British annual award
The Nestlé Children's Book Prize , and Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for a time, was a set of annual awards for British children's books that ran from 1985 to 2007. It was administered by BookTrust , an independent charity that promotes books and reading in the United Kingdom , and sponsored by Nestlé , the manufacturer of Smarties chocolate . It was one of the most respected and prestigious prizes for children's literature.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
There were three award categories defined by audience ages 0 to 5 years, 6 to 8 years, and 9 to 11 years (introduced in 1987 after two years with no single prize).[ 1] Silver and bronze runners-up in each category were introduced in 1996 and designation of one overall winner was abandoned at the same time.
Eligible books were written by UK citizens and residents and published during the preceding year (not precisely the calendar year). The shortlists were selected by a panel of adult judges, finally chaired by Julia Eccleshare , children's books editor for The Guardian . First, second, and third places were determined by British schoolchildren—at least finally, by vote of "selected school classes"[ 2]
The prize was discontinued in 2008 by what was described as a "mutual" decision from BookTrust and Nestlé, with "no hostility".[ 2] Explaining their reasons for this decision, BookTrust stated it had "been reviewing the organisation's priorities and how prizes and awards fit in with its strategic objectives", while Nestlé was "increasingly moving its community support towards the company strategy of nutrition, health and wellness."[ 4] Additionally, they said that it was a "natural time to conclude"[ 2] and that they were "confident that increased importance has been placed on children's books."[ 4]
Winners There were 65 winning books in 23 years[ 1] and 72 silver or bronze runners-up in the last twelve years.
1980s
1990s Beginning in 1996, the awards included silver and bronze winners rather than a single overall winner.
Prize winners, 1985-1989[ 5]
Year
Category
Author
Title
Publisher
Result
Ref.
1990
Overall
Pauline Fisk
Midnight Blue
Lion
Winner
[ 7]
0–5 years
Inga Moore
Six-Dinner Sid
Simon & Schuster
Winner
6–8 years
Roald Dahl , illus. by Quentin Blake
Esio Trot
Jonathan Cape
Winner
9–11 years
Pauline Fisk
Midnight Blue
Lion
Winner
1991
Overall
Martin Waddell and Helen Oxenbury
Farmer Duck
Walker Books
Winner
0–5 years
Martin Waddell and Helen Oxenbury
Farmer Duck
Walker Books
Winner
6–8 years
Magdalen Nabb
Josie Smith and Eileen
Collins
Winner
[ 8]
9–11 years
Philip Ridley
Krindlekrax
Jonathan Cape
Winner
1992
Overall
Gillian Cross
The Great Elephant Chase
Oxford University Press
Winner
0–5 years
Hilda Offen
Nice Work, Little Wolf
Hamish Hamilton
Winner
6–8 years
Jane Ray
The Story of the Creation
Orchard Books
Winner
9–11 years
Gillian Cross
The Great Elephant Chase
Oxford University Press
Winner
1993
Overall
Michael Foreman
War Game
Pavilion
Winner
0–5 years
Rita Phillips Mitchell
Hue Boy
Gollancz
Winner
6–8 years
Michael Foreman
War Game
Pavilion
Winner
9–11 years
Maeve Henry
Listen to the Dark
Heinemann
Winner
1994
Overall
Hilary McKay
The Exiles at Home
Gollancz
Winner
0–5 years
Trish Cooke , illus. by Helen Oxenbury
So Much
Walker Books
Winner
6–8 years
Henrietta Branford , illus. by Lesley Harker
Dimanche Diller
Young Lions
Winner
9–11 years
Hilary McKay
The Exiles at Home
Gollancz
Winner
1995
Overall
Jacqueline Wilson
Double Act
Doubleday
Winner
0–5 years
Jill Murphy
The Last Noo-Noo
Walker Books
Winner
6–8 years
Jill Paton Walsh
Thomas and the Tinners
Macdonald Young Books
Winner
9–11 years
Lesley Howarth
Weather Eye
Penguin
Winner
Jacqueline Wilson
Double Act
Doubleday
Winner
1996
0–5 years
Colin McNaughton
Oops!
Andersen Press
Gold
Mick Manning and Brita Granström
The World is Full of Babies
Watts Books
Silver
Quentin Blake
Clown
Jonathan Cape
Bronze
6–8 years
Michael Morpurgo , illus. by Christian Birmingham
The Butterfly Lion
Collins Children's Books
Gold
[ 9]
Lynne Reid Banks , illus. by Tony Ross
Harry the Poisonous Centipede
Collins Children's Books
Silver
Dick King-Smith , illus. by John Eastwood
All Because of Jackson
Doubleday
Bronze
9–11 years
Philip Pullman , illus. by Nick Harris
The Firework-Maker's Daughter
Corgi Yearling
Gold
Terry Pratchett
Johnny and the Bomb
Doubleday
Silver
Geraldine McCaughrean
Plundering Paradise
Oxford University Press
Bronze
1997
0–5 years
Charlotte Voake
Ginger
Walker Books
Gold
Simon James
Leon and Bob
Walker Books
Silver
Valerie Bloom , illus. by David Axtell
Fruits
Macmillan
Bronze
6–8 years
Jenny Nimmo , illus. by Anthony Lewis
The Owl Tree
Walker Books
Gold
Michael Foreman
The Little Reindeer
Andersen Press
Silver
John Agard , illus. by Satoshi Kitamura
We Animals Would Like a Word With You
Bodley Head
Bronze
9–11 years
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Bloomsbury Publishing
Gold
[ 10] [ 11]
Philip Pullman
Clockwork or All Wound Up
Corgi Yearling
Silver
Henrietta Branford
Fire, Bed, and Bone
Walker Books
Bronze
1998
0–5 years
Sue Heap
Cowboy Baby
Walker Books
Gold
Jane Simmons
Come On Daisy
Orchard Books
Silver
Margaret Nash
Secret in the Mist
David & Charles
Bronze
6–8 years
Harry Horse
Last of the Gold Diggers
Puffin Books
Gold
Keith Gray
The Runner
Mammoth Books
Silver
Quentin Blake
The Green Ship
Jonathan Cape
Bronze
9–11 years
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Bloomsbury Publishing
Gold
[ 10] [ 11]
Andrew Norriss
Aquila
Puffin Books
Silver
Dick King-Smith
The Crowstarver
Doubleday
Bronze
1999
0–5 years
Julia Donaldson , illus. by Axel Scheffler
The Gruffalo
Macmillan
Gold
[ 11] [ 12]
Bob Graham
Buffy - An Adventure Story
Walker Books
Silver
[ 11]
Lydia Monks
I Wish I Were a Dog
Methuen
Bronze
[ 11]
6–8 years
Laurence Anholt , illus. by Arthur Robins
Snow White and the Seven Aliens
Orchard Books
Gold
[ 11]
Emily Smith , illus. by Tim Archbold
Astrid, the Au Pair from Outer Space
Corgi
Silver
[ 11]
Lauren Child
Clarice Bean That's Me
Orchard Books
Bronze
[ 11] [ 13] [ 14]
9–11 years
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Bloomsbury Publishing
Gold
[ 11]
David Almond
Kit's Wilderness
Hodder Children's Books
Silver
[ 11]
Louise Rennison
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
Piccadilly Press
Bronze
[ 11]
2000s
Prize winners, 2000-2007
Year
Category
Author
Title
Publisher
Result
Ref.
2000
0–5 years
Bob Graham
Max
Walker Books
Gold
[ 5]
Satoshi Kitamura
Me and My Cat?
Andersen
Silver
John Burningham
Husherbye
Jonathan Cape
Bronze
6–8 years
Jacqueline Wilson , illus. Nick Sharratt
Lizzie Zipmouth
Young Corgi
Gold
[ 5]
Tony Mitton , illus. Peter Bailey
The Red and White Spotted Handkerchief
Scholastic
Silver
[ 15]
Lauren Child
Beware of the Storybook Wolves
Hodder
Bronze
9–11 years
William Nicholson
The Wind Singer
Mammoth
Gold
[ 5]
Beverley Naidoo
The Other Side of Truth
Puffin
Silver
Kevin Crossley-Holland
The Seeing Stone
Orion
Bronze
Kids' Club Network Special Award
Jacqueline Wilson , illus. Nick Sharratt
Lizzie Zipmouth
Young Corgi
Gold
2001
0–5 years
Catherine Anholt and Laurence Anholt
Chimp and Zee
Frances Lincoln
Gold
[ 5] [ 16]
Mick Inkpen
Kipper's A to Z
Hodder
Silver
[ 16]
Sarah Dyer
Five Little Friends
Bloomsbury Publishing
Bronze
[ 16]
6–8 years
Emily Smith , illus. Wendy Smith
The Shrimp
Young Corgi
Gold
[ 5] [ 16]
Raymond Briggs
Ug
Jonathan Cape
Silver
[ 16]
Lauren Child
What Planet Are You From Clarice Bean?
Orchard Books
Bronze
[ 16]
9–11 years
Eva Ibbotson
Journey to the River Sea
MacMillan
Gold
[ 5] [ 16]
Chris Wooding
The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
Scholastic
Silver
[ 16]
Geraldine McCaughrean
The Kite Rider
Oxford University Press
Bronze
[ 16]
Kids' Club Network Special Award
Lauren Child
What Planet Are You From Clarice Bean?
Orchard Books
Gold
2002
0–5 years
Lucy Cousins
Jazzy in the Jungle
Walker Books
Gold
[ 5]
Charlotte Voake
Pizza Kittens
Walker Books
Silver
Neal Layton
Oscar and Arabella
Hodder
Bronze
6–8 years
Lauren Child
That Pesky Rat
Orchard Books
Gold
[ 5]
Richard Platt , illus. Chris Riddell
Pirate Diary
Walker Books
Silver
Michael Morpurgo , illus. Michael Foreman
The Last Wolf
Doubleday
Bronze
9–11 years
Philip Reeve
Mortal Engines
Scholastic
Gold
[ 5] [ 17]
Sally Prue
Cold Tom
Oxford University Press
Silver
Geraldine McCaughrean
Stop the Train!
Oxford University Press
Bronze
Kids' Club Network Special Award
Lauren Child
That Pesky Rat
Orchard Books
Gold
2003
0–5 years
Ursula Jones , illus. Russell Ayto
The Witch's Children and the Queen
Gold
[ 5] [ 18]
Jeanne Willis , illus. Tony Ross
Tadpole's Promise
Silver
[ 18]
Chris Wormell
Two Frogs
Bronze
[ 18]
6–8 years
S. F. Said , illus. Dave McKean
Varjak Paw
Gold
[ 5] [ 18]
Harry Horse
The Last Castaways
Silver
[ 18]
Sally Gardner
The Countess's Calamity
Bronze
[ 18]
9–11 years
David Almond
The Fire-Eaters
Gold
[ 5] [ 18]
Eleanor Updale
Montmorency Series
Silver
[ 18]
Steve Augarde
The Various
Bronze
[ 18]
Kids' Club Award
Sally Gardner
The Countess's Calamity
Gold
2004
0–5 years
Mini Grey
Biscuit Bear
Jonathan Cape
Gold
[ 5] [ 19]
Liz Pichon
My Big Brother Boris
Scholastic
Silver
[ 19] [ 20]
Neal Layton
Bartholomew and the Bug
Hodder
Bronze
[ 19]
6–8 years
Paul Stewart , illus. by Chris Riddell
Fergus Crane
Doubleday
Gold
[ 5] [ 19]
Malorie Blackman
Cloud Busting
Doubleday
Silver
[ 19]
Geraldine McCaughrean
Smile!
Oxford University Press
Bronze
[ 19]
9–11 years
Sally Grindley
Spilled Water
Bloomsbury Publishing
Gold
[ 5] [ 19]
Eva Ibbotson
The Star of Kazan
MacMillan
Silver
[ 19]
Mal Peet
Keeper
Walker Books
Bronze
[ 19]
4Children Special Award[ a]
Paul Stewart , illus. by Chris Riddell
Fergus Crane
Doubleday
Gold
[ 19]
2005
0–5 years
Oliver Jeffers
Lost and Found
HarperCollins
Gold
[ 5] [ 21] [ 22]
Malachy Doyle , illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
The Dancing Tiger
Simon & Schuster
Silver
[ 21]
Emily Gravett
Wolves
MacMillan
Bronze
[ 21]
6–8 years
Nick Butterworth
The Whisperer
HarperCollins
Gold
[ 5] [ 21]
Michael Rosen , illus. Quentin Blake
Sad Book
Walker Books
Silver
[ 21]
Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Corby Flood
Doubleday
Bronze
[ 21]
9–11 years
Sally Gardner
I, Coriander
Orion
Gold
[ 5] [ 21]
Philip Pullman
The Scarecrow and his Servant
Doubleday
Silver
[ 21]
Livi Michael
The Whispering Road
Puffin
Bronze
[ 21]
2006
0–5 years
Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown
Orchard Books
Gold
[ 5] [ 23]
Chris Riddell
The Emperor of Absurdia
MacMillan
Silver
[ 23]
Mick Inkpen
Wibbly Pig's Silly Big Bear
Hodder
Bronze
[ 23]
6–8 years
Daren King
Mouse Noses on Toast
Faber and Faber
Gold
[ 5] [ 23]
Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Hugo Pepper
Doubleday
Silver
[ 23]
Mini Grey
The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon
Jonathan Cape
Bronze
[ 23]
9–11 years
Julia Golding
The Diamond of Drury Lane
Egmont Press
Gold
[ 5] [ 23] [ 24]
Helen Dunmore
The Tide Knot
HarperCollins
Silver
[ 23]
Paul Shipton
The Pig Who Saved the World
Puffin
Bronze
[ 23]
2007
0–5 years
Sean Taylor and Nick Sharratt
When a Monster is Born
Orchard Books
Gold
[ 5]
Polly Dunbar
Penguin
Walker Books
Silver
Joel Stewart
Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie
Doubleday
Bronze
6–8 years
Chris Riddell
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Macmillan Children's Books
Gold
[ 5]
Anne Fine
Ivan the Terrible
Egmont Press
Silver
Emily Gravett
Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears
Macmillan Children's Books
Bronze
9–11 years
Matt Haig
Shadow Forest
Bodley Head
Gold
[ 5]
Linda Newbery
Catcall
Orion
Silver
Philip Reeve
Here Lies Arthur
Scholastic
Bronze
See also
Notes
^ The Children Special Award winners were selected by after school clubs.
References
^ a b c
"Nestlé Children's Book Prize 2007" . BookTrust. Archived from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2018 .
Display of the ultimate 2007 winners with contemporary links; general information; complete list of winners (gold and overall).
^ a b c d Pauli, Michelle (23 January 2008). "Nestlé book prize put to bed for last time" . The Guardian . London. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008 .
^ "Fantasy novel wins children's votes" . BBC News . 5 December 2002. Archived from the original on 25 April 2003. Retrieved 24 January 2008 .
^ a b
"Nestlé and Booktrust have agreed to end the Nestlé Children's Book Prize after 23 years of partnership" . BookTrust. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008 .
. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
Version archived 2008-02-01 . BookTrust Children's Books . Retrieved 2014-07-03.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Nestlé Children's Book Prize 2007" . Book Trust . Archived from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Agnew, Kate; Fox, Geoff (2004). Children at war from the First World War to the Gulf . New York: Continuum. pp. 105–106. ISBN 0-8264-7759-3 .
^ Eccleshare, Julia (26 February 2015). "Pauline Fisk obituary" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ Stones, Rosemary (27 August 2007). "Magdalen Nabb" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ "Michael Morpurgo" . The Guardian . 22 July 2008. ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ a b Eccleshare, Julia (11 January 1999). "Letter from London" . Publishers Weekly . Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k Eccleshare, Julia (3 January 2000). "PW: Letter From London" . Publishers Weekly . Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ Sharp, Rob (26 November 2006). "Gruffalo, the monster we all love" . The Observer . ISSN 0029-7712 . Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ Armitstead, Claire (9 June 2017). "Children's laureate Lauren Child on her new role, motherhood and creativity" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ Eccleshare, Julia (8 June 2017). "Lauren Child Named U.K. Children's Laureate" . Publishers Weekly . Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ Roberts, Neil (2 October 2022). "Tony Mitton obituary" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i Eccleshare, Julia (7 January 2002). "In the Winners' Circle" . Publishers Weekly . Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ "Fantasy novel wins children's votes" . BBC News . 5 December 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i Pauli, Michelle (3 December 2003). "Debut wins Smarties gold medal" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j Pauli, Michelle (8 December 2004). "Magic triumphs at Smarties prize" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Pichon, Liz (9 November 2011). "Liz Pichon's top 10 funny books with pictures" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i Pauli, Michelle (14 December 2005). "Dyslexic writer savours Nestle victory" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Ferguson, Donna (9 October 2022). "Oliver Jeffers grew up in Belfast hating violence. Now he wants children to see how futile it is" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i Tanner, Nick (13 December 2006). "Former diplomat's sparkling debut wins Nestle prize" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Pauli, Michelle (10 February 2010). "Great Hamster Massacre wins Waterstone's children's books prize" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2023 .
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