And the 2008 winners

are

9-11. Derek Landy, Skulduggery Pleasant.

11-14. John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Many thanks to all the shortlisted authors and especially Pauline Francis, Jenny Valentine, Cathy Cassidy, Kjarten Poskitt, Rhiannon Lassiter, Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams who all made the trip to attend the Awards Ceremony. All the children and adults who took part were thrilled to meet you in person.

Thanks also to Derek Landy who, although he couldn't make the ceremony due to prior commitments, included Leeds on his recent book promotion itinerary and to Michael Morpurgo, who also couldn't make the ceremony, but is coming to Leeds later this year.

Here's what Derek said:

As a writer, you sometimes wonder what you would say and how you would react upon winning an award as prestigious as the Leeds Children’s Book Award. Invariably, you flatter yourself by imagining how witty and intelligent you would be, and how humble and sincere you would appear to others. This is how you would LIKE to react.
The truth involves a good deal more grinning, much like a deranged orangutan, or a crazed weasel, and the type of delirious laughter and ridiculous air-punching that you associate with morons whose football team have just scored.
I want to thank you for granting Skulduggery Pleasant the honour of this award, and I also want to thank you for making me look like an idiot in front of the girl I was trying to impress when I heard about the win. Thank you.

*******

Here's what John said:

To all at the Leeds Book Award:
Thanks so much for recognising my novel THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS among such a great list of other nominated titles. I’m only sorry I can’t be there with you but writing commitments keep me away. The last two years have been very exciting for me and the opportunity to bring this book to such a wide and diverse audience around the world has been extremely gratifying. The support of groups such as your own has been invaluable and I appreciate it very much. Hope you all have a great day, John Boyne

Can YOU spot a winner??

Nominations for the next Book Award can be sent at any time, so if you've read a really great book, tell us about it straight away! You never know, it may be next year's winner...

email your favourite book titles to lba@leedslearning.net