As part of the World Book Day Celebrations today the winners of the 2010 World Book Day / Evans Schools Short Story Competition have been announced, to coincide with the publication by Evans of a selection of the best stories.
There are two volumes, according to age group; The Escape of Hanna Schmidt & Lord of the Ring Doughnuts.
Working from a first line, primary and secondary school children across the country were invited to create a short story or poem to compete for entry in two anthologies.
This years authors included children’s laureate Anthony Browne, ex-SAS novelist Andy McNab and Francesa Simon – author of the best-selling Horrid Henry series. Children also had the opportunity to write a poem, with the first line provided by performance poet Roger McGough.
Over 2,000 schools registered for this year’s competition and from approximately 3,000 entries author Stewart Ross selected the winning entries – 16 primary and 13 secondary – to be compiled into the winners’ anthologies.
Children were also encouraged to submit illustrations for inclusion in the anthologies and on the cover jackets.
The winners for the primary category are:
Lord of the Ring Doughnuts and other stories and poems
Cover illustration: Kate Craven, age 9, Craughwell N.S., Co. Galway, Ireland
Haidee Sticpewich, 9, St. Catherine’s Prep School, Surrey
Hannah James, 11, Heatherside Junior School, Hampshire
Daniel Knuckle, 9, Horsley C of E Primary School, Gloucestershire
Amy Penrose, 9, The Abbey Junior School, Berkshire
Christopher Barnes, 10, Woodfield Middle School, Worcestershire
Maia Lambert, 6, Herstmonceux CE Primary School, Sussex
Louisa Ashdown, 6, The Abbey Junior School, Berkshire
Jasmine Thirkell, 9, Hunloke Park Primary School, Derbyshire
Greg Susevee, 9, Awliscombe Primary School, Devon
Harry Carter, 10, West Leigh Junior School, Essex
Georgina Evans, 10, Warley Road Primary School, West Yorkshire
Eleanor Moloney, 9, Carnaross N. S, Co. Meath, Ireland
William O’Hara, 9, Brentwood Prep School, Essex
Katrina Harris, 11, Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen
Jake Wood, 8, Great Paxton Primary School, Cambridgeshire
Evie O’Neill, 11, Norwich High School for Girls, Norfolk
Stewart Ross says: “Three years ago, when I first selected stories for this book, I was amazed at the quality of the entries. Not any more. I now know, from past experience and from visiting dozens of schools all over Britain and further afield, that the pool of young talent is deep, wide and wonderfully rich. This year we had more entries than ever and the standard keeps climbing.”
For more information visit www.worldbookday.com
Tags: children's books, children's literacy, evans short story competition, get kids reading, lord of the ring doughnuts, World Book Day
