Earlier this month we announced the new Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award. The only national award of its kind - the Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award will recognise a young person who has overcome challenge to discover the joy of reading. The award is open to pupils in Years 7 and 8 with the winner receiving £400 worth of Barrington Stoke books for their school, £100 book token for themselves, and a digital subscription to First News, for both home and school.
We are so excited to be announcing the wonderful line up of judges for this award:
Catherine Johnson
Catherine Johnson is a screenwriter, bestselling author, winner of the Young Quills and Little Rebels Awards and shortlistee of the YA Book Prize and UKLA Book Award. Her bestselling and widely acclaimed Barrington Stoke books bring to life important but often overlooked Black historical figures, including Race to the Frozen North (Matthew Henson), Journey Back to Freedom (Olaudah Equiano) and Dance of Resistance (Josephine Baker). Catherine was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Tom Palmer
Tom Palmer is a patron of the School Librarian Association and one of the UK’s best-loved authors. A passionate advocate for school libraries and reading for fun, he has sold over a million books, won 33 book awards and has recently been nominated for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. A former reluctant reader himself, Tom’s work is designed to encourage children to feel more positive about reading and many of his books are published by Barrington Stoke.
Julie Broadbent
Julie Broadbent is the school librarian at Northampton International Academy. Named as SLA Secondary School Librarian of the Year Award 2025, Julie was praised for her work in promoting reading engagement, enriching her students' experience of school, and maximising the opportunities provided by the school library.
Victoria Dilly
Victoria Dilly is CEO of the School Library Association. Before taking up the post in 2025, Victoria worked in education for 20 years, initially as a school librarian herself and then leading national education programmes for organisations such as National Literacy Trust, Royal Horticultural Society and Young Enterprise. She has a wide range of experience and expertise, a keen desire to enable children and young people to fulfil their full potential and a firm belief in the transformative power of stories.
Ailsa Bathgate
Ailsa Bathgate is the Publisher at Barrington Stoke, with nearly 30 years of experience in the industry. Having experienced the transformative impact of reading from a young age, and knowing now how important it is in terms of development and positive life outcomes, she is passionate about breaking down barriers to reading and ensuring that all young people are able to access brilliantly engaging and thought-provoking stories from the most talented authors and illustrators at work in the UK today.
Emily Hanson
Emily Hanson is Head of Education at First News. A previous primary school teacher with an M.Ed in Children’s Literature (Cantab), Emily is a lifelong bookworm and believes that reading enriches lives. When not ensuring schools have access to high quality children’s journalism and educational resources with First News, Emily is usually found head in a book (often middle grade), reading with her two daughters, or working on writing her first children’s book.
The judges are looking forward to reading your applications! School librarians, teachers and members of school leadership teams can nominate their pupils. Find out more and make your nominations here.
Read more about all the School Library Association Awards.
