Inverness pupil to judge in national children’s book award

Primary five pupil, Neil Crashaw, of Balloch Primary School Inverness has been chosen to be a judge for the 2011 Blue Peter Book Awards.

Neil is only one out of 9 young judges to be chosen from throughout the UK to take part in the awards.

Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee congratulates Neil on his achievement: “Well done to Neil for his remarkable achievement at being chosen to participate as a judge in the Blue Peter Book Awards. Neil’s opinions will eventually have an influence on the reading material of children in his own age group.”

Head Teacher of Balloch Primary School said: “Fifteen of our pupils auditioned for the role of judge and we are very proud that Neil has been chosen not just to represent our school but the Highlands of Scotland.”

Blue Peter have been looking for eloquent, confident children between 8–12 years old who love reading, to be young judges for the 2011 Blue Peter Book Awards. 

The Blue Peter Book Awards are national book prizes decided by children themselves.  Blue Peter staff visited children around the UK to find nine exceptional young judges.

The children who are selected to become judges will be given the nine books short-listed by an expert adult panel, and at a special session in London in January 2011, they will debate each book and vote on their favourite three.  The results will be revealed in late February/March 2011 and the judges will appear on a Blue Peter programme.