Charman and Sharratt scoop BookTrust's Storytime Prize

Katrina Charman’s The Whales on the Bus, illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Bloomsbury Children’s) has won BookTrust’s Storytime Prize for the best new book for babies and young children.

The award was voted on for the first time by librarians and families who took part in the charity’s new library programme, which pilots new ways of supporting families with young children engage with their local public library. Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2019-2022, revealed the winning book at a virtual event on 25th January.

All libraries in England were offered copies of the six shortlisted books to share with local families and more than 300 libraries held storytime activities for local families. These included sessions where librarians would read one of the shortlisted books and share accompanying resources and activities for the families attending to take part in together. With a different book and activity to enjoy each week, the pilot was designed to encourage families to get into the habit of making repeat visits to their local library, building their confidence and enjoyment of sharing books with their children.

Charman and Sharratt’s winning title was voted for based on how families and young children who took part in the experience responded to and enjoyed the shortlisted titles during the sessions. Families and librarians praised the interactive reimagining of this familiar nursery rhyme as a "winning formula", enjoying the playful way the story encouraged all the family to join in with a singalong, how the tongue twisters and rhymes introduced new words, the appealing character cast of animals and vehicles, and the bright and bold illustrations.

Diana Gerald, c.e.o. of BookTrust, said: “BookTrust Storytime is part of our ambition to bring the benefits of reading to children in the greatest need. Sharing stories is invaluable for children in their early years and creates a lifelong positive impact on their health, wellbeing, creativity and education. We are incredibly grateful to all the local authorities, library services and shortlisted authors and illustrators who have embraced the pilot, using their experience and expertise to engage local families and bring stories to life and inspiring families to pick up their next book. There is much we can learn from the pilot about how best to support children and families to make reading a regular and long-lasting part of family life and it’s a great pleasure to congratulate Katrina and Nick on their charming winning book. The Whales on the Bus is a very worthy winner of this year’s BookTrust Storytime Prize.”

Charman commented: “Growing up, I owned few books as they were seen as a luxury item, but each week my mum would take my sister and me to our local library where I would gather as many books as I was allowed to borrow, and devour them as soon as I got home. Our local library is where I developed my own love of books and reading, and I am so grateful to librarians who continue to enable those who may not otherwise get a chance to have access to books, the opportunity to do so. BookTrust is such an important organisation, and having mine and Nick’s book play a small part in encouraging more families into libraries and making sure that children have access to wonderful books is very humbling.”

Sharratt added: "We all know how important books and reading are in a child’s development. Reading charity BookTrust does the most incredible work bringing children and books together, and BookTrust Storytime events are an inspired way to encourage families into those vital places — libraries, perhaps for their very first visit. So I couldn’t be more delighted that The Whales on the Bus has won the Storytime Prize. To know that families and librarians voted to make it the winner is truly the icing on the cake.”