Sainsbury’s has revealed that it will be donating 80,000 children’s books to Save the Children, in support of child literacy in the UK. The donation comes as Sainsbury’s announces the winners of its second annual “Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards”.
The donation includes a selection of books for age groups four, five and six years plus, and features a range of illustrated stories, colouring books and educational titles. The books will be distributed to areas where Save the Children is working across the UK with the aim to encourage children and families to get more enjoyment from reading.
Last year in England, over 115,000 children left primary school unable to read as well as they should*. As well as providing books for young readers, Sainsbury’s is also helping parents by highlighting some of the best children’s books of this year through its annual awards programme.
Earlier this year, Sainsbury’s invited all its current children’s book publishers to nominate up to two books for each of the four award categories: Baby & Toddler, Picture Books, Fiction 5 – 9 years old and Fiction 9 years plus. The judging panel, comprised of Sainsbury’s Books buying team, author Phil Earle, illustrator Tom Percival and Melissa Smith, Head of the Born to Read programme at Save the Children, have reviewed all nominations to choose one winning book per category and an overall winner. The winning books are as follows:
Baby and Toddler:
Baby's Very First Slide & See Animals by Fiona Watt (Author), Stella Baggott (Illustrator)
Picture Book:
Grandad's Island by Benji Davies
Fiction 5 – 9 years old
The 13 Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths (Author, Terry Denton (Illustrator)
Fiction 9 years plus
Hamish and the Worldstoppers by Danny Wallace (Author), Jamie Littler (Illustrator)
The winning titles and all shortlisted books will be promoted in Sainsbury’s stores in the key trading period leading up to Christmas 2015.
Emma Brewster, Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Buyer comments: “Sainsbury’s is a strong supporter of child literacy and believe too many children leave primary school unable to read well enough to enjoy it and read for pleasure. The consequences of this can affect them throughout the rest of their lives and that’s why we wanted to help highlight the issue and do our bit to help through our annual Children’s Book Awards. As well as raising awareness we’re proud to work with Save the Children to get books into the hands of the right groups to get more children reading well throughout the UK.”
Melissa Smith, Head of the Born to Read programme at Save the Children said: “It was an honour to be on the judging panel for the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards and to enjoy the great range of fiction available to children this year. Reading is the key to a child’s future as it unlocks their potential and opens up a world filled with possibilities. We are so grateful for the generous book donations which will provide a fantastic resource to help young children in communities across the UK develop their language skills to ensure they don’t fall behind at school.”
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: [email protected] or 020 7067 0433.
About the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards
The “Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards” celebrate the very best in children’s books. Each year Sainsbury’s invites all its children’s book publishers to nominate up to two books for each of the award categories, which this year include: Baby & Toddler, Picture Books, Fiction 5 – 9 years old and Fiction 9 years plus. The winning author in each category will receive a prize of £1,000 and the winning titles and shortlisted books will be promoted in Sainsbury’s stores in the run-up to Christmas.
Sainsbury’s sells children’s books in more than 300 supermarket stores across the UK. In 2013 was awarded the title “Children’s Bookseller of the Year” at The Bookseller Industry Awards.
About Save the Children:
Save the Children works in the UK and more than 120 countries around the world. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. www.savethechildren.org.uk
*Reference Department for Education (2015) National curriculum assessments at key stage 2 in England, 2015 (provision). DfE: London. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/456343/SFR30_2015_text.pdf)