YOUNG bookworms across Bolton have picked out their favourite novels as part of a special annual award.

Author, illustrator and animator Curtis Jobling helped them launch the shortlist for the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award at Bolton School.

The award – which puts the voting entirely in the hands of the children under the age of fifteen – has now been running for ten years.

Bolton School pupils from the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions and students from Bury Grammar School for Boys, Bolton St Catherine's Academy, Canon Slade School and Smithills School were involved in the event.

They will now read the books on the shortlist and post their reviews in their school libraries as well as commenting on the books via the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award Blog. They can even tweet about their favourites using the hashtag #BCFA2016.

In May 2016, voting will commence and pupils will be able to elect for their favourite book to win the Award. The winner will be announced at a special event at Bolton School in June, and Mr Jobling has promised to attend.

Mr Jobling, who wrote the Wereworld series and Haunt books and has also worked on several children’s TV programmes, including Bob the Builder and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion, showed pupils his designs and drew live sketches on the stage.

A spokesman for Bolton school said: "The advice he gave to pupils was 'Keep your hobby. At the very least, you’ll have a worthwhile pastime for the rest of your life. At the best, you’ll be able to make a living doing the thing you love.'"

THE SHORTLIST

The Disappearance of Tom Pile by Ian Beck

The book is set during the Second World War. Corporal Jack Carmody is sent to investigate mysterious lights in the sky in a remote village where a young boy disappeared forty years ago, apparently snatched by angels.

13 Hours by Narinder Dhami

The book centres on thirteen suspense-filled hours in twelve-year-old Anni’s life. She is a carer for her mum, who is terrified of intruders and often gets Anni to check the house to make sure they are safe.

An Island of Our Own by Sally Nicholls

The story is about three orphaned children who live in poverty in London. Visiting their Auntie Irene in hospital, they are given an old photo album with a set of strange photos in it. When their aunt dies, Holly and her brothers are supposed to inherit a fortune of jewels – but they are nowhere to be found.

Smart by Kim Slater

The novel is a crime story featuring a detective with a difference. When a homeless man drowns in the canal, everyone thinks that it is an accident, but Kieran thinks otherwise. The police don’t take any notice of his offer to help in the investigation, so he decides that he is going to find out what really happened himself.

Would the Real Stanley Carrot Please Stand Up by Rob Stevens

This is a funny book which also deals with serious issues. Stanley ‘Carrot’ Harris is chubby, ginger, and not very cool. He also has a secret: his adopted, which makes him feel like he’s never quite fitted in. When he gets a card from his birth mother on his thirteenth birthday asking him to meet her, he doesn’t want to disappoint her! So he advertises for a stand-in Stanley who will be sporty, clever and good-looking.

One of Us by Jeannie Waudby

The book is a fast-paced thriller set in a divided country. The book opens with a bomb attack on a station. Sixteen-year-old K is rescued and finds herself recruited as a spy for the Citizens. She has to infiltrate the Brotherhood to find out who is responsible for the terrorist attacks.