Biblio-buzz: Annual book award challenge returns for 2023

Young readers from across Haringey gathered in Wood Green Library on Saturday 14 January to take part in Biblio-buzz 2023, the Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award. The event was part of a series of workshops, online challenges and performances that are on offer in the lead up to the book awards finale in March.

Biblio-buzz is run by Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust and Haringey Library Services and aims to inspire a love of reading and writing through a series of literary challenges, with the help of six professional authors. Hundreds of young people from across the borough, all aged between nine and 12 years old, are set to take part this year. 

Participants are challenged to read six shortlisted texts, before voting for their favourite. Biblio-buzz will then culminate with awards ceremonies in Alexandra Palace Theatre (24 March) and Wood Green Library (25 March), where the young people will meet the authors and discover the winning book.

Now in its fifth year, Biblio-buzz was founded by a team of dedicated school librarians who built a passionate following amongst primary schools who use the award as a cherished part of their annual enrichment programme. The support of Alexandra Palace and partnership with Haringey Library Service has helped to grow the scheme and give greater access to the reading challenge.

The authors and books making up the Biblio-buzz 2023 shortlist:

• The Consequence Girl by Alastair Chisholm
• The Elemental Detectives by Patrice Lawrence
• Twitch by M. G. Leonard
• S.T.E.A.L.T.H Access Denied by Jason Rohan
• Tyger by SF Said
• The Bird Singers by Eve Wersocki Morris

Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council, said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to see Biblio-buzz return again for a fifth year. Reading and creative writing can have such a profoundly positive impact on young lives, so I’m really looking forward to seeing children across the borough getting involved in the project and taking their first steps towards a lifelong love of books.

“I’d like to thank our wonderful library staff and school librarians for helping to deliver this unique initiative in partnership with Alexandra Palace. It’s a great example of teams from across the council working together with partners to make great things happen for our residents.”

Mark Civil, Head of Creative Learning at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, said:

“We are so excited that Biblio-buzz 2023 is underway. Across the borough hundreds of young people are already reading away and getting ready for a series of challenges from our authors. We’re delighted to once again be working together with the library service and local schools, so that the initiative is available to everybody aged between nine to 12 in the borough.  

“Biblio-buzz is a great example of how we aim, through the Palace’s learning programme and by working with partners, to offer exciting opportunities for local people to immerse themselves in culture, build skills and find creative ways to express themselves. If you’ve not tried Biblio-buzz before, then now is the ideal time to get involved.”

Cllr Emine Ibrahim, Chair of Trustees at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, said:

“It is fantastic to see young people from across Haringey taking on the Biblio-buzz challenge. The initiative is a real borough-wide effort, with Alexandra Palace, the library service, local schools and book shops joining forces to provide a range of opportunities for those taking part to build skills and develop an interest in the literary world. I look forward to seeing Biblio-buzz progress over the coming weeks and the excitement build, as we get closer to the finale events in March.”

More information about Biblio-buzz 2023 is available at www.alexandrapalace.com/biblio-buzz-2023/