Blue Peter Book Awards 2010 shortlist revealed

• 5 Stars

Booktrust and CBBC’s children’s show Blue Peter have today revealed the shortlisted titles for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2010.

A panel of adult judges, including Tim Levell, Editor of Blue Peter, children’s librarian Debra Conway and last year’s overall winner, author Matt Haig, have selected nine titles in three categories – Best Book with Facts, Book I couldn’t Put Down and Most Fun Story with Pictures – for the Awards, now entering their tenth year.

A selection of Blue Peter viewers will now judge the final nine books and choose both the winners in each category, and the overall winner of Blue Peter Book of the Year 2010. An extract from each of the shortlisted titles will be dramatised for the Book Awards show, to be broadcast on Blue Peter in March 2010 to coincide with World Book Day.

The shortlisted books are:

Best Book With Facts

Usborne Lift-the-flap Picture Atlas by Alex Frith & Kate Leake (Usborne) Tail-End Charlie by Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom (Francis Lincoln Children’s Books) Why Eating Bogeys is Good for You by Mitchell Symons (Red Fox)

Book I Couldn’t Put Down

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Macmillan) The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 by Harriet Goodwin (Stripes) Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes (Oxford)

Most Fun Story with Pictures

Peter the Penguin Pioneer by Daren King (Quercus) Spells by Emily Gravett (Macmillan) Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things by Guy Bass & Pete Williamson (Stripes)

Tim Levell, Editor of Blue Peter said: “The Blue Peter Book Awards aim to guide children towards high quality literature, encouraging them to read and establish a love of reading for life. This year’s shortlist offers a wide variety of writing and illustrating styles on many different subjects. The adult judges were blown away by the quality of books being published for children today and we can’t wait to find out which books will win once the child judges have got their hands on them.”

The reading charity, Booktrust, was awarded administration for the Blue Peter Book Awards in May 2008.