County Children Choose Book Prize Winner – and she is from Leicester

A Leicester-born author has appropriately been chosen as the winner of the Leicestershire Children’s Book Prize for 2012.

The author who came out on tops is Anne Fine, most renowned for Madame Doubtfire, which was made into a hit movie, Mrs Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams.

Anne’s book, Bill’s New Frock, was voted the winner by children between the ages of seven and nine throughout the county. It tells the story of a young boy, Bill Simpson, who wakes up one morning to find he is a girl.

Anne Fine said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won the award. I was born in Leicester, so it’s a place very dear to my heart. It’s a really special thrill for me to know that so many children who live in the city and the county are now busily reading mine.”

Anne will receive the book prize at St Edward’s C of E Primary School in Castle Donington on March 15.

Second place went to Little Manfred by Michael Morpurgo and third place went to The Boy with Lightning Feet by Sally Gardner.

There was a shortlist of six titles based on the six Olympic values of determination, friendship, respect, courage, excellence and inspiration.

Dave Houseman, lead member for adults and communities at Leicestershire County Council, said: “The books included titles by new authors as well as books by established authors and it was really encouraging that nearly 2,000 children voted online in their local library or through their school. The aim of the prize was to widen reading choices for youngsters and to encourage children to share their reading with others.”

Previous winners of the prize are Andy Stanton and Alan McDonald.

All the books are available to borrow free of charge from local Leicestershire libraries at
www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

For further information about the prize go to:
www.leics.gov.uk/childrensbookprize

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