Indian-origin writer of children`s books wins UK award

London, Mar 17 (PTI) Anita Ganeri, an Indian-origin
writer of children’s books has been selected for the Blue
Peter Book Awards for her book, 'Planet in Peril'.

The Blue Peter Book Awards are a series of literary
prizes for children's literature awarded annually by the BBC
television programme Blue Peter instituted in 2000.

Her book has been named Best Book with Facts in the Blue
Peter Book Awards. The book is part of the best-selling
Horrible Geography series and informs youngsters of how to
save the planet in times of global warming.

It was announced as an award winner at the Blue Peter
studios last week.

Kolkata-born Ganeri, 47, said, "It was wonderful to get
the award. I never dreamed that I would. I am particularly
proud because at the moment this is the only award for
children's non-fiction books. Hopefully it will raise the
profile of such type of books because it is a field in which
British authors are world leaders."

She said, "I have been a fan of the show since I was six
and even named my dog after the Blue Peter dog, so winning an
award from the show was very special."

Anita's book is a guide to the environmental issues that
children are most concerned about.

She said: "Because it is in the Horrible Geography series
it is written in a fun way and offers mountains of things
readers can do to save the planet. The book tells what state
the planet is currently in and gives advice on what we can do
to stop the rot.

"There are lots of simple ideas in the book alongside
some wacky ones. It is really important that everyone plays
their part in trying to save the planet and I hope that this
book will encourage young people to do what they can." PTI