Winners announced for Story Trail competition judged by Dame Julia Donaldson
Earlier this year, children and young people participating on the Story Trail learner programme were invited to enter the Story Trail story competition. The competition was judged by children’s author and Amaze Patron Dame Julia Donaldson.
We were delighted to receive over one hundred entries and it was a pleasure reading each and every story, reflecting the amazing talent of our young people.
We had entries across three age categories, 5 – 7, 8 – 11 and over 11s, and to fit the theme of The Story Trail we asked for each story to feature a bench.
It was truly remarkable how our young writers were able to turn something as ordinary as a bench into such magical, whimsical and thought-provoking tales.
Alongside Dame Julia Donaldson were our judging panel Vanessa Lewis and Julie Ward at The Book Nook children’s bookshop and Jordan Stanley from Hopscotch Nurseries, our learner programme sponsor.
Dame Julia Donaldson said:
“As a patron of Amaze it’s great to be part of the Story Trail, inspiring children and young people across Brighton and Hove to get involved in reading and art.”
We can now reveal our three fantastic winners are Otto Rainey, aged 7 from Queens Park Primary School, Frida Stephan, aged 9 from Lewes Old Grammar School, and Amelie Cooper, aged 12, from Hove Park School. Huge congratulations to you all.
Congratulations also goes out to our shortlisted finalists: Solomon Kinslow, aged 7 from Carden Primary School, Marina Montabes Cuenca, aged 7 from Queens Park School, Elise Morrison, aged 8 from Woodingdean Primary, Bella Guy, aged 10 from St Andrews C of E, Autumn Scarle, aged 12 from Patcham High School and Maeve Hornsey, aged 12 from Hove Park School.
Winners and finalists were celebrated at a special event on Thursday 20th August at the Book Nook where they were presented with their certificates by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Theresa Fowler. The winners will receive a gift voucher from The Book Nook, Story Trail merchandise and tickets to the Farewell Weekend.
In the National Year of Reading, we invite you all to read the winning stories below – we hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
The Bench That Flew Over Brighton
