And the winner is....

Yesterday, eight Surrey schools descended on Dorking Halls for the Surrey Libraries' Children's Book Award Ceremony. After a fun filled morning which featured everything from dramatic reenactments to a song referencing all of the books, the moment everyone was waiting for came when Dave Pigeon written by Swapna Haddow and illustrated by Sheena Dempsey was declared the winner.

Here's what Swapna had to say about the day.

The attending nominees (and winners) - Francis Blake, Simon Cherry, Swapna Haddow, Sheena Dempsey and Tony Bradman.

In demand! - Francis Blake gets Swapna Haddow's autograph

Reigate Chatterbooks read the Bolds to the Rescue and vote for their favourite shortlisted title

Last week, Reigate Chatterbooks discussed their final title on the Children's Book Award shortlist, "The Bolds To The Rescue". They also cast their vote for the winner!

Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey come to East Surrey

Last week, Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey, author and illustrator respectively of Dave Pigeon visited Langshott, Sandcross and Reigate Library's Chatterbooks Group.

Evil squirrels, fairgrounds and ninja chops - the schools got very creative while Sheena storyboarded their ideas - live!

Mean Cat was "wanted" at Langshott

Some great work produced by Sandcross

Members of Reigate Library's Chatterbooks were lucky enough to meet Swapna and Sheena

Simon Cherry and Francis Blake at Ripley

This afternoon, Simon Cherry and Francis Blake visited Ripley Primary School, featuring some great artwork by Francis!

Reigate Chatterbooks read Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot

Reigate Library's Chatterbooks group have been reading Horatio Clare's Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot this month. They discussed anthropomorphism followed by a quiz on the best animals in literature.

St Bartholomew's

The children at St Batholomew's were spellbound when Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey visited them last month.

Tony Bradman comes to Dorking

Last week, Tony Bradman - author of The Boy and the Globe visited Surrey Hills and St John's. There were great costumes, great work and disgusting crisp flavours!

Reigate Chatterbooks read Eddy Stone and the Epic Holiday Mash-Up

In March, Reigate Library's Chatterbooks group read Simon Cherry's Eddy Stone and the Epic Holiday Mash-Up. A great excuse for some pirate crafts!

Swapna Haddow & Sheena Dempsey school visits

On Tuesday, Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey author and illustrator of Dave Pigeon visited St Bartholomew's and Cranleigh Primary School.

St Batholomew's did some wonderful artwork

2 members of staff at Cranleigh Primary knitted their very own Dave Pigeon

Simon Cherry and Francis Blake come to Surrey

Yesterday, author, Simon Cherry and illustrator, Francis Blake visited Walton Oak School and Ongar Place Primary. Their wonderful book, Eddie Stone and the Epic Holiday Mash-Up proved a hit!

At Ongar Place, Francis was commissioned to draw a two headed, one armed alien!

Reigate Chatterbooks read The Boy and the Globe

We read the Boy and the Globe and we made our own Globe Theatres from the link in the back of the book. The group enjoyed the activity especially as the theatre becomes a hat!

Egham Library Chatterbooks Reviews 'The Bolds to the Rescue' by Julian Clary

Egham Library Chatterbooks will be reading the five books nominated for the Children's book Awards 2017. At the Chatterbooks meeting on 28th February, the Chatterbooks members had a lively discussion about 'The Bolds to the Rescue' by Julian Clary.

Chatterbooks members said: "It is better than the first 'Bolds' book... it's funny... it has interesting characters... more clever than humans... great problem solvers...  and a good moral to it too." The book received:

5 stars

Here are Egham Library Chatterbooks' reviews:



Reigate Chatterbooks read Dave Pigeon

Reigate Chatterbooks have just enjoyed reading Dave Pigeon. We then made a flying pigeon (& a lot of noise !!! )

The Children's Book Award 2017

Introducing the Children's Book Award 2017 working group (from left to right) Tom Batten, Jayne Mairs, Owen Dixon, Carol Hales, June Hughes, Ann Abbott and Annalisa Timbrell.

Here's what they had to say about their favourite books on the shortlist.

"The Bolds to the Rescue is hilarious. It was great to revisit the Bold family, and see how other animals would adapt to human life, whether they are ambitious poodles or hungry crocodiles. The collection of Mr Bold’s jokes are a must for fans of one-liners." - Tom

"Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot is a story with a difference! It is full of fascinating and unusual characters. I love how the animals talk to Aubrey and the different ways they try to help Jim." - Jayne

"I love the characters of Dave Pigeon and Skipper because, even when their plans go wrong, they never give up - they just make another plan and try again." - June

"I really enjoyed reading Eddy Stone and the Epic Holiday Mash Up, it will inspire the imagination of children and lets them partake in a voyage of adventures." Ann

"I loved The Boy and the Globe because it really brought to life the Shakespeare era for young children and made it really fun! It promotes reading and theatre in a really positive way and the characters were really likeable." - Annalisa