A North East based author of
children’s literature is a finalist in the prestigious 2018 People’s Book Prize
for The Book Spy. Mark Carton, from Newcastle,
has been nominated as a finalist after 4 months of national public voting.
Also, London-based author Molly
Arbuthnott has been nominated as a finalist for the 2018 People’s Book Prize
for her heart-warming children’s book Oscar
the Ferry Cat.
The People’s Book Prize is the
only national literature award decided upon entirely by the general public,
therefore carries the additional credibility of being selected by the book’s
own readers. The Children’s Literature Award has had several significant previous
winners, including best-selling children’s author and TV presenter David
Walliams for his first book Mr Stink;
therefore making it a major stepping stone for first-time and emerging authors.
The Book Spy is Mark Carton’s second novel, and is a series of short
stories spanning 80 years. It tells the tale of a secret children’s network of
spies called the ‘Children’s Reading Intelligence Agency’ or ‘CRIA’. The Book
Spies originated in World War II, set in Bletchley Park, with other stories
taking place across the world – each featuring children from different
generations. The stories recount the missions of children who are enlisted to
join the CRIA and how they shaped world events, encouraging many children to
engage in and enjoy reading.
Oscar the Ferry Cat was inspired by Molly Arbuthnott’s own family
cat going missing in April 2014. The curious cat managed to open a car window
by stepping on the control before the lock took full effect. The family returned
to their car in Oban to find paw prints on the bonnet, but no cat. Beautifully
illustrated by Agnes Treherne, young readers love following Oscar’s adventures.
The People’s Book Prize is a
national competition, so The Book Spy
and Oscar the Ferry Cat faced stiff
competition with hundreds of titles nominated nationally this year by their
publishers – as well as a long-list of 20 children’s books being put to the
public vote.
Commenting on the finalist
nomination for the award Mark Carton said: ‘I was delighted to get the initial nomination
and having spent the early part of this year touring almost 40 schools in the
North East with a ‘Book Spy Roadshow’, it was a real thrill to find out that I
have been shortlisted as a finalist. The school visits showed the passion young
people have for literature and great stories, and the purpose of The Book Spy is to encourage young
people to share their love of reading. The school visits were wonderful, as the
reception in every school was overwhelming.’
The Book Spy was published by Candy Jar Books, and head of publishing
Shaun Russell commented: ‘Mark had a real passion for this story and the idea
of the Children’s Reading Intelligence Agency was genius, as children love the
idea of becoming spies in their own secret network. The book is a great read
for 8-12 year olds and is a worthy finalist in these outstanding book awards.
Everyone at Candy Jar is very proud of Mark and The Book Spy.’ The Book Spy
has its own dedicated website www.bookspy.co.uk and Mark Carton has
his own author site www.markcarton.co.uk which
features his other work and his availability for author sessions.
Molly Arbuthnott is a primary school
teacher from London. She has always loved writing and is thrilled to have been
nominated as a finalist for The People’s Book Prize for her book Oscar the Ferry Cat. Agnes Treherne is
a Sussex based illustrator who studied fine art at the University of Edinburgh,
and provided the enchanting artwork to accompany Oscar’s story. Oscar the Ferry Cat has his very own
website www.oscartheferrycat.co.uk . The story immortalizes the author’s beloved
cat Oscar who was sadly never found. It follows his experiences as he navigates
coming to terms with loss and forging new friendships. Proudly published by
Jelly Bean Self-Publishing, this book appeals to children aged 5 – 8 years as
it explores Oscar’s new living situation as he searches for his home.
On discovering her position as a finalist,
Molly stated: ‘They say if you find a job you love you will not do a day’s work
in your life. Every day for the last 6 months has felt like a holiday! It has
been very humbling to witness the warm reception Oscar has received. I hope he
will continue to touch the hearts of children – he’s against stiff competition
but where there’s a will (and a cat!) there’s a way!’
The People’s Book Prize winner
will be announced in May 2019 following a further public vote, at the
Stationers Hall in London, with patron of the foundation Frederick Forsyth CBE
presenting the awards.
