Nestlé Smarties Book Prize

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

Prize winners, 1985-1989[5]
Year Category Author Title Publisher Ref.
1985 Overall Jill Paton Walsh Gaffer Samson's Luck Kestrel [5]
1986 Overall Jenny Nimmo The Snow Spider Methuen
1987 Overall James Berry A Thief in the Village Hamish Hamilton
9–11 years James Berry A Thief in the Village Hamish Hamilton
6–8 years Benedict Blathwayt Tangle and the Firesticks Julia MacRae
0–5 years Peter Collington The Angel and the Soldier Boy Methuen
1988 Overall Martin Waddell, illus. by Barbara Firth Can't You Sleep Little Bear? Walker Books
6–8 years Susan Hill Can it be True? Hamish Hamilton
0–5 years Martin Waddell, illus. by Barbara Firth Can't You Sleep Little Bear? Walker Books
1989 Overall Michael Rosen, illus. by Helen Oxenbury We're Going on a Bear Hunt Walker Books
9–11 years Robert Westall Blitzcat Macmillan [6]
6–8 years Anne Fine, illus. by Philippe Dupasquier Bill's New Frock Methuen
0–5 years Michael Rosen, illus. by Helen Oxenbury We're Going on a Bear Hunt Walker Books

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

  1. ^ The Children Special Award winners were selected by after school clubs.

References

  1. ^ 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).
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Fantasy novel wins children's votes". BBC News. 5 December 2002. Archived from the original on 25 April 2003. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Stones, Rosemary (27 August 2007). "Magdalen Nabb". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Michael Morpurgo". The Guardian. 22 July 2008. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b Eccleshare, Julia (11 January 1999). "Letter from London". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Fantasy novel wins children's votes". BBC News. 5 December 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.