The book by Gemma Cooper (writing as Bobbie Brooks) and illustrated by Carrie Hennon has been awarded the 2022-23 BookTrust Storytime Prize. It is one of six shortlisted titles, voted for by librarians and families who took part in the BookTrust Storytime scheme, which ran for nine months in over 2,000libraries across the country.
Now in its second year, BookTrust Storytime was designed to support libraries across England and Northern Ireland to inspire and engage families with children under the age of five to share stories and visit libraries as part of their ‘family reading journeys’. The programme focuses on support for low-income families.
Diana Gerald, chief executive of BookTrust, said, ‘Congratulations to Gemma and Carrie on their wonderfully interactive book Can You Tickle A Tiger?, a truly deserving winner of the BookTrust 2023 Storytime Prize which children and families will want to keep enjoying together.
‘BookTrust Storytime is part of our wider approach to offer families from low-income backgrounds, multiple opportunities to share stories with their children throughout their early years, so they can enjoy the lifechanging benefits of reading.
‘A fantastic storytime experience needs brilliant librarians who are experts in supporting children and families and a fabulous selection of books that capture the imagination and curiosity of even the youngest children.
Gemma Cooper (Bobbie Brooks), author of Can You Tickle A Tiger? commented, ‘Carrie and I had so much fun creating the book. When we were developing ideas, we both had the same idea at the same time and shouted ‘Tickle!’ at each other! That idea influenced the bright illustrations and the rhyming words, as well as the tactile felt trails on every page, and we had great fun imagining which animals children would love to tickle. To learn that children and families have voted for the book in this way is just wonderful.’
Prize shortlist
The other titles shortlisted for the 2023 Prize were:
- Nature Trail by Benjamin Zephaniah &Nila Aye (Orchard Books);
- The Duck WhoDidn’t Like Water by Steve Small (Simon and Schuster Children’s Books);
- The Horse That Jumped by Thomas Docherty (Farshore, Harper Collins);
- Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry by Michelle Robinson & Jez Tuya (Anderson Press);
- Zoom: Farm Adventure by Susan Hayes & Aviel Basil (What on Earth Books)
