The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is an annual writing competition for young people and runs in conjunction with the prestigious Branford Boase Award, awarded to the author and the editor of the year’s outstanding debut novel for children. The Branford Boase Award was set up in memory of award-winning children’s writer Henrietta Branford and her editor, Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition aims to encourage writers of the future, something Henrietta Branford was always keen to do.
The competition is now in its twenty first year and this year for those taking part the circumstances have been very different to previous years. The *Reading Agency’s recent survey found that children were reading more during lockdown and it is heartening to learn that this appears to have also have been the case with writing. This year saw a record number of entries to the competition, there were twice the number of entries as in past years.
The experience of being in the midst of a pandemic provided the basis for powerful, moving and unsettling pieces of writing, many with references to the loss of life and scary comparisons to the atrocities of war.’ says judge and lecturer in literacy and children’s books, Prue Goodwin, ‘But thank goodness, a few stories were light-hearted, even about the lockdown and celebrated having more time to do the things their authors wanted to do.’
Muhammad Khan winner of the Branford Boase Award 2019 Photo @BranfordBoase
Announcing the winners of this year’s competition this morning, Muhammad Khan, winner of last year’s Branford Boase Award said: ‘I’m delighted that my story starter inspired so many excellent stories and it’s made me really happy to hear about young writers turning their hands to writing during lockdown’.
The winning stories include a school based horror adventure, an ingenious time slip tale and stories described as ‘prescient and chilling’, ‘nerve-wracking’ and ‘engrossing’. The young winners range in age from ten to sixteen years old and their winning stories have all been published on the Branford Boase Award website. A further fourteen young writers were Highly Commended.
The winners will receive signed copies of the seven books on the shortlist for the 2020 Branford Boase Award.
*A survey commissioned by The Reading Agency (conducted by Beano Brain Omnibus 2020) to mark the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge 2020 reveals that 89% of 7-11-year-olds surveyed have been reading during lockdown, with 37% of them reading more than before schools closed.
This is cheating a little as this stylish book is to be published on 9th July but I was lucky enough to receive an early free review copy from Tiny Owl Publishers. A book to lift the spirits, this is charming, entertaining and full of fun. From the wonderful endpapers where we are treated to a cat’s eye view of Paris to the biographies of Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker at the end of the story this is a picturebook with a difference. Paris Cat is no fluffy, docile pet cat, this is a cat with attitude, frankly rather like several cats of my acquaintance. Cat believes she is different to the alley cats, she knows she can do anything she sets her mind to so leaving her family behind she sets off to Paris to find her destiny. But perhaps living the high life is not what she really wants and Cat learns some life lessons during her adventures. Text and illustrations combine beautifully in this story crammed with joie de vivre. I enjoyed the clever touches such as the fish bone feathers and cigarette holder and the slinky style of the cats closely resembling the nightclub dancers. This is also a wonderful way of introducing children to well known historical figures with just enough information provided in the biographical details to encourage readers to investigate further. An enjoyable and happy story.
I grew fond of Mrs Noah and her quiet wisdom in Mrs Noah’s Pockets and in this second book she once again shows her kindness, creativity and nurturing nature. This beautiful story combined with simply stunning illustrations is a sumptuous and wonderful, joyous read, perfect for now. A book to savour and linger over. When the Ark reaches land Mr Noah sets about building a house. Mrs Noah meanwhile plants seeds, seeds of hope, helped by children and the magical creatures she has saved. In time new life of different types flourishes and the new world she has created is full of hope and gentle kindness. The wisdom of the story coupled with the vibrant collage style illustrations displaying inclusivity and celebrating flora, fauna and music result in this being a book of optimism. We need optimism, kindness and hope especially now and I am so glad that this beautiful book is available to share with children. Mrs Noah’s Garden was published by Otter-Barry Books in May.
This is a lovely story tenderly told which ensures young children will be comforted and reassured. Each day a little girl admires a pretty flower that flourishes in a garden she passes on the way to school. She talks to it and appreciates its beauty; every morning it cheers her as she walks past. Unfortunately the man who lives in the house is possessive of his garden and shouts angrily at the small girl to stay away. Over the coming days without the little girl’s visits the flower droops and its beautiful petals no longer open. The furious man tries everything but he is unable to make the flower grow. This is 
This is such a beautiful book. Wonderful illustrations which encourage the reader to linger combine with a rich text to create something that will comfort and reassure. 
I have a soft spot for this lovely picturebook. Perdu, the little lost dog is all alone with no place to call home. Captivated by a fluttering leaf that floats down the stream alongside him he follows it in the hope that he will find ‘a place to be’. We follow his journey as he travels through forests and fields, the stream gradually becomes a river and he slowly makes his way to the large city in the distance. This is the first picture book that Richard Jones has both written and illustrated and it is a gem. In addition to the small lost dog, there are parallels to others who may be trying to find a place where they can belong be that those displaced from their own countries or people struggling to fit in with others. This is a soothing book to read and a celebration of the power of kindness. Its hopeful theme will empower little ones as they listen or read. They can see that even the smallest voices can make a big difference when they are used to be kind. Just lovely. A more detailed review is available 
Another picture book in which children display thoughtful understanding and the ability to make a difference. The trees stand proud in a forest where a group of friends choose to make their home. The community is protected by the forest. However gradually the adults chop down more and more of the trees to make shelters and larger dwellings and eventually an enormous wall to keep them secure. The adults grow distrustful and fearful of what lies beyond the wall and it is the children who venture outside the boundary for more wood. Once on the other side the children discover a small tree, it is the very last tree and they decide that they must save it. This is a thought provoking story which captures the concern for our environment which children readily relate to. This book celebrates community and conveys an important message of hope for the future. It is children and young people who often appear the most committed to protecting our natural world and this picture book portrays that positivity beautifully. The Last Tree was published in February by Pavilion Children’s Books.
This beautiful book, inspired by the life and childhood of Swedish artist Berta Hansson, is a story about finding courage and being true to yourself. Although ‘being true to yourself’ is a description used on many books in this particular case it is both fitting and ultimately moving. The story is set in 1920s Sweden and young Berta is a girl who notices the world around her and has an urge to create. She doesn’t fit in with the expectations of her father and her local community. Berta is a little different to those around her and rather than conforming she follows her own path in the belief that in that way she will live a happier life. This takes courage. Children and young people, possibly adults too, will find this an uplifting read despite the grief experienced by young Berta early in the story. The art is wonderful. This is one of those books where each time I return to it I discover more, learn more and therefore gain more enjoyment from this special book. I can see this working well with a wide age group. The Bird Within Me has won prestigious awards in Sweden when it was first published and the English version was published earlier this year in the UK by Book Island.
This poignant picture book takes the reader on a journey through the world of ideas and looks at the deeper meaning of the everyday things that we may often take for granted. Children ask questions all the time. Some of those questions are easier for parents and teachers to answer than others and some may even be ones that adults are searching for answers to themselves. This beautiful picture book is a lyrical look at life’s biggest questions that will gently reassure while at the same time encouraging children to celebrate the joy of life. Both the text and the illustrations could have many interpretations and although described as a book for aged 3+ I envisage this being used with much older children to prompt thoughtful discussion. You can can find out more in my 
This stunning and poignant book was originally published in 2013 and then unfortunately went out out print. Following a successful crowdfunding appeal it was republished this year by Book Island. It is difficult to convey the impact of this book in a few sentences. The story centres around the enduring and loving relationship between a small child and her grandmother. As we journey alongside these characters we experience ageing, loss, illness and grief yet despite the sadness there is a quiet beauty to the story. The illustrations are beautiful and capture Maia’s joyful spirit and her deep love of her grandmother. Moving without being sentimental this picture book is the first I have encountered that deals with the subject of stroke. For many reasons this is a book that will be of value in schools encouraging thoughtful response and discussion.
My Nana’s Garden by Dawn Casey and Jessica Courtney-Tickle
