Young book lovers choose the best reads of 2026
Bookworms from primary and secondary schools across the borough have been hard at work over the past few months, deciding on their favourite reads of the year.
Article date: 23 March 2026
Delivered as part of the St Helens Schools Library Service offer, Book Awards St Helens is an annual reading for pleasure scheme where children and young people are encouraged to read the latest, modern and enticing fiction written specially for them.
Pupils from local primary and secondary schools have been busy taking part in library workshops to agree on which book should be crowned number one from a short-list of nominations in their age category.
Celebration events were held at Chester Lane Library where Deputy Mayor of St Helens Borough Cllr Bisi Osundeko announced the 5+ and 9+ category winners, and children enjoyed a workshop with performance poet Ian Bland.
Children chose Once Upon A Big Bad Wolf by Leigh Hodgkinson and Adam Ming as their 5+ category winner, while I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery took first place in the 9+ category.
Leigh was thrilled to hear her book had been chosen by local children, saying: "Thank you so much to everyone who read and voted for our book. Books are the most incredible things, they can take you on amazing journeys and adventures, you can see the world through someone else's eyes and get to understand what it feels like to live a life that is different than your own. I hope the children keep reading stories and write their own stories too."
The 11+ category is yet to determine their winner, which will be revealed later this week with a further celebration event at Chester Lane Library. Nominations in the 11+ category include:
· Stealing Happy by Brian Connaghan
· The First Year by Matt Goodfellow
· King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore
· Storm of Lies -by Sophie Mckenzie
Congratulating pupils for their efforts so far this year, Councillor Sue Murphy MBE, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Localities, Culture and Heritage, said:
"It's wonderful to see so many young people from the borough get involved in BASH to share their valued opinions on books and I'd like to thank them for their important input.
"St Helens Schools Library Service forms an integral part of our modernised library service offer, supporting teaching, empowering learning and inspiring young readers - providing access to the latest high-quality resources at school to develop reading and learning experiences.
"Reading is such a wonderful gift that has the ability to spark creativity and broaden learning and St Helens Library Service is committed through a number of initiatives like this to ensure young people from all over the borough have the opportunity to keep on reading."
All books featured on the BASH shortlists are available to borrow from St Helens Borough Council's network of seven libraries, with selected titles available online by visiting https://sthlibrarieswp.koha-ptfs.co.uk/book-awards-st-helens-bash/
BASH is available to all schools that subscribe to the Schools Library Service. For more information, email libraryservicesschools@sthelens.gov.uk or call 01744 677425.