This year’s ALCS Educational Writers’ Award was given at a reception of the All Party Writers’ Group at the House of Commons on 5 December. It went to The Book of Bees by Wojciech Grajkowski, illustrated by Piotr Socha and translated into English from the Polish by Agnes Monod-Gayraud. Beautifully illustrated, it covers the history of bees from the time of the dinosaurs until today, taking in information about bees in history (ancient people ate them along with honey), and amazing facts about them – including the famous ‘dance’ they use to communicate sources of nectar and pollen. With the crisis in bee (and other insect) numbers we see today, this is an especially valuable book for children of all ages – and even adults – though it’s aimed at the 6+ age group.
The award is sponsored jointly by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and the Society of Authors (ALCS).
The Book of Bees: written by Wojciech Grajkowski and illustrated by Piotr Socha; published by Thames and Hudson. ISBN: 9780500650950
At the same event, children’s author Cressida Cowell received the 2017 Ruth Rendell Award for services to literacy for her tireless championing of literacy throughout the UK. This award is jointly sponsored by ALCS and the National Literacy Trust.