CHILDREN across East Sussex and Brighton and Hove will be enjoying visits from authors as an annual book awards competition gets into full swing.

The East Sussex Children’s Book Award 2014 will see 50 schools take part in reading five shortlisted titles, writing book reviews and meeting the shortlisted authors.

As part of the event, organised by East Sussex County Council’s Schools Library and Museum Service, three writers will visit local schools, which will host youngsters from other schools across the area, to talk about themselves and their books.

Cllr Chris Dowling, county council lead member for community services, said: “The children’s book award is now in its ninth year and never fails to capture the imagination of children.

“Meeting the authors really brings these books to life, allowing the children to learn about their lives and their inspiration, and will hopefully contribute to a love of literature which will last into adult life.”

The visits begin on Tuesday, February 25, when Christopher William Hill will visit Framfield Church of England Primary School and Hawkes Farm Primary School, in Hailsham, to talk about his book, Osbert The Avenger, a humorously gruesome tale of a boy taking revenge on nasty teachers, which has been compared to the work of Roald Dahl.

On Thursday, March 6, Sam Angus will talk about her book Soldier Dog, a moving and dramatic story about a young dog handler and his messenger dog during World War One, at All Saints Junior School, Hastings, and Pevensey and Westham CE Primary School.

Finally, on Thursday, March 20, Ali Sparkes will visit St Nicholas CE Primary School, Portslade, and Bevendean Primary School, to talk about her book Out Of This World, a thriller with a supernatural twist.

The winner will be chosen entirely from children’s votes and will be announced at a ceremony at the De La Warr Pavilion, in Bexhill, on Thursday, June 12.

A full list of author visits and schools attending is below:

Tuesday, February 25
Christopher William Hill, author of Osbert The Avenger, will visit:
Framfield Church of England Primary School (10.45 to 11.45am)
Hawkes Farm Primary School, Hailsham (1.45 to 2.45pm)

Other schools attending the event at Framfield are:
St Mark’s CE Primary School, Hadlow Down
Blackboys CE Primary School
St Michael’s Primary School, Withyam
Ocklynge Junior School, Eastbourne
Ardingly College Prep School, Hayward’s Heath
Broad Oak Community Primary School
Little Horsted CE Primary School
Rocks Park Primary School, Uckfield

Other schools attending the event at Hawkes Farm are:
Grovelands Primary School, Hailsham
Ninfield CE Primary School
Dallington CE Primary School
Polegate School
Laughton Community Primary School
Marshlands Primary School, Hailsham
Harbour Primary School, Newhaven
Shinewater Primary School, Eastbourne

Thursday, March 6
Sam Angus, author of Soldier Dog, will visit:
All Saints Junior School, Hastings (10.45-11.45am)
Pevensey and Westham CE Primary School (1.45-2.45pm)

Other schools attending All Saints:
Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary School
West St Leonards Primary Academy
Battle and Langton CE Primary School
St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School
Wadhurst CE Primary School
Ticehurst and Flimwell CE Primary School

Other schools attending Pevensey and Westham:
Ninfield CE Primary School
West Rise Junior School, Eastbourne
Herstmonceux CE Primary School
Little Ridge Community Primary School, Hastings
Grovelands Primary School, Hailsham
Ocklynge Junior School, Eastbourne
Langney Primary School, Eastbourne
Shinewater Primary School, Eastbourne

Thursday, March 20

Ali Sparkes, author of Out Of This World, will visit:
St Nicholas CE Primary School, Portslade 10.45-11.45am
Bevendean Primary School, Brighton 1.45-2.45pm

Other schools attending St Nicholas:
St Margaret’s CE Primary School, Rottingdean
Mile Oak Primary School, Portslade
Peter Gladwin Primary School, Portslade
Meridian Community Primary School, Peacehaven

Other schools attending Bevendean:
Saltdean Primary School
Balfour Primary School, Brighton
Ardingly College Prep School, Hayward’s Heath
Ditchling (St Margaret’s) CE Primary School

Photo caption: Last year’s East Sussex Children’s Book Award winner Kate Saunders (right) with Michele Eaton, East Sussex County Council head of Schools Library and Museum Service and runner-up Megan Rix, with reading therapy dog Traffy, at last year’s awards ceremony at the De La Warr Pavilion