Young readers at Beijing’s international schools are getting ready to cast their votes, to decide the winners of this year’s Panda Book Awards.
The Panda Awards began in 2008, and are run by a committee of librarians from international schools. Chair of the committee is International School of Beijing (ISB) librarian Nadine Rosevear.
“I am very excited about this year’s Panda Book Awards,” she told us, “as this year will be our 10-year anniversary.”
Even after a decade the project continues to expand.
“The award started out in 2008 with just a handful of international schools in Beijing,” Rosevear said, “and now has grown into a gigantic network of schools in China. This year we have over 60 international schools registered to participate in the voting that will start on February 26 and close on March 16. Last year we had over 7,300 students vote, and we expect to exceed this number this year.
“The Panda Awards is a great opportunity for students to explore quality books and for librarians across China to collaborate when they select and discuss titles suitable for the shortlists.”
Last year’s winner in the picture book category, Oliver Jeffers, is nominated again for A Child of Books. In the chapter book category my kids love Dav Pilkey’s anarchic and hilarious Dog Man. There are also categories for older and mature readers.
To find out more about the Panda Awards, and how your school can get involved, visit their website. Voting for the awards begins on February 26.
Photo: photobucket.com
