Blue Peter Book Awards 2022

Winner for Best Story - The Last Bear by Hannah Gold, Illustrated by Levi Pinfold (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

A heart-warming and magical story of a very special relationship between a child and a polar bear which will inspire readers of all ages to realise that they, like April, can make a difference in the battle against climate change.

On winning the Best Story in the Blue Peter Book Awards 2022, Hannah said: 'When I found out I had won, I burst into tears and couldn't speak. Like many children, I grew up on a diet of Blue Peter, following the show’s adventures and falling in love with all the pets. This feels particularly apt, because whilst The Last Bear touches upon serious themes, at its core, it is a story about the love between a child and an animal. 'Some of my earliest memories are visits to the library with my mum and then scampering back home to lose myself in the pages of a book. Books aren't just about escape. For children, stories play an increasingly important role in teaching empathy, kindness and tolerance. They help shape identity, a sense of belonging and often lend courage.'

Levi Pinfold, who illustrated the book, said: 'Who’d have thought reading too many comics as a kid would lead to a Blue Peter Book Award?! It's amazing to be a part of Hannah's wonderful book. To me, good stories are the ultimate enjoyment. It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are; you can guarantee someone has written a story which will grab you and not let go. It’s a thrill to celebrate something that can give so much pleasure. And to those of you who might be sitting on the fence about picking up a book: take a chance, try something that looks good, it can change your life! It did mine.'

Also on the shortlist for the Best Story Award were;

Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths by Maisie Chan, Illustrated by Anh Cao (Piccadilly Press)

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter (Scholastic Children’s Books)

Winner for Best Book with Facts -Invented by Animals   by Christiane Dorion, Illustrated by Gosia Herbia (Wide Eyed Editions)

Often human scientists try and solve a problem or invent a new tool and they realise that animals have already invented it for them. In this book you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their super inventing powers to make amazing things for humans.

On scooping the Best Book with Facts Award, author, Christiane Dorian said: 'I am thrilled to win the Blue Peter Book Award amongst so many fantastic books. The fact that it is judged by children makes it even more special, as they are the best critics. I would say to children, read about what you enjoy. Whether it’s stepping into an imaginary world of wizards or learning all about amazing creatures or tropical jungles, books help us to understand the world around us and stimulate our curiosity and imagination. They can be funny, informative and inspiring. If you find books daunting, you don’t have to read it from beginning to end in one go. You can dip in and out, look at the pictures and go for the bits of text you find most interesting.'

And Illustrator Gosia Herba, added: 'I love creating books for children, so it's my greatest joy to be appreciated by the readers. As a child, I spent most of my time reading or drawing, two things, each connected with books, which helped me discover my true passion: illustrating and making books for kids. We can do incredible things using nothing but our imagination and reading can be a great adventure. Don't be discouraged if you don't like a particular book. Look for another one that will interest and amaze you with the story. There are so many books in the world that everyone will find something interesting.'

Also on the shortlist for Best Book with Facts were;

24 Hours in the Stone Age by Lan Cook, Illustrated by Laurent Kling (Usborne)

Good News by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Illustrated by Adam Hayes (Wren & Rook)

Diana Gerald, CEO of BookTrust said: 'In an ever-changing and stressful world, more than ever we need brilliant and informative books that can grab the attention of every child, no matter what their interests, and inspire even the most reluctant of readers to pick up a book. At an age when children are starting to grow and develop their interests, the 2022 Blue Peter Book Award winners have offered children knowledge, escapism, new role models and nurtured their curiosity. But most of all they have inspired a new generation of children on their journey to becoming readers.'

The titles were chosen by the judges, which this year were:

• Caroline Hill-Trevor, Head of Book Purchasing at BookTrust

• Catherine Millar, Founder of Reading for Pleasure consultancy

• Ellen Evans (non-voting chair), Editor of Blue Peter 

• Emily Drabble, Head of Children's Books and Prizes at BookTrust

• Jasmine Richards, Founder of Storymix

• Maisie Craddock, Blue Peter’s Presenter Co-Ordinator

• Scott Evans, founder of The Reader Teacher blog, primary school teacher and children’s books consultant

• Simon Hudd, UKS2 Teacher and English Lead, Belleville Primary School

• Soraya Berry, Learning Resource Manager at secondary school 

The shortlisted books was judged by a group of 300 young Blue Peter viewers drawn from 12 schools across the UK, who picked the winners of the Blue Peter Book of the Year 2022 in each of the two categories: Best Story and Best Book with Facts.

The winning books were announced in March 2022 on World Book Day during a special awards episode of Blue Peter. The Blue Peter Awards are managed by BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. 

You can keep up to date with the Awards @Booktrust and at www.booktrust.org.uk/blue-peter-book-awards