Alexandra Palace is joining forces with local libraries, schools and bookshops to inspire a new generation of young bookworms, by this week launching Biblio-Buzz 2025 – the Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award.
Biblio-Buzz is aimed at young people, aged nine to 12 years old and challenges them to read the novels of six shortlisted authors, whilst taking on a series of literary challenges, including activities and roadshows in local schools and libraries.
Participants will then vote for their favourite book before attending an awards ceremony at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in March 2025, plus a ceremony for the Haringey Library Service Award in Wood Green Library, where they will meet the authors, get their books signed and take part in workshops.
Biblio-Buzz 2025, runs from January until March next year, but with the shortlist announced today, those taking part are encouraged to get reading!
The 2025 shortlist is selected by a team of local school librarians, who are the founders of the Book Award:
- Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton
- Ice Cream Boy by Lindsay Littleson
- Mayowa and the Sea of Words by Chibundu Onuzo
- SCRAP by Guy Bass
- The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman
- The Island at the Edge of Night by Lucy Strange
Emma Dagnes, Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust CEO: “We are delighted to announce such a fantastic shortlist for Biblio-Buzz, and look forward to working with the authors, libraries, schools and book shops to take thousands of local young readers on a literary journey. The Book Award is at the heart of our Creative Learning programme, which encourages people to explore their creativity, gain new skills and improve their well-being. We can’t wait to get started with our reading challenges and workshops, before building to our finale of the awards ceremony in our beautiful Theatre in March next year.”
Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Emily Arkell: “Biblio-Buzz plays such a vital role in helping Haringey children develop a lifelong love of reading and shows just what can be achieved when our libraries, schools and voluntary and community sector (VCS) work together to help them learn and thrive.
“This literary challenge and the subsequent Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award have become essential parts of the annual calendar in our borough, so I’m delighted to see this unique initiative return for 2025.”
This year the official suppliers of Biblio-Buzz 2025 are Muswell Hill Children’s Bookshop and Pickled Pepper Books who are offering discounted packs of the shortlisted books to schools or individuals who take part in Biblio-Buzz.
More information about Biblio-Buzz 2025
Take a look back at the finale of Biblio-Buzz 2024
