Vivian French to receive outstanding achievement award

Edinburgh-based writer Vivian French will today (6th March) be given an outstanding lifetime achievement award from Scottish Book Trust.

French will pick up the prize, which is given annually to an author or illustrator who has had an inspiring impact on young readers, at the Scottish Book Trust Awards in Edinburgh. The charity will also give the Learning Professional Award to headteacher Eileen Littlewood for her commitment to helping children enjoy reading for pleasure.

Marc Lambert, c.e.o. at Scottish Book Trust, said: “I am delighted to announce Vivian and Eileen as this year’s recipients of Scottish Book Trust Awards. Both have shown years of dedication in inspiring and involving young people in the magical and life-enhancing power of books and reading. They have had a profound impact in bringing books, storytelling and creativity into the lives of many, and helped create a culture of reading in communities. In recognising them, we hope their efforts will inspire others too, to share books and a love of reading.”

French has written more than 270 books for children, including Oliver’s Vegetables (Hodder Children’s Books) and the Tiara Club series (Orchard Books). She was awarded an MBE for services to literature, literacy, illustration and the arts in 2016 and founded Picture Hooks, a mentoring scheme for illustrators, with Lucy Juckes in 2012.

Littlewood is headteacher of Forthview Primary School in Edinburgh, where she set up a reading community after the library was dismantled. She also set up a book group for parents who were reluctant to read.

This is the second year of the Scottish Book Trust Awards, set up to recognise and celebrate excellence in inspiring young people in Scotland, and run in association with Browns Books for Students.

Alongside the Outstanding Achievement and Learning Professional prizes, awards will also be presented to the winners of the Bookbug Picture Book Prize and the Scottish Teenage Book Prize.