The Extensive Reading Foundation: 2008 Language Learner Literature Award Winners

submitted by Philip Prowse, UK

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Background
Young Learners: Winner
Adolescents and Adults - Beginners: Winner
Adolescents and Adults - Intermediate: Winner
Adolescents and Adults - Advanced: Winner
Young Learners: Finalists
Adolescents and Adults - Beginners: Finalists
Adolescents and Adults - Intermediate: Finalists
Adolescents and Adults - Advanced: Finalist

Background

The Extensive Reading Foundation (ERF) www.erfoundation.org, an unaffiliated, not-for profit organization that supports and promotes extensive reading in language education, takes pleasure in announcing the winners of the 5th Annual Language Learner Literature Award for books published in 2007.

An international jury chose the winning book in four categories, taking into account the Internet votes and comments of students and teachers around the world.

Young Learners: Winner

Dorothy by Paola Traverso. Illustrated by Alida Massari. Earlyreads Level 1 (Black Cat Publishing). ISBN: 9788853007094
In choosing this book, the jury noted the captivating quality of its dreamlike fantasy. Voters commented, "intelligent and beautiful" (Italy); "a great and lovely book. I get lost in the illustrations" (Belgium).

Adolescents and Adults - Beginners: Winner

Horror Trip on the Pecos River by Paul Davenport. Illustrations by Niels Roland. Teen Readers Level 2 (Aschehoug/Alinea). ISBN: 9780850484007
Author Paul Davenport was a 2007 Language Learner Literature Award finalist, and this year takes the prize with a thriller that the jury found engaging and enjoyable. Voters commented, "a very good story that is easy and fun to read" (Denmark); "great plot" (Taiwan).

Adolescents and Adults - Intermediate: Winner

Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess. Retold by Karen Holmes. Penguin Readers Level 3 (Pearson Longman). ISBN: 9781405850001
The jury noted the sensitive handling of strong adult themes in this story. Voters commented, "It leaves a deep impression" (Canada); "I felt we must strive for our dreams" (Japan).

Adolescents and Adults - Advanced: Winner

Body on the Rocks by Denise Kirby. Illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. Hueber Lektüren Level 6 (Hueber Verlag). ISBN: 9783192029714
It's a story you can't put down, spiced by an exotic locale and varied characters, noted the jury. Voters commented, "I couldn't stop reading" (Korea); "so thrilling and suspenseful. Thumbs up for this book" (Malaysia).

In addition to the winners, the following books were selected as the shortlisted "finalists" in each category:

Young Learners: Finalists

Escape from the Fire by Richard Brown. Illustrated by Mike Spoor. Macmillan English Explorers 3 (Macmillan Education). ISBN: 9781405060189
The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersen. Retold by Sue Arengo. Illustrated by Andy Catling. Classic Tales Beginner 1 (Oxford University Press). ISBN: 9780194225526

Adolescents and Adults - Beginners: Finalists

Grizzly by Sue Murray. Illustrated by Sarah Davis. Hueber Lektüren Level 1 (Hueber Verlag). ISBN 9783190029716
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare before Christmas by Daphne Skinner. Retold by Coleen Degnan-Veness. Artwork by Mikel Santos ‘Belatz’ and Javier Gomez. Penguin Active Reading Level 2 (Pearson Longman). ISBN: 9781405852104

Adolescents and Adults - Intermediate: Finalists

River of Dreams by Philip Voysey. Illustrated by Elizabeth Botté. Hueber Lektüren Level 5 (Hueber Verlag). ISBN: 9783191229719
Stories for Reading Circles Retold by Margaret Naudi et al. Bookworms Club Gold Stages 3 & 4 (Oxford University Press). ISBN: 978 0 1947 2002 1

Adolescents and Adults - Advanced: Finalist

How's the Weather? Contributing writers: Colleen Sheils, John Chapman. Production and Design Services: Studio Montage. Footprint Reading Library Upper Intermediate (Cengage). ISBN: 97814240112 6
Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith. Retold by Kathy Burke. Penguin Readers Level 5 (Pearson Longman). ISBN: 9781405850025

The winning books and shortlisted finalists are available for online purchase at the Cambridge International Book Centre: www.eflbooks.co.uk/reader_finalists.php

The ERF thanks the publishers who nominated books, the members of the Award Jury, and all those who voted in this year's Award. The nomination and voting procedures for the 2009 Language Learner Literature Award will be posted on the ERF website (www.erfoundation.org) later this year.

Please check the Methodology and Language for Primary Teachers course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Methodology and Language for Secondary Teachers course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Teaching Advanced Students course at Pilgrims website.