Deepdale primary school pupils tell of how book awards has encouraged their love for reading

Pupils of Deepdale Community Primary School taking part in book event

Deepdale Community Primary School is one of the hundreds of schools taking part in an annual book competition.

The Fantastic Book Awards 2025, a popular children’s book awards, began almost two decades ago and has involved over 105,000 children, over the years.

Run by Lancashire School Library service, it has seen children from Years 5 and 6 from 140 primary schools to read about 25 books at one time.

The event is seen as an exciting opportunity for children to meet, discuss and share views about their reading, and eventually to vote for one of the five books they consider to be a Fantastic Book Award Winner.

As children across Lancashire vote for their favourite books, the winners are to be revealed May 2025 at an event held by the University of Central Lancashire.

Pupils at Deepdale School enjoyed taking part by reading shortlisted books, before voting for their top five favourites.

Pupil, Binte said: “I used to not like reading, but when I had the opportunity of taking part in the Fantastic Book Awards, I thought, let’s give it a go! Now I enjoy reading very much!”

Visiting the school during the event, County councillor of Leyland South, Jayne Rear said: “The FBA is a brilliant way of bringing children and schools together to share ideas about books.”

County councillor Jayne Rear talking to Year 6 pupils taking part in awards.

A Youtube video capturing this recent event at the school can be seen here.

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