Information on Loughborough

Bad Guy Gum bags big kids’ book prize

Posted on 06/06/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

5 June 2009

Bad Guy Gum bags big kids’ book prize

Being a bad guy can be great. Especially if you are fictional bad guy Mr Gum, recently picked by Leicestershire’s children as their top read of the year.

You’re a Bad Man Mr Gum by Andy Stanton is the winner of Leicestershire Library Services’ first ever children’s book prize

Over 1,300 children from across Leicestershire voted online, in libraries and in Borders bookshops for their favourite book from a shortlist of titles selected by children aged 10 -13.

The Leicestershire Children’s Book Prize was launched in 2008 as part of the National Year of Reading. Its main aim was to promote great books and to encourage reading for pleasure for children in school years 6 and 7.

Andy Stanton will attend a prize-giving at Borders Books in Leicester on Thursday, June 11th. The event will be attended by children from Weavers Close Church of England Primary School in Earl Shilton.

Weavers Close was the winner from a prize draw of schools that had actively supported the Children’s Book Prize and has won £200 pounds worth of books from the prize sponsor, Borders.

Children voting for Mr Gum loved it because:

It was very funny and rather mad.

It was funny and made me laugh so much my sides almost split

It is a revolting comedy book

It creates a good picture in my head and it is funny

Runners Up for the Prize were:

2nd Michael Morpurgo for Born to Run, 3rd Jacqueline Wilson for Jacky Daydream and 4th Andrew Cope for Spy Dog

Find out more at www.leics.gov.uk/childrensbookprize

Maggie Boyd, Development Librarian - 0116 3053833 or mboyd@leics.gov.uk