The Spark! School Book Awards are awarded to books that make reading an exciting and enjoyable experience for primary-aged pupils. There are four award categories:

• Picture fiction for early readers
• Fiction for 7+
• Fiction for 9+
• Fiction for 11+
• Guest category: the guest category for this year is Graphic Novels.

A shortlist for each category is selected by a panel of teachers, educationalists and librarians but the winners in each category are chosen by pupils from participating schools.

The awards are open to any primary or secondary school and schools can help choose the winning books for as many of the award categories as they like. Participating schools will receive:

• A free set of the shortlisted titles for the relevant category along with access to assorted classroom resources.
• Access to at least one online author event per shortlisted book, plus a bespoke introductory video.
• Access to the online author events from previous years.
• The opportunity for pupils to enter a range of Spark! School Book Award competitions.
• Access to the online Award Ceremony in July.

Timetable:

• Schools must register by the end of November.
• The shortlists are announced in early January.
• Voting opens in mid May and closes in early June.
• The winners are announced at an online Book Awards Ceremony in mid June.

See the shortlists for 2022-2023 here.

Cost: £65 for each award category that schools participate in.

About Spark! School Book Awards: The Spark! School Book Awards is a registered charity, working in partnership with The Open University to inspire young readers everywhere.