Lottery Funded: Big Lottery FundWelcome!

Welcome to this, the home page of the sensational Doncaster Book Award!

Incredibly, we are now in the ninth year of this great award scheme that puts you, Doncaster’s young readers, firmly in charge. You’ve shown us from the start how much you love books and reading, and I know that you are going to love the great stories we’ve got for you to try. As ever, it’s a fantastic mix of authors and genres, guaranteed to have something for everyone.

Jeremy Strong Event

Jeremy Strong's websiteThe DBA is delighted to announce that Jeremy Strong, one of the funniest UK authors currently writing for children, is coming to Doncaster...!

  • Thursday 13th June
  • Bentley High Street Primary School has kindly offered to host the event
  • 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Books will be on sale, and Jeremy will sign copies

Find out more...

Talegate Theatre Workshops
at Cusworth Hall

The assembled cast of the drama workshopsOn Monday, 18th and Tuesday 19th February 2013, Doncaster Book Award offered two amazing 'Alice in Wonderland' workshops in the gorgeous setting of Cusworth Hall. They were led by members of the terrific Talegate Theatre Company.

Walliams Winners!

It's here at last! Your tribute to the Doncaster Book Award 2012 winner, David Walliams...

Congratulations to Niamh and Max from St Peters Catholic Primary who won a boxset of Walliams books (courtesy of Waterstones) for their super poem. The runners up were Lewis from Hall Cross and Tom & Michael from St Peters. The video compiles lines from many of the wonderful entries we received... does yours feature? Thanks as well to Hexthorpe Primary School for their super animations!

Dave Cryer Creative Writing
and Drama Workshops

Dave CryerAnother fabulous FREE offer from the DBA!

As part of the celebration of this year's shortlist, the DBA is offering eight fantastic and FREE creative writing and drama workshops led by experienced writer, teacher and reading enthuser Dave Cryer. We would like to organise these as soon as possible, to encourage our young people to read and enjoy our shortlist and classics list books. If you'd like Dave to come to your school, could you please contact him by e-mail (see our Contact page) or on 07738 003368 as soon as possible, and no later than Friday, 8th February.

Don't miss out - register your interest today!

Shortlists Announced

Your votes have been counted! The books which made it to the shortlists are:

March Hares

Mad Hatters

Drama Days at Don Valley

Grrrrrrr! Tiger WarsA series of joint primary/secondary drama workshops was held at Don Valley Academy on the 23rd, 26th and 27th November, with students from Owston Park, Sunnyfields, Toll Bar, Bentley High Street, Bentley New Village and Saltersgate primary schools all taking part alongside members of Don Valley's 'Pageturners' group. A great time was had by all!

Rapid Rhymes Winners

We challenged you to take part in a rapid rhyme competition by composing a nonsense version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". We had some great entries, showing the enthusiasm and imagination of those who entered!

David Walliams Competition

Billionaire BoyWrite a song, poem or rap based on David Walliams' stories and WIN a full set of his books... Closing Date Friday 7th December 2012.

Fantastic Launch Event!

Philip ArdaghBack by popular demand after his visit to our Finale in May 2012, the fantastic Philip Ardagh was our special guest author at our Launch Event on Friday 26th October. The event took place at Doncaster Civic Theatre.

Liz Million wows Don Valley

Liz MillionIllustrator Liz Million ran a series of workshops across Doncaster in October 2012. A great time was had by all, and we received some fantastic feedback.

Mad Hatters and March Hares

You’ll notice that this year we have not one, but three, lists of great books for your enjoyment. They are: ‘March Hares’, ‘Mad Hatters’, and for the first time ever, a ‘Classic Reads’ list as an extra bonus! We know how much you all love a good laugh, so there is lots of humour in the lists, with titles such as The Dark Lord: the Teenage Years by Jamie Thompson or Lousie Rennison’s girly comedy A Midsummer Tights Dream. If you prefer to shiver rather than laugh, there’s Charlie Higson’s zombie chiller, The Fear, or Darren Shan’s Brothers to the Death vampire horror story. We’ve got rip-roaring adventure in Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island, or the more modern thrills of Steve Backsall’s Tiger Wars or Sophie McKenzie’s Sister, Missing. There are fantasy books such as Hollow Earth by John and Carole Barrowman; The Windvale Sprites by Mackenzie Crook, or the fabulous classic Stig of the Dump; animal stories like Doglands by Tim Willocks, and Sarah Lean’s A Dog Called Homeless; and historical novels with the exciting Girl in a Mask by Marie-Lousie Jensen and the tragic The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. There are lots more great stories too... have a look at the lists now and decide which one you want to read first.

No adult gets a say!

Remember, this is your award, no adult gets a say! You will choose the shortlist books, and your votes alone will decide the winners. You can vote for any or all of the lists, it’s up to you. In January, you will shortlist five books each from the March Hares and Mad Hatters lists. In March you can vote again for one winner each from all three lists. So, start thinking now about your favourites and deciding which book will get your vote. Check out our reviews page today and let us know what you think about the books as you read them. Your views matter – so let us hear them!

How to take part

Not sure if your school is taking part this year? Speak to your teacher or librarian. Remember, even if your school is not involved, you can still be part of the Award. You can read the books, and post your reviews/comments on the website, we’d love to hear what you think. When its time to choose your favourites, voting slips can be obtained from Waterstones Bookshop in the Frenchgate Centre. Or contact any of the committee, our details are listed here on the website contact page, and we will get a voting slip sent to your home. The Doncaster Book Award is for everyone – don’t miss out!

Last Year's Fantastic Finale

The start of the parade

The winner of the 2011-12 Doncaster Book Award was David Walliams's Billionaire Boy. The winner was announced at our spectacular Finale at Doncaster Athletic Stadium on 25th May.

Report and selected photos | Full Photo Gallery | Video Podcast

What's Happening?

As always, there will be lots of exciting events and trips this year. Full details can be viewed on our Events page as soon as they become available.

Schools Taking Part

The following secondary schools are taking part in the 2011-2012 Doncaster Book Award:

  • The Armthorpe Academy
  • Ash Hill Academy
  • Balby Carr Community Sports College
  • Baysgarth School
  • Danum Academy
  • De Warenne Academy
  • Don Valley Academy and Performing Arts College
  • Hall Cross School
  • Hatfield High School Visual Arts College
  • Hayfield School
  • Mexborough School
  • Outwood Academy Adwick
  • Ridgewood School
  • Rossington All Saints School

The following primary/junior schools are taking part in 2011-2012. We hope that they enjoy reading the books, having their say on the website, and, of course, voting!

  • Adwick Park Junior School
  • Auckley Primary School
  • Balby Central Primary
  • Balby Street Primary School
  • Barnburgh Primary School
  • Bawtry Mayflower Primary School
  • Bentley High Street Primary School
  • Bessacarr Primary School
  • Branton St Wilfrid's Primary School
  • Canon Popham Primary School
  • Conisbrough Ivanhoe Primary School
  • Conisbrough Morley Place Junior School
  • Conisbrough Station Road Primary School
  • Crooksbroom Primary School
  • Denaby Main Primary School
  • Doncaster Road Junior School, Mexborough
  • Dunsville Primary School
  • Edenthorpe Hall Primary School
  • Edlington Victoria Primary School
  • Estfeld Primary
  • Finningley Primary School
  • Hatchell Wood Primary School
  • Hatfield Sheep Dip Primary School
  • Hatfield Woodhouse Primary School
  • Hawthorne Primary School
  • Hayfield Lane Primary School
  • Hexthorpe Primary School
  • Holy Family Primary School
  • Intake Primary School
  • Kingfisher Primary School
  • Lakeside Primary School
  • Longtoft Primary School
  • Mallard Primary School
  • Mexborough St John’s Primary School
  • Montagu School, Mexborough
  • Norton Junior School
  • Owston Primary School
  • Pheasant Bank Academy
  • Plover Primary School
  • Richmond Hill Primary
  • St Albans Catholic Primary School
  • St Albans Primary School
  • Saltersgate Primary School
  • Sandringham Primary School
  • Southfield Primary
  • St Peter's Catholic Primary School
  • Stirling Primary School
  • Sunnyfields Primary School
  • Sycamore Primary School
  • Thorne Brooke Primary School
  • Thorne King Edward Primary School
  • Toll Bar Primary School
  • Town Field Primary School
  • Tranmoor Primary School
  • Travis St Lawrence CE Primary School
  • Wadworth Primary School
  • Willow Primary School
  • Windhill Primary School
  • Woodfield Primary

If any other schools are interested, they should contact Lyn Hopson via Don Valley Academy and Performing Arts College.

Doncaster Book Award on Twitter

We are now on Twitter! Why not follow @DoncBookAward for regular updates!

This Year’s Lists

“March Hares”

Great for Y5/6 and up

“Mad Hatters”

Great for Y7 and up

“Classic Reads”

Great for everybody

Our official book suppliers are Hopkins Book Service, Westbrook House, Wreakes Lane, Dronfield, Sheffield S18 1LY (Tel. & Fax 01246 417787). Hopkins offer 20% discount on DBA longlist books to all schools, and will deliver to schools in the Doncaster area. They will supply whole or part orders from the long list.

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Lottery Funded: Big Lottery Fund