Shortlist Announced for Only UK Award for Educational Writing

LONDON, November 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

2015 Educational Writers' Award #EWA15 

Books to Broaden Young Minds  

The five titles on the shortlist for the 2015 Educational Writers' Award, announced today, are outstanding examples of non-fiction books which broaden the horizons of readers aged 5-11 years, as they illuminate young minds about animal food chains, the intricacies of maths, the First World War, the vastness of space and our own wide world.

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Who Eats Who?
Author: Teresa Heapy        
Illustrator: Rebecca Elliott
(Publisher: Oxford University Press)

Why do living things eat each other? Big or small, all living things are part of food chains, and every link in a food chain is important. And that includes omnivorous humans. Yes, all living things are in food chains - from lions, to insects, to you!

Our judges said: The beautiful combination of photos and illustrations, together with simple clear text explain the food chain in a straightforward yet engaging way. A hugely enjoyable book to explore with children, which encourages them to want to read for pleasure.

Marvellous Maths
Author: Jonathan Litton        
Illustrator: Thomas Flintham
(Publisher: Templar)

Why are four-leafed clovers so rare? How big is infinity? And why do mathematicians think a coffee mug and a doughnut are the same shape? Through pop-ups, spinners, booklets, flaps and even a wrecking ball, this book explains why maths is at the heart of everyday life.

Our judges said: A wonderfully colourful and interactive way to investigate mathematical concepts, from shapes and probabilities to number sequences. The visual approach is perfect for young children, making maths fun, exciting and accessible.

Dear Jelly: Family Letters from the First World War
Author: Sarah Ridley        
(Publisher: Franklin Watts)

In the summer of 2015, brothers William and Robert Semple leave their family to fight in the First World War. They keep in touch with their sisters Mabel and Eileen (nickname: Jelly) by writing letters full of brotherly teasing, reassurances about their safety, and vivid sketches of their experiences as soldiers.

Our judges said: A very poignant and moving insight into the lives of a family during the First World War, told through letters sent home to their sisters from two brothers serving on the Western Front, along with background explanations.  It brings alive the events of the period for young children - in an accessible way.

Space Record Breakers
Author: Anne Rooney        
(Publisher: Carlton Kids)

Space is the ultimate record breaker! Prepare to boldly investigate some of the most mind-blowing records in the universe, including the toughest creature to survive in outer space, the brightest explosion ever seen by humans, and the most distant space travel ever.

Our judges said: Packed with fun and digestible nuggets of information about our universe, this fresh approach to the topic of space has an attractive design, large images and clearly explained chunks of information about the solar system and space exploration. The final frontier comes to life!

Atlas of Adventures   
Author: Rachel Williams  
Illustrator: Lucy Letherland 
(Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions, Aurum Press)

Follow one boy and girl as they travel to over 30 destinations across seven continents - including the London Eye, the Moscow Metro, the Grand Canyon, Northern Patagonia, the Dead Sea, the Zambezi River and the Great Barrier Reef - and discover hundreds of things to spot, and facts to learn, on every page.

Our judges said: Offering an interactive experience you won't find on the internet, this is a beautifully designed, durable, large-format book packed full of vibrant colour and fascinating information and activities about people, wildlife and places around the world - from natural wonders to fun festivals.

The Educational Writers' Award was established in 2008 by the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) and the Society of Authors "to celebrate educational writing that inspires creativity and encourages students to read widely and build up their understanding of a subject beyond the requirements of exam specifications."

The 2015 Award focused on books for 5-11 year olds, published in 2013 and 2014.

This year's judges are school librarian Caroline Gosden; headteacher Michael Schumm; and author Cath Senker.

The winner of the 2015 Educational Writers' Award will be announced at the All Party Writers Group (APWG) Winter Reception at the House of Commons on Tuesday 1st December. The winning author will receive a cheque for £2000.

#EWA15 

Editor's Notes 

This Year's Judges 

Caroline Gosden has worked as a librarian in the education sector for the past 20 years, first in a secondary school, then in an FE/HE College and, for the last 10 years, in primary schools as a peripatetic librarian, as part of a scheme run by Tower Hamlets School Library Service.

Michael Schumm started life as an actor before turning to teaching in his early thirties. He has taught in Hackney, Cambridgeshire and Shepherd's Bush and has been Headteacher of St Stephen's CE Primary School in London's Uxbridge Road for 11 years.

Cath Senker has 25 years' experience as an editor in publishing and has written more than 130 books for children of all ages, specialising in history, global and social issues, world religions, human geography and environmental topics.

The Society of Authors (SoA) 

The Society of Authors is a professional organisation representing over 9,000 authors of all types. Founded in 1884, it supports individual authors with services including contract vetting and acts as an advocate for the profession as a whole. The SoA also administers a wide range of prizes, as well as the Authors' Foundation, which is one of the very few bodies making grants to help with work in progress for established writers. For further information, contact info@societyofauthors.org or see http://www.societyofauthors.org

The Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) 

ALCS collects fees on behalf of the whole spectrum of UK writers: novelists, film & TV script writers, literary prize winners, poets, freelance journalists, translators and adaptors, as well as thousands of professional and academic writers who include nurses, lawyers, teachers, scientists and college lecturers. All writers are eligible to join ALCS: further details on membership can be found at http://www.alcs.co.uk. ALCS collects fees that are difficult, time-consuming or legally impossible for writers and their representatives to claim on an individual basis: money that is nonetheless due to them. Fees collected are distributed to writers twice a year. Since its inception, ALCS has distributed over £380 million to the nation's writers. For further information, contact alcs@alcs.co.uk or see http://www.alcs.co.uk

Caroline Sanderson: +44(0)1453-759889/+44(0)7958-558196 / carosande@aol.com

Barbara Hayes, ALCS: +44(0)20-7264-5700 / barbara.hayes@alcs.co.uk

Paula Johnson, Society of Authors: +44(0)20-7373-6642 / pjohnson@societyofauthors.org