A Dundee secondary school teacher has won the prestigious Children’s Book Award 2016.
Pamela Butchart, a philosophy teacher at Harris Academy, teamed up with London-based illustrator Thomas Flintham to create My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat.
The duo’s work came top in the ‘books for young readers category’, shortly before being crowned the overall winner.
My Head Teacher Is a Vampire Rat tells the wacky story of a group of kids who decide that their new head teacher is a vampire.
He is said to be quite scary, has the blinds down in his office all day and has banned garlic bread at lunch.
After winning the award, Pamela was interviewed for national TV and radio channels along with Thomas.
Pamela said: “I’m absolutely delighted.
“I left Dundee on Friday and have travelled all over the UK for interviews and festivals.
“It has been an absolute whirlwind, like a dream – it doesn’t feel like real life.
“Winning the young readers category was amazing, but when we won the overall award it was a proper squeal.
“All the kids I teach have been so supportive and they’ve been tweeting me to congratulate me.
“It’s amazing to look at all the famous names on the award, such as J.K Rowling, and think that it has been in their house.
“Now it will be in mine, in Dundee!”
Reviews have described Pamela’s book as “fast-paced, irreverent and full of explosive illustration”.
The author is sharing the limelight with the likes of J.K. Rowling, who won the Children’s Book Award in 1997 for her first Harry Potter novel.
When your 'I WON!' squeal is caught on camera! @NosyCrow @kjstansfield @domdelaking @FCBGNews @thomasflintham pic.twitter.com/VRjyszQ7Bx
— Pamela Butchart (@Pamela_Butchart) May 28, 2016
Thank you to ALL the children who voted & teachers, librarians & @FCBGNews for organising! You all ROCK! https://t.co/r9bmY3IWHu @NosyCrow
— Pamela Butchart (@Pamela_Butchart) May 28, 2016