The Shrewsbury Children’s Bookfest Book Award 2010 - click here for more details
is an exciting new reading development project for children in partnership with local library services and schools, it’s designed to encourage children to express their views about contemporary fiction and develop a love of reading
Reading and voting on the Shortlist is taking place in schools and libraries up until Friday 17th March.

Our“Very Free Range “Book Forum (formally known as Mayfair Forum) -Janet Longstaff
Our bookshop could be described as “very free range” – just like the eggs for sale by the roadside in rural Shropshire. At most we have eleven people, but usually only seven attend. Our book group is loosely based around “Burway Books”, our local independent bookshop.
We rarely have a “set book”- occasionally one person will direct a line of thought, or we come prepared to discuss books in a specific genre.
In 2009 we celebrated the life of Charles Darwin, our “local hero” as he spent his childhood in Shrewsbury only 15 miles away. We examined books by him, and about him, both old and new.
One month we discussed foreign writers of fiction – those who live in more repressive regimes, and often suffer for their art with imprisonment or exile.
One of our most enjoyable meetings was when we were asked to bring along and read our favourite short poem.
We had a session on short stories, and other one childrens books- most of the group are doting grandmothers and had strong opinions!
A very revealing meeting happened when we were asked to bring along an old favourite book which had influenced us in our formative years- at least two had developed a passion for foreign travel this way.

We are all quite strong characters and would hate being told “you must read…” but by listening to the enthusiasm of others we are inspired to widen our outlook. After each session there’s usually a rush to Burway Books, or if we can’t wait 24 hours for an order to come through, we borrow.