Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2021 - shortlist announced

Created to champion the best in children's writing and illustration, the Waterstones Children's Book Prize is split into three categories, illustrated books, younger fiction and older fiction.  The overall winner will be announced on Thursday, 1st July.

You will find some of the titles on the shortlist in the Library, the rest are on our wish list!

Previous winners have included The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf and Asha & the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan, all of which can also be found in the Library.

Children's Book News

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the much loved Mr Men and Little Miss books.  To celebrate, there will be two new books featuring brand new characters voted for by you.  They are Little Miss Brave and Mr Calm.  To find out more, click here.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar author and illustrator Eric Carle has died aged 91. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was first published in 1969 and is one of the best loved children's books ever.

Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize 2021 - winner announced!

This year's Jhalak Children's & YA Prize  has been won by the amazing Patrice Lawrence for her excellent novel Eight Pieces of Silva.  The prize is open to 'books for children and  teens and young adults including picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, poetry, non-fiction, and all other genres by writers of colour and aimed at young readers'.

Eight Pieces of Silva is also part this year's Read For Empathy Secondary Collection, and is well worth a read.  Other books by Patrice, including her debut award-winning novel, Orangeboy, are available to borrow from the Lower and Upper Libraries.

Patrice Lawrence is due to visit EPHS on an author visit next World Book Day 2022 - we can't wait!

George Floyd Remembered: One Year On

We took time out of our school day to remember and reflect on the death of George Floyd, the unarmed African American man who died after being stopped by police and then held down by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, USA.  

George Floyd's death led to debates about racism and Black Lives Matter marches and protests across the world, calling for changes to policing, education and culture. Mrs Codling, our Head, invited the whole school to join her on TEAMS, giving a short speech on the importance of tolerance and asking everyone to make pledges of acceptance.

The BBC Newsround website explores what has changed a year on - to read, click here.

For books and online resources that deal with racism and racial inequality and how we can fight it, many of which are available to borrow from the EPHS Library, click here.

Paddington Bear Summer Exhibition at the British Library

Image from the British Library website

The British Library gallery spaces have now re-opened, with many exhibitions available for you to visit for free.  You just need to book a ticket in advance on their website.

One exhibition that is guaranteed to lift your spirits this Summer is Paddington: The Story of A Bear, which opens at the British Library on Fri 9 Jul until Sun 31 Oct 2021.  

The exhibition celebrates one our best loved bears, who first appeared in print in A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond in 1958.  Since then his amusing mishaps and kind and caring nature have entertained us on the television and big screen as well. Under 11s go free and tickets for 12-17 year olds are £4. For more information and how to book click here.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 and the theme is nature and the environment.  

Evidence shows that reading can greatly help to improve your mental health and wellbeing. We have a great selection of nature themed and well being books for you to borrow.  Check out our recommendations on the Oliver news page by clicking here: 

Don’t forget the fantastic Empathy Book Collection 2021, which contains a fantastic selection of fiction, poetry and non-fiction spanning across genres.  All of these books, which have been chosen to help the reader understand what it's like to be in someone else's situation, are available to borrow from the Library.

Secondary Empathy Collection 2021

Mrs McLean, our Mental and Emotional Health Lead, has organised some activities for students and staff.  Click here for tips on improving your mental health by connecting with nature from the Mental Health Foundation.

YA Book Prize 2021 - winner announced!

The Booksellers YA Book Prize 2021 has been won by Alice Oseman for Loveless, a 'wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance' (LoveReading4Kids).  EPHS favourite, Malorie Blackman, was also given a special achievement award to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Noughts & Crosses.

To find out more about all the books shortlisted, and read the first chapter, click here.

Loveless and many of other shortlisted titles are available to borrow from the EPHS Libraries or are on our wish list!

EPHS Carnegie Shadowing 2021

We are delighted that EPHS students are taking part in the CILIP Carnegie Shadowing Scheme for the second year running.  

Known as the Eden Park Readers, the group consists of three Year 8 students, Millie, Angela and Eryk, four Year 9 students, Naomi, Amelia, Luca and Lucca, and three Year 10 students, Bryan, Luc and Alex together with Mrs Nolan, Miss Peters, Mr Collins and Ms Rodgerson.  We meet once a fortnight on separate lunchtimes to read, discuss and review the eight shortlisted titles selected by the Carnegie judges.  

Our Year 8 Shadowers

CILIP's Carnegie Medal is awarded each year for an outstanding book for children and young people as part of the Carnegie and Greenaway Children's Book Awards.  The Shadowing Scheme is an opportunity to 'shadow' the judging process for the Carnegie Medal.  The winners of the Carnegie Medal and the Shadowers' Choice Award, which our Group will be voting for, will be announced on 16th June 2021.  We can't wait!