On Monday 24^th April, Mrs Coles, Ms Orton and Mrs Ward had great pleasure in taking 20 Year students to Heartlands High School in Wood Green for the third annual Haringey Children’s Book Awards ceremony.  We have been meeting weekly to read the six shortlisted books, discuss them and take part in fun activities (and eat vast quantities of cake and biscuits) since January.  Because we were such a large group half of the group enjoyed an animation workshop with Peter Bunzl (author of Cogheart) and the other half worked with Christine Hamill (The Best Medicine).  After lunch in the park, we met all the shortlisted authors and other local writers and got books personalised by them.  Catherine West MP and Joanne McCartney, the Deputy Mayor for London, gave short and bookish speeches and Sean Edwards introduced the Summer Reading Challenge on behalf of Haringey Libraries.

Each shortlisted author spoke to the audience (400+ Y5, 6 and 7 students from around the borough).  The “gobby” – her words – Emma Carroll talked about using Frankenstein as inspiration for Strange Star.  Jo Coterill, resplendent in a lemony dress, read a delightful extract from A Library of Lemons.  Karen McCombie, author of 84 books, described how Haringey and Wood Green is the backdrop to Catching Falling Stars.  Christine Hamill read a hilarious section from The Best Medicine.  The splendidly bonkers AF Harrold (The Imaginary) is always being asked about his inspirations, so he read his poem, “They ask me where I get my inspiration.  I say, ‘From a shop’…”  Peter Bunzl read from Cogheart.

Our very own Patron of Reading and winner of last year’s HCBA with Phoenix, SF Said,  gave a short speech and announced the winner (drum roll) Christine Hamill for The Best Medicine. 

We would like to thank the dedicated readers of our HCBA who have come to the library every week and behaved so well at the Award ceremony.   They were a credit to Fortismere.