The initiative has been launched today on World Book Day (7 March) by Oscar’s Book Prize, which aims to reach children in areas with typically low engagement with the arts. It was set up by James and Viveka Ashton in memory of their son Oscar, who was three-and-a-half when he died from a heart condition in December 2012.
The £10,000 prize, supported by Amazon and for which HRH Princess Beatrice is a patron, seeks to find the best picturebook for young children.
Throughout April, volunteers from the Amazon Reading Volunteers’ national network of schools will be donating the prize’s shortlisted books to nurseries and schools across the country, as well as hosting group sessions to inspire young children through the magic of reading.
Newly named ambassador Rachel Riley, who has two young children, will be joining Oscar’s Book Club and Amazon to champion the campaign for early-years reading.
Rachel Riley said, ‘I always loved reading growing up and now having children of my own, I have a whole new perspective on the magic of children’s literature. It's a real skill to capture the attention of young children like mine, so we look forward to getting stuck into this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize shortlist in the coming months. I love what Oscar’s Book Club is doing to help children and young families to engage more with books, and look forward to experiencing the joy of reading with some of them for myself in a few months’ time.’
James Ashton, the prize's chairman and co-founder, said, ‘We've championed brilliant picture books for a decade and always encouraged parents, carers and children to dive into these stories together, so I'm delighted this year we can extend Oscar's Book Prize into Oscar's Book Club, reaching more young readers than ever as we deepen our relationship with Amazon.’
