How we choose the books

Each year the Booked Up books are chosen by an independent panel of children’s book experts. The 2011 panel are:

Michelle Pauli (Chair)

Michelle Pauli is editor of the Guardian's children's books website, a new online space where children and teens can review books, interview authors, discuss their favourite reads and get involved in all things bookish. As a journalist at the Guardian she has specialised in children's literature in recent years, interviewing many of the best-known children's authors – though to the disappointment of every child who asks, she has never met JK Rowling.

She has previously worked for the Times and the Independent and has written for a number of other publications.

Lucy Reynolds

Lucy Reynolds is the Head of English at Wakefield City Academy and has experience in leading literacy classes and coordinating the Booked Up scheme within her school. She has also presented at the SSAT Achievement show in London, discussing how to raise achievement and aspirations in challenging schools and was a contributor to the SSAT publication ‘Love Literacy’.

After blogging for the Booked Up website in 2009, Lucy, a self confessed reading fanatic, has thoroughly enjoyed the experience of taking part in the 2011 judging panel and has been busy fending off hordes of eager pupils who were desperate to know which books made it onto the final list.

Angela Russell

Angela Russell is the Learning Resource Centre Manager for St Cuthbert’s Business and Enterprise College in Rochdale, Lancashire where her main role is to promote literacy and develop positive attitudes towards reading and learning. She is always seeking to engage in lively and creative promotions of the library.

Angela thinks that Booked Up should be declared a national treasure for its commitment to the improvement of reading standards and in creating and encouraging reading individuals.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the selection panel experience, Booked Up is a great opportunity to promote reading for enjoyment to young people – and that is a wonderful thing.”

Kevin Sheehan

Kevin is a Chartered Librarian at Offerton School in Stockport, Cheshire where has been employed for the past 5 years, having previously worked in the public library and further education sectors. Kevin enjoys all aspects of his multi-faceted role from reader development activities to running a regular Lego Club.  His main challenge is trying to promote the benefits of reading to students (and the odd teacher) who have very little interest in books.  Kevin is currently studying part-time towards an MA in Information Literacy at the University of Sheffield. 

In October 2010 Kevin was announced as the School Library Association Librarian of the Year.

Steve Voake

Before becoming a full-time writer, Steve Voake was Headteacher of a primary school in Somerset. He is the critically-acclaimed author of several YA novels including The Dreamwalker's Child, The Starlight Conspiracy and Blood Hunters.  He has also written the Daisy Dawson and Hooey Higgins series for younger readers and the award-winning Insect Detective, a non-fiction picture book. Steve is a regular tutor for the Arvon Foundation and Senior Lecturer in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University.

Alexandra Strick (Consultant on accessible titles)

Alex works as a freelance consultant/project manager on a range of activities around children, books and disability. These include:

• Bookmark, the online resource regarding books and disability
• Bookstart, as the scheme's disability consultant
• Outside In, children's literature in translation
• In the Picture, a campaign to encourage publishers, illustrators and writers to embrace diversity.