A very enjoyable day at Halifax Central Library yesterday culminated in the best possible way, with Flip winning the 2012 Calderdale Book of the Year Award.
Taking questions
More than 130 students from 11 schools in the area descended on the library to take part in the voting and to attend talks and workshops by the five shortlisted authors, as well as a “literary lunch”, a plenary session of questions and a book-signing slot. A great day was had by all, thanks to the excellent organisation and hard work of the team of library staff and helpers from Calderdale Council.
The prize for winning was a bottle of Lanson Black Label champagne and a set of very elegant and worryingly fragile handmade, mouth-blown champagne flutes. Plus a congratulatory Terry’s chocolate orange from my wife when I got home.
Enthusiastic audience
The Book of the Year event is organised by the council’s Discover team, whose Learning Manager, Lynne Hackett, said: “The award introduces new books to a wide range of children and young people. The arrangement with the schools is that the children read all of the books, all the way through, and discuss their responses and feelings about the texts. This is a project which encourages whole book reading, discussion, listening to and respecting the views of others – all the skills that the government says are crucial, but missing from many young people’s lives.”
The other contenders on the shortlist were: Mary Arrigan, for The Rabbit Girl; Elen Caldecott for Operation Eiffel Tower; Charlie Fletcher for Stone Heart; and Mike Lancaster for 0.4.
This is the second award for Flip following its recent success in the Immanuel College Book Award.
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