Children's Story Competition
I was looking for stories that engaged and retained my interest, evidence of sensitivity to language, stories that were well structured and convincing, good use of dialogue and originality.
I was impressed by the standard of many of the pieces, and it was not easy to pick out runners up. In each category I thought the winners stood out.
I was especially impressed by the writing standard of the 7-9 year-old entries, and as a group, the 10-12 year olds were notable for their originality and for the sheer exuberance of their ideas and use of dialogue. There was a rather alarming tendency among the 13-15 year-olds to kill off their subjects, which were often presented in the first person. It was fascinating to see how the themes were interpreted in so many different ways and some of the entrants were remarkably ambitious with the themes they tackled. The entrants have certainly demonstrated that their imaginations are live and kicking.
Thank you again for the opportunity to judge your competition; it was heartening to see so much creative energy at work in these young minds.
Tessa Strickland Co-Editor of Barefoot Books
Judge
Children's Story Competition 2009
CATEGORY 1 (7 - 9 years)
The Winner
Olivia, aged 8, Oxford
'Eden’s Garden'
Second Place
Anthea, aged 8, Australia
'Eden’s Garden'
Third Place
Josephina, aged 7, Barnet
'Eden's Garden'
Eight Excellent Stories:
Max, aged 8, London
'The Explosion'
Robyn, aged 7, Somerset
'Take Flight'
Hannah, aged 9, Ireland
'Eden's Garden'
Austin, aged 8, Cambridge
'Take Flight'
Amber, aged 9, Berkshire
'Eden's Garden'
Georgia, aged 9, West Midlands
'The Explosion'
Rotam, aged 9, Isreal
'Jenny the Fairy's Weekly Report from the Front Line'
Philippa, aged 9, Somerset
'The Explosion'
Five Great Stories:
Mollyanne, aged 9, Nottingham
'Eden's Garden'
Hoshi, aged 9, Norfolk
'Eden's Garden'
Charlotte, aged 7, London
'Take Flight'
Imogen, aged 7, Glostershire
'Take Flight'
George Robert, aged 9, London
CATEGORY 2 (10 - 12 years)
The Winner
Helena, aged 10, London
'Take Flight'
Second Place
Holly, aged 12, Surrey
'Take Flight'
Third Place
Ayshe, aged 11, London
'Soule & Knowledge'
Eight Excellent Stories:
Chloe, aged 11, Australia
'Take Flight'
Carys, aged 10, Surrey
'Take Flight'
Dermot, aged 11, London
'Eden's Garden'
Katherine, aged 12, Cambridge
'The Explosion'
Omid, aged 10, Croydon
'Take Flight'
Daisy, aged 10, Surrey
'The Explosion'
Luke, aged 10, Surrey
'Weekly Report from the Front Line'
Holly, aged 12, Surrey
The Gangster's Convention
Five Great Stories:
Ruby, aged 10, Surrey
'Eden's Garden'
Emma, aged 10, Paisley
'The Explosion'
Akiko, aged 10, London
'Eden's Garden'
Kate, aged 10, Ireland
'Take Flight'
Jessie, aged 12, Windsor
'Eden's Garden'
CATEGORY 3 (13 - 15 years)
The Winner
Katharine, aged 14, Hampshire
'Take Flight'
Second Place
Iona, aged 13, Fife
'The Explosion'
Third Place
Rebecca, aged 13, Warwickshire
'Take Flight'
Eight Excellent Stories:
Eloise, aged 14, Kent
'Eden's Garden'
Lauren, aged 13, Manchester
'The Envelope'
Megan, aged 14, Devon
'Eden's Garden'
Dariusz, aged 13, Oxford
'Take Flight'
Ellie, aged 13, Hertfordshire
'The Explosion'
Hannah, aged 14, Derbyshire
'Eden's Garden'
Hani, aged 14, Worchestershire
'Eden's Garden'
Rosi, aged 15, East Sussex
'Take Flight'
Five Great Stories:
Kathleen, aged 13, Scotland
'Eden's Garden'
Tnisha, aged 13, Okehampton
'Weekly Report from the Front Line'
Elanor, aged 13, Australia
'Eden's Garden'
Amy, aged 13, North Yorkshire
'Take Flight'
Rachel, aged 14, Nottingham
'The Explosion'
CATEGORY 4 (16 - 18 years)
The Winner
Richmal, aged 18, Warwichshire
'Take Flight'
Second Place
Olivia, aged 16, Birmingham
'Take Flight'
Third Place
Aisha, aged 16, London
'Eden's Garden'
Best of the Rest:
Neelam, aged 17, Surrey
'Take Flight'
Best Overall School:
Amesbury School, Surrey
We'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to enter the Children's Story Competition and for giving us a wonderful range of fantastic stories to read and enjoy.
Submissions for the next Children's Story Competition will be accepted from Thursday 1 April 2010.
For all queries please call us direct on 0845 456 5364 or alternatively you can e-mail us or write to us at Chapter One Promotions, Canterbury Court, 1-3 Brixton Road, London, SW9 6DE, England. We look forward to hearing from you.
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