The first-ever Children's Booker Prize in the UK is looking for child jury members aged 8-12. This new award aims to celebrate the best modern fiction books for children and will have a jury panel consisting of three adults and three children. The adult jury members include Lolly Adefope, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, and Sanchita Basu De Sarkar.
Children applying for jury membership must reside in the United Kingdom and be between 8 and 12 years old. The application process is conducted through an online form containing questions about books and reading habits. Frank Cottrell-Boyce stated that the panel will discuss, have fun, and choose the best book on jury day.
The Children's Booker Prize was created following the more than 55-year history of the Booker Prize for adults. The award's purpose is to make it easier for children to find the right book and to increase their love of reading. According to research by the National Literacy Trust, the enjoyment of reading among children and young people is at its lowest level in the past 20 years. Therefore, the award aims to encourage a new generation of readers.
The winning author will receive a prize of £50,000. The award is seen as an important step to support children's reading habits and highlight quality children's literature.