Launch of Coventry Inspiration Book Awards

In its sixth year, the annual event looks to find the city's favourite books of people of all ages in 12 different categories.

The Book Awards promote reading for everyone in the community with polls for every age-group of children and young people and by different genres of books for adults.

The Coventry City Council project is supported and sponsored by local company Scholastic Book Fairs and Micro Librarian Systems which provide library management systems to many of Coventry schools.

The poll to find the city's favourite books has opened for people's views and comments and can be found at www.coventry.gov.uk/bookawards. The website attracted more than 1.5 million hits last year.

Coventry Primary schools have an opportunity to meet Harriet Goodwin who has been shortlisted for the second year running in the 'Raring 2 Read' poll to find the best book for 7-11 year olds.

The visit will be hosted by St Thomas More Catholic Primary School on 13 October from 1-3pm.

Coventry's secondary schools have an opportunity to meet multiple prize winning author Ally Kennen at a launch event at Ernesford Grange Community School on 21 October between 1-3pm.

She will be talking about Quarry which is shortlisted in the 'Read It Or Else' poll to find the best book for 11-14 year olds

Adults get their opportunity to celebrate the launch of this year's event to find the best books in a certain genre when past 'Inspiration Award' winning local author Mez Packer comes to Central Library on 19 October from 12.30-2pm.

Councillor Lynnette Kelly, Coventry City Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Libraries, hopes as many people as possible will take part in this year's event.

She said: "Reading and literacy will undoubtedly be a high priority for every school in Coventry and the Inspiration Book Awards presents them with the ideal vehicle to motivate and engage children and families in reading for pleasure.

"If we can involve every family in reading then the research shows that we can significantly enhance the life chances of every child and I encourage you all to make the most of this opportunity."

To see the 12 categories and to vote for your favourite, visit www.coventry.gov.uk/bookawards.