See www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk after February 15 to check on the three age categories (picture books, shorter novels and longer novels) and find out how your school can join the online-voting stage of the award: the only major award that is entirely judged by children, with winners announced in June.

The federation’s Pick of the Year booklist, with the children’s favourite 50 books from 2003, is also out soon. For general information about the FCBG, a network of children’s books enthusiasts, see www.fcbg.org.uk. Local branches of the federation organise author events and day conferences, and can support schools’ work in developing readers and supply information about books. Members include teachers, librarians and parents.