Children select winner for Channel Island Book Award

The winning story, The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, was announced in a ceremony at Jersey Library. Credit: States of Jersey

School children in Jersey and Guernsey have nominated and voted for their favourite book published within the last year.

The winning story, The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, was announced in a ceremony at Jersey Library.

The awards are a joint initiative between Jersey Library and Guernsey School Library Service, and aim to encourage children aged 9-12 to develop a love of reading for pleasure.

Fourteen books were nominated by local children, and a judging panel of library staff from both islands then reviewed then shortlisted four titles.

The shortlisted titles were:

  • Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe

  • Kid Normal by Greg James and Chris Smith

  • Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone

Compère John Henry Falle holding the winning entry. Credit: States of Jersey

Alongside the awards, children were invited to enter their own writing, in the form of a blurb for a potential sequel for any of the shortlisted titles.

The winners were, Joe Griffiths in Jersey for his sequel to Kid Normal and Thomas Kent in Guernsey for his blurb for a sequel for the same title.