THOUSANDS of children have voted for their favourite book, with a time-travelling adventure coming out top.
Edinburgh author Janis Mackay took the prize in the age eight to 11 category after a record 38,000 youngsters cast their vote in the Scottish Children's Book Awards 2013, announced yesterday at the Wee Write! festival, an offshoot of the Aye Write! festival for which The Herald and Times is media partner. The Accidental Time Traveller sees a girl from the 19th century suddenly appear in the street, with the character of Saul and his two friends trying get her back to where she came from.
Three to seven-year-olds chose Jumblebum, the story of a monster by Fife-based author Chae Strathie, as their favourite book of last year. It was illustrated by Ben Cort.
Ferryman by Claire McFall from the Borders was selected in the age 12 to 16 category as teenagers voted for the tale of Dylan, a girl who emerges from the wreckage of a train crash on to a Scottish hillside.
The winners were announced at a ceremony at Glasgow's Mitchell Library on the eve of World Book Day, and each received £3000. Organisers Scottish Book Trust and Creative Scotland saw a 20% rise in votes cast, which began in 2006 with 2000 children taking part.
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