After a two-year break from the physical award ceremony due to the pandemic, the 2022 Salford Children’s Book Award Ceremony took place at the University of Salford’s New Adelphi Building on Wednesday, 29th June.
Groups of 11-14-year-olds from eight schools across Salford met author Joe Wilson and heard him talk about his work and creative writing processes, along with host, author and comedian, James Campbell. Another shortlisted author, A. M. Dassu, joined the ceremony via video link.
The winning book was When Life Gives You Mangoes by Kereen Getten, who sent this video message.
The Salford Children’s Book Award is designed to introduce young people in Salford to a wide range of books and authors, to promote reading for pleasure and enhance literary development. The award is run by Salford Schools’ Library Service with support from Salford Libraries.
To find out more about the award, contact the Schools’ Library Service on 0161 778 0936, or email schools.library-service@scll.co.uk.
Tamarind & the Star of Ishta by Jasbinder Bilan 
Tamarind never knew her Indian mum, who died soon after she was born. So when she arrives at her ancestral home, a huge mansion in the Himalayas, she’s full of questions. But instead of answers, there’s a forbidding silence.
To unravel the mystery at the heart of who she is, Tamarind follows a trickle of clues – to an overgrown hut, a glowing star ring, and a strange girl who calls herself Ishta.
Boy, Everywhere by A. M. Dassu
Sami is a typical 13 year old, who loves his friends, football, PlayStation and iPad. But a bombing in a shopping mall changes his life. Sami and his family flee their comfortable home in Damascus, to make the perilous and painful journey towards a new life in the UK.
Will they survive the journey, can he trust his new friends – and will Sami ever find somewhere to call home again?
When Life Gives You Mangoes by Kereen Getten
Clara lives on an island that visitors call exotic. She loves eating ripe mangoes off the ground, running outside in the rainy season, and escaping to her secret hideout with her best friend Gaynah. There’s only one problem – she can’t remember anything about last summer.
When a quirky girl called Rudy arrives from England, everything starts to change. And Clara must finally face the truth of what happened last year.
Eating Chips with Monkey by Mark Lowery
Daniel loves fish and chips more than anything – except for his beloved toy Monkey. He and his family are on a mission to find the best fish and chip shop in town. But then one trip is interrupted by a terrible accident.
What did happen that night? It’s all a big blur for Daniel, so Dad drags everyone on a crazy road trip to help him remember. Along the way, they must battle uber-cool hipsters, deafening shopkeepers, dancing pensioners and a very naughty giraffe.
The Island that Didn’t Exist by Joe Wilson
When twelve-year-old Rixon’s great-uncle leaves him an island in his will, Rixon can’t quite believe it. Things get even more confusing when the mysterious island can only be located on a very ancient map, using a big magnifying glass. Does the island really exist? And, if so, does it really belong to him?
There’s only one thing for it. Rixon is going to have to go and find it for himself….
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