Literature

The visit celebrated the recent launch of Oscar’s Book Club, whereby Oscar’s Book Prize and award supporter, Amazon, are donating this year’s shortlisted books to schools and nurseries across the country via the Amazon Reading Volunteer network. This team of volunteers will also support on the ground with group reading sessions to inspire young children through the magic of reading. HRH, who is the Prize’s Royal Patron, read the 2024 winning book, When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth by Sean Taylor (author) and Zehra Hicks (illustrator), before sitting down with the class to take a look at the other shortlisted books, and find out a little more about the pupils’ own reading habits. HRH also discussed the importance of picture books to foster children’s imagination and how they can provide quality moments for families coming together at the end of the day. When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth (Frances Lincoln Children's Books) topped the shortlist of five magical stories to take home the £10,000 literary prize earlier in May. The book is a fun tale about the intrepid journey of a little dinosaur named Smallasaurus, who simply wants to enjoy her plant-based diet in peace, but goes on a big adventure along the way. This witty and vibrant children’s book brings the prehistoric period into the present day, complete with dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. This year’s shortlist for the Prize also included Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green and Francis Martin (Little Tiger), Geoffrey Gets The Jitters by Nadia Shireen (Puffin), Gigantic by Bob Biddulph (HarperCollins Children's Books) and The Hare-Shaped Hole by John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children's Books). The award, now in its eleventh year, was set up by James Ashton and Viveka Alvestrand - named in memory of their son Oscar, who was three-and-a-half when he died from an undiagnosed heart condition - and celebrates the joy and magic picture books can bring to young children.