From messy monsters to apocalyptic plagues by way of a removal company for the supernatural, Scottish children will have a feast of great stories to choose from when they vote for this year's prize for Scottish Children's fiction
In total, nine books by Scottish authors and illustrators have been selected by the panel of judges, three for each of the award's three categories. Three overall winners will now be chosen by children all over Scotland, with prizes of £3000 available for the winners.
In the Bookbug Readers category (3-7) is The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb, a story about a chain of five paper dolls. Also on the table are What's the Time Mr Wolf, Debi Gliori's reinterpretation of a popular children's game, and Jumblebum by Chae Strathie and Ben Cort, in which a boy meets a mess-loving monster.
Black Tide by Caroline Clough, a post-apoclyptic story of peril and adventure, is shortlisted for the Younger Readers category (8-11), as are The Accidental Time Traveller by Janis McKay, in which a young boy and his friends have to help a lost girl from the year 1813, and Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti, a fun story about a supernatural removals company.
For Older Readers (12-16), the choices include: The Seeing, a supernatural second world war story by Diana Hendry, Ferryman by Clarie McFall, which tells of a haunting journey across a desolate wasteland, and The Book of Doom by Barry Hutchison. The Book of Doom is the second volume in Barry Hutchison's AFTERWORLDS series, the first of which won the same prize last year.
One of our reviewers, ABitCrazy, was really impressed by Hutchison's Book of Doom, saying he never would have guessed in a million years how it all turns out. Sapphirebooklover thought Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti, was "amazing".
Nearly 32,000 children voted in 2012, and with the polls now open until 7 February next year the organisers are predicting their biggest year yet!
Have you read any of the nominees? Why not send a review to childrens.books@theguardian.com to let us know your thoughts. If you want to find out more about any of the books shortlisted, or to register to vote, visit www.scottishbooktrust.com.
• This article was amended on 27 June 2013. The original misspelled Barry Hutchison's surname as Hutchinson. This has been corrected.
