Pupils from Bishopstone Primary School have been chosen from thousands around the country to be the young judges for this year's Nestlé Children's Book Prize.

Bishopstone Primary School is one of 150 schools chosen to help judge the books, which have already been shortlisted by a panel of adult experts. The children will now decide which authors should win the gold, silver and bronze awards by voting for their favourite book and completing a project based on the book they have chosen. The 150 schools will compete for places at an award ceremony in London later this year when the winning authors will be announced.

Denise Kennedy community relations manager at Nestlé UK commented: "I'd like to congratulate the pupils of Bishopstone Primary School for being chosen from the many thousands who have applied to be this year's young judges. Good books like these fire the imagination, and I hope our young judges will thoroughly enjoy reading them, choosing their favourite, and taking part in the competition."

Class FS / KS1 of Bishopstone Primary School was chosen through a nationwide competition which started at the beginning of the autumn term. Children were asked to complete a writing or drawing activity, depending on their age, to qualify as the young judges.

The Nestlé Children's Book Prize, which is in its 23rd year, is one of the UK's best-loved and longest-running children's book awards. The prize celebrates the very best in children's literature, and around half a million schoolchildren have been involved in choosing the winners over the years.

The Nestlé Children's Book Prize has helped launch the career of many of today's top children's writers including JK Rowling and Lauren Child, who each won the prize three times.