title being a closely kept secret until this time. The 2005 award is to be held in the Eastbourne Central Library. Link to ‘Presentation Evening' for more details.
Funding?
Comes from sponsors in return for publicity, fundraising and generous Head Teachers and PTFAs!
Spin-offs?
Competitions for posters, bookmarks, best review, re-designing front covers, re-writing blurbs. The opportunity to e-mail other participating students across the region and anything else that springs to mind!
Finally!
The pulling together of all the news, views and reviews to be published here on the website.
A few words from the friends of the award!
"My wife and I would be glad to support the Southern Schools Book Award. We think it is an excellent idea"
Lord and Lady Healey of Riddlesden
" An hour with a good book is worth ten hours watching reality television. Congratulations on setting up the Southern Schools Book Award. I hope it encourages those young people who up until now have not bothered to give reading a try".
David Dimbleby
To learn more about the SSBA contact Mandy Rutter
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