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- Grants and Prizes
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The Society of Authors is a non-profit making organisation, founded in 1884,
“to protect the rights and further the interests of authors”
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Grants and Prizes
The ALCS Award for Educational Writing - £2,000
The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society Award for Educational Writing is administered by the Society of Authors.
The Award
The award will be given to an outstanding example of traditionally published non-fiction (with or without illustrations) that enhances teaching and learning.
The idea is to celebrate books that encourage students to read widely and build up an understanding of the subject, rather than only mirroring examination specifications.
The annual submissions deadline
- 1st June
Download the entry form for the 2010 prize here.
2009 Winner Announced!
- The ‘disgustingly good’ Gooey, Chewy, Rumble, Plop Book by Steve Alton, Nick Sharratt and Sally Symes (Bodley Head) saw off strong competition from four other shortlisted books to win the 2009 ALCS Award for Educational Writing.
The award was presented at the All Party Writers Group Christmas Reception, hosted by Janet Anderson MP in the House of Commons, on 2nd December. Award judge Ali Barne spoke on behalf of the judging panel which had spent many hours choosing the shortlist from a total of 66 entries before deciding the winner. Barne read citations for all five short-listed books before making the announcement. She spoke of the importance of this award and its unique nature – it is the only UK award to focus on educational non-fiction that enhances learning outside of the essential curriculum. Barne also spoke of the aspirations of the award – to encourage the publication of educational books that both inspire learning and encourage creativity in young readers. Janet Anderson MP presented the winning trio with a cheque for £2000.
The 2009 judges were Ali Barne, Pamela Girdwood and Anthony Haynes.
The four other shortlisted titles were:
- How to Make Manga Characters by Katy Coope (Collins Big Cat)
- Chocolate – The Bean that Conquered the World by Vivian French, ill. Paul Howard (Walker)
- Tail-End Charlie by Mick Manning & Brita Granström (Frances Lincoln)
- Archie’s War – My Scrapbook of the First World War by Marcia Williams (Walker)
The 2008 Winner
The winner of the 2008 Educational Writers' Award was Ian Gilbert for The Little Book of Thunks: 260 Questions to Make your Brain Go Ouch! (Crown House Publishing).
Gilbert received his cheque for £2,000 from Dr Ian Gibson MP at a reception at the Stationers' Hall, London. This year's award was presented for non-fiction published in 2006 and 2007 that enhanced teaching and learning for 12 to 18 year-olds.
The judges described Gilbert's book as "a completely original book to get all ages stretching their imaginations, thinking, discussing cogently and debating… a valuable tool for the teacher”.
The three other shortlisted titles were:
- Simon Basher & Adrian Dingle for The Periodic Table – Elements with Style! (Kingfisher)
- Tish Farrell for Write Your Own Adventure Stories (Ticktock Media)
- Glenn Murphy for Why Is Snot Green? (Macmillan)
The judges also commended Meg Harper's Wha'ever published by The Spinal Injuries Association.
The judging panel consisted of author Mel Thompson, teacher Vanessa Carey and school librarian Laura Taylor.