Shortlist announced for educational writing award

Books about art, maths and Shakespeare make up the shortlist for the 2016 Educational Writers’ Award, organised by The Society of Authors (SoA) and the Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society.

The three books in the running for this year’s prize are Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary by David and Ben Crystal, illustrated by Kate Bellamy (Oxford University Press);The School of Art by Teal Triggs, illustrated by Daniel Frost (Wide Eyed Editions); and This is Not a Maths Book: A Smart Art Activity Book by Anna Weltman, illustrated by Edward Cheverton and Ivan Hissey (Ivy Kids).

The judging team, which includes author Nicola Morgan; and school librarian Nicky Ransley, said the Shakespeare dictionary is a “visually appealing treasure chest”, whilst The School of Art is “engagingly written, beautifully clear and light-hearted”. The maths title has “sheer visual pleasure on every page” and “makes you itch to take up a pencil”, they added.

The £2,000 Educational Writers’ Award was set up in 2008 “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 winner will be announced at a reception at the House of Commons on 6th December.