MEET THE 2018/2019 OXFORD BIG READ ASIA WINNERS
INSPIRED BY READING
This year, student champions participating in Oxford Big Read selected books of their choice from lists of qualifying OUP readers. The students’ reading selections reflect both classic and contemporary themes. Winning submissions demonstrated thoughtful design, well-crafted essays, and critical thinking.
Participating branches of Oxford University Press including China, India, Malaysia, and Pakistan, received thousands of submissions through participating schools and institutions and choose winners in their respective national campaigns. These winners became semi-finalists in the regional Oxford Big Read Asia campaign. Below you will meet the winners of our first annual regional campaign.
CATEGORIES FOR PARTICIPATION
CATEGORY 1: DESIGN A NEW BOOK JACKET
* For those aged 5 years old to 8 years old at the time of entry
All participants read an OUP book and then designed a new book cover for the book.
CATEGORY 2: TELL US WHAT YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE BOOK OR WHAT YOU WOULD CHANGE
* For those aged 9 years old to 12 years old at the time of entry
All participants read an OUP book and then wrote a written response describing what they found interesting or what they would change about the book.
CATEGORY 3: WRITE A CRITICAL REVIEW OF AN OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS BOOK
* For those aged 13 years old to 15 years old at the time of entry
All participants read an OUP book and wrote a critical review describing the theme, plot, and characters.
Meet Our Judge
The judge for this year’s regional competition is Martin Alexander, editor of Asia Literary Review. Read Martin’s Bio
Awards and Prizes
Three Winners will each receive:
- an iPad
- an Oxford University Press book bundle
- an official award certificate
Three Runners-up will each receive:
- a cash award or gift certificate (equivalent to 100 GBP)
- an Oxford University Press book bundle
- an official award certificate
Three Special Commendations will each receive:
- an Oxford University Press book bundle
- an official award certificate
Announcing the official regional winners of the 2018/2019
Congratulations to all our champion artists and scholars!
Category 1
Design a New Book Jacket
Winner
Ages 5-8
Name: B. R. Nimeesha
Entry: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
School: Sri Aurobindo Mira Universal School / Madurai
Country: India
Teacher: Abilash, Managing Director
Excellent design skills integrating tiger and tree. Fluent, accurate, stylish. Effective teaser.
Runner-up
Ages 5-8
Name: Chen Weilin
Entry: Making Faces, series by Roderick Hunt and Alex Brychta
School: Jiang Guangnai Memorial Primary School, Liwan District, Guangzhou
Country: China
I really liked the cover design!
Special Commendation
Ages 5-8
Name: Li Yijian
Entry: The Litter Queen by Roderick Hunt and Alex Brychta
School: Vanke Kindergarten
Country: China
Teacger: Zhuang Yongqing
Very lively and striking cover.
Category 2
TELL US WHAT YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE BOOK OR WHAT YOU WOULD CHANGE
Winner
Ages 9-12
Name: Ananya Sheorey
Entry: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
School: The CDS School / Nagpur
Country: India
Teacher: Nisha Saraf, Director
Excellent – very mature style and a sophisticated understanding of plot, character and theme.
Runner-up
Ages 9-12
Name: Saara Sen
Entry: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
School: Centre Point School / Wardhaman Nagar / Nagpur
Country: India
Teacher: Sumathi Venugopalan, Principal
Word-processed. Very maturely written. Long, detailed and perceptive.
Special Commendation
Ages 9-12
Name: Faith Liang
Entry: Tales of the Underworld by Susan Price
School: Eagles Grammar International School
Country: Malaysia
Teacher: Ms Jean
This is full of exuberant energy and really makes the reader feel the joy of a happy ending for Orpheus and Eurydice!
Category 3
WRITE A CRITICAL REVIEW OF AN OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS BOOK
Winner
Ages 13-15
Name: Neha Chhajed
Entry: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
School: Bhavan’s BP Vidya Mandir / Nagpur
Country: India
Teacher: Anju Bhutani, Principal
Well written and detailed, especially about character. Good personal engagement.
Runner-up
Ages 13-15
Name: Sama S. Jahagirdar
Entry: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, retold by Julia Golding
School: Bhavan’s BP Vidya Mandir / Nagpur
Country: India
Teacher: Anju Bhutani, Principal
Lively and enthusiastic with thoughtful comment and good perseonal engagement.
Special Commendation
Ages 13-15
Name: Hasan Adil
Entry: Munna Man and Baby Lady: The Case of the Aunty Brigade by Shahbano Bilgrami
School: Siddeeq Public School / Islamabad
Country: Pakistan
Teacher: Sir Kashif Tahir
Lively and engaged, with enthusiastic appreciation of linguistic and cultural qualities.
