There were 29 entries for the Chalkface Challenge 2014 - the only writing
competition judged entirely by children*. This year two schools took part in the judging and reviewing process. The judges were year 3 and 4 children from
Sparsholt C of E Primary School, Sparsholt, Hampshire. 10 and 11 year old children from
Chew Stoke Church School near Bristol reviewed the results.
The children, supported by their teachers, Lorraine Cooke at Sparsholt and Kirstin Simmonds at Chew Stoke excelled themselves with their conscientious judging, reading and enthusiasm for new stories. Thank you!
Before I announce the winner, here are the excellent reviewers of Chew Stoke who were asked
what they liked,
what they didn't like and
if there was anything they'd change. |
The Reviewers of Chew Stoke
click to enlarge |
And here's a report from Lorraine on the excellent judges of Sparsholt:
After three rounds of intense judging, the children in Years 3 and 4 at Sparsholt Primary School have chosen a winner. But before we reveal which one it is, here are some thoughts on how the children saw the process.  |
| The Judges of Sparsholt |
They all took their role very seriously, reading, recording their thoughts and swapping within their group during the first round to come up with a top ten – 2 per group. This generally wasn’t too hard with some stories having clear appeal for the target audience while others missed out because they took too long to get into the action or the children thought that the stories were pitched at older children. A shortlisting panel of Year 4 children reduced the top 10 to the five best entries, then all five extracts were read to all of the children and they voted individually. Voting was close and there were slight differences of opinion between the two year groups, but the winner was equally popular with both 7-8 year-olds and 8-9 year-olds.
So I am delighted to announce that the winner of the 2014 Chalkface Challenge is…
Jill Atkins
for the first 500 words of
Elrac and the Konkipong Tree
About Jill's opening excerpt, the Sparsholt children said:
- I loved it! Elrac is a great character and I long to read the rest. One thing is it could have a bit more description. Taya aged 9
- Exciting! Thrilling, so good. Next time maybe a little more description. Ryan aged 9
- A very good magical story. I want to read the rest! Could have a little more description and funny parts. Cara aged 8
Whilst the older Chew Stoke reviewers said:- A very interesting story and it is very imaginative, but maybe you could add more characters like other people trying to be wizards. Harry aged 10
- I think the names are really unusual names but in a good way. It did startle me a bit when the man said "Boy!". It was really imaginative. I really liked it. Annabelle aged 11
- A good story with good description though the names could be a little more imaginative but good use of speech. Finley aged 11
- There was good description. I really liked this story make it a bit more interesting. Frankie aged 11
There are four runners up whose opening excepts were sent with Jill's to the shadow judges. Look in next Sunday for these authors, their comments from the children and the shadow judges' deliberations.
In the meantime please enjoy Jill's winning opening excerpt:Chapter 1
Deep down in the deepest, darkest cave, Elrac tiptoed towards the glowing cauldron and peered over the edge. His eyes opened wide. The liquid was bubbling like lava from a volcano. He felt excitement bubbling up inside him, too.
“Yes!” he whispered. “It looks right this time.”
Reaching out, he gripped the stirring stick and began to swirl the mixture around. “Boy!” Suddenly, a voice echoed round the cave.
Elrac jumped and dropped the stirring stick, almost tipping himself into the hot, spluttering liquid. Spinning round, he peered up into a pair of piercing yellow eyes. It was his master, Wizzbang.
“Boy!” Wizzbang boomed again, stretching himself to a tremendous height. “Is the potion ready?”
Elrac licked his dry lips. He wanted so much to please his master and to pass the test. How he longed to be a real wizard!
“Well?”
Elrac opened his mouth, but no words would come out.
“No mistakes, this time?” Wizzbang boomed so loudly his tall pointed hat quivered. “I’ve given you enough chances, haven’t I?”
“N-no sir, I mean y-yes, sir.” Elrac had been trying to forget all the experiments that had gone wrong.
“I hope you haven’t ruined this potion.” Wizzbang waved his hands in a mysterious pattern above the cauldron. “My brother, Wozznip, is relying on it. He hasn’t sat down for a week.”
Elrac knew why. The potion was for getting rid of ten enormous boils on Wozznip’s bottom!
“Well? Is it perfect, or not?”
“I-I think s-so, Sir.”
“Think so?”
“Y-yes, Sir!”
“Have you added the Konkipong leaves?”
Elrac gasped. He’d forgotten the most important ingredient - the crushed, dried leaves of the Konkipong tree. Dashing to the shelf at the side of the cave, he grabbed the jar labelled ‘Crushed Konkipong Leaves’. At that moment, a stripy orange cat leapt from the shadows.
“Grimble!”
Elrac tripped over Grimble, then staggered and fell. The jar flew into the air, turned a somersault and landed with a crash on the stone floor. The crushed Konkipong leaves wafted away with the wind that whooshed through the cave.
Sparks spat from Wizzbang’s eyes and a roar resounded around the cave. Elrac lay quaking where he had fallen. His master was very angry indeed.
I’ll never pass the test now, Elrac thought. “I’ve tried to teach you,” boomed Wizzbang. “But you’ll never be a wizard.”
“P-please, Sir, give me just one last chance.”
Elrac held his breath, waiting for the answer.
Wizzbang stared at the ceiling, twirled three times on the spot, sneezed then coughed loudly. “My poor brother,” he growled. “There are no more Konkipong leaves... except...”
“Except?”
“...except on the last Konkipong tree in the world. Fetch some!”
Elrac jumped to his feet. “Yes, Sir! Where is the tree, Sir?”
“On the Neverever Mountain!”
Elrac gasped. People who went to the Neverever Mountain neverever came back!
“You have three days,” said Wizzbang. “And if you fail again…”
“Y...y-you’ll turn me into a lizard?”
“Exactly!”
About JillI am married with two grown-up children and five grandchildren. I live in West Sussex, an escaped Primary school teacher, and erstwhile college lecturer and Bed and Breakfast landlady! I am a school governor and visit school to read my stories to the children. I recently successfully completed my MA Writing for Children at Winchester University. I belong to the Society of Authors, SCBWI and CBC.My first children’s book was published twenty years ago and to date I have had 46 books published (three more due out this year). I have written for many different publishers and my books range from early reading books to teenage novels.I love thinking up new ideas for stories, which often come to me in the middle of the night, and I write almost every day. I enjoy writing to deadlines. I also read a lot - a wide range of books: children’s, YA and adult.I enjoy travelling, mainly to Canada (my daughter and three grandsons live there) and France. I like cats, cooking, speaking French, going to the theatre, classical music, seeing friends and family and walking in the countryside.
Congratulations Jill!
Did Jasmine Richards, Ben Illis, Amber Caraveo and Karen Ball each choose the same as the children?
Look in next Sunday, same time same place, to find out!
