Books for Keeps 122 - the children's book magazine online

The winners of the Booktrust Early Years Awards 2010 were announced on the evening of 2 September.

Christopher Wormell won the award for Best Picture Book for children up to five for One Smart Fish, the story of a fish that yearns to walk.

Giles Andreae, aka Purple Ronnie, won the The Best Book for Babies award for I Love My Mummy, which is illustrated by Emma Dodd.

The winner of The Best Emerging Illustrator was Levi Pinfold for his book The Django, a tale inspired by jazz musician Jean ‘Django’ Reinhardt.

Booktrust has announced the shortlist for 2010 Early Years Awards for books that “exemplify the remarkable creativity in words, design and illustration necessary to encourage young children to read”. 

Authors and illustrators including Shirley Hughes, Nick Sharratt, Lucy Cousins, Emily Gravett and Andy Stanton joined Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne at Waterstone’s Piccadilly on 26th July to launch The Shape Game, a drawing game devised by Browne to raise money for the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity.

American Judy Blume’s pioneering Forever, a teen novel in which first sexual experiences are described clearly and explicitly, was published in the UK 34 years ago and, despite being censored in some US states for many years, its frankness and realism have had a major impact on writing for adolescents over the last three decades.

So what’s new and different about Losing It, a new collection of short stories for teenagers on the theme of losing, or wanting to lose your virginity?