Waterstone's Children's Book Prize
Encyclopedia
The Waterstone's Children's Book Prize is an annual award given to a work of children's literature
published during the previous year. First awarded in 2005, the purpose of the prize is "to uncover hidden talent in children's writing" and is therefore open only to authors who have published no more than three books.
For the first two years, the award was known as the Ottakar's Children's Book Prize, but when all Ottakar's
stores were rebranded as Waterstone's
following the HMV Group
takeover of the Ottakar's chain, the prize also changed its name.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
published during the previous year. First awarded in 2005, the purpose of the prize is "to uncover hidden talent in children's writing" and is therefore open only to authors who have published no more than three books.
For the first two years, the award was known as the Ottakar's Children's Book Prize, but when all Ottakar's
Ottakar's
Ottakar's was a chain of bookshops in the United Kingdom founded in 1987 by James Heneage. Following a takeover by the HMV Group plc in 2006, the chain was merged into the Waterstone's brand.-History:...
stores were rebranded as Waterstone's
Waterstone's
Waterstone's is a British book specialist established in 1982 by Tim Waterstone that employs around 4,500 staff throughout the United Kingdom and Europe....
following the HMV Group
HMV Group
HMV is a British global entertainment retail chain and is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company also operates in Hong Kong and Singapore. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index...
takeover of the Ottakar's chain, the prize also changed its name.
Winners
- 2011 Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari
- 2010 The Great Hamster Massacre by Katie Davies
- 2009 The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison
- 2008 Ways to Live ForeverWays to Live ForeverWays to Live Forever is a children's novel by Sally Nicholls, first published in 2008. The author's debut novel, it was written when Nicholls was 23 years old....
by Sally NichollsSally Nicholls- Life :Nicholls was born and grew up in Stockton-on-Tees. She attended Great Ayton Friends' School until its closure and subsequently Egglescliffe School until 2001.On finishing school, Nicholls chose to travel around the world... - 2007 DarksideDarkside (novel)Darkside is a children's novel by Tom Becker, about a boy called Jonathan who discovers a world hidden in London; a world run by Jack the Ripper's family. Only the worst of the worst live here, and all too quickly Johnathan gets mixed up in a world full of murders, thieves and, of course, a...
by Tom BeckerTom BeckerTom Becker is a British children's author. He studied history at Jesus College, Oxford. He won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize for his first novel, Darkside, at the age of 25.-Bibliography:* Darkside... - 2006 The Diamond of Drury LaneThe Diamond of Drury LaneThe Diamond of Drury Lane is a children's historical novel by Julia Golding which won the Nestle Children's Book Prize Gold Award in 2006. The book is set on 1 January 1790.-Plot:...
by Julia GoldingJulia GoldingJulia Golding is a British novelist.Julia Golding grew up on the edge of Epping Forest. She originally read English at the University of Cambridge. She then joined the Foreign Office and worked in Poland... - 2005 The Cry of the IcemarkThe Cry of the IcemarkThe Cry Of The Icemark is the first book in the Icemark Chronicles by English author Stuart Hill. The plot revolves around thirteen year old princess Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, as she must fight to save her small home, the Icemark, from the invading Polypontian Empire.The novel...
by Stuart HillStuart Hill (Author)Stuart Hill is a British author. He was born in Leicester, where he still lives. He has written three books in The Icemark Chronicles: The Cry of the Icemark, Blade of Fire and Last Battle of the Icemark. He studied English, Classics and Ancient History at Newcastle University.On July 25 2011 ...
Shortlists
- 2011
- The Memory Cage by Ruth Eastham
- Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
- The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy
- Wereworld: The Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling
- Fantastic Frankie and the Brain-Drain by Anna Kemp
- A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master
- Mortlock by Jon Mayhew
- When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
- 2010
- Flyaway by Lucy ChristopherLucy ChristopherLucy Christopher is a British/Australian author best known for her novel Stolen, which won the Branford Boase award 2010 in the UK, and the 2010 Gold Inky in Australia. Her second book, Flyaway, was shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards 2010...
- The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh
- The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria ForesterVictoria ForesterVictoria Forester is a Canadian author and a successful screenwriter. She is known for her best-selling novel, The Girl Who Could Fly.-Early life:...
- Love, AubreyLove, AubreyLove, Aubrey, by Suzanne LaFleur, is a 2009 children's novel about a young girl recovering from the tragedy of losing her father and sister in an automobile accident, and from the confusion of being abandoned by her grieving mother.- Plot Summary :...
by Suzanne Lafleur - The Seven Sorcerers by Caro King
- The Toymaker by Jeremy De Quidt
- Meteorite Strike by A.G. Taylor
- Desperate Measures by Laura Summers
- Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
- 2009
- How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant by Elen Caldecott
- Zelah Green Queen of Clean by Vanessa Curtis
- Changeling by Steve Feasey
- The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle HarrisonMichelle HarrisonMichelle Harrison is a British author, whose debut novel, The 13 Treasures won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and has been sold for translation in 16 countries...
- Gnomes are Forever by Ceci Jenkinson
- The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise JensenMarie-Louise JensenMarie-Louise Jensen is an English children's author.-Biography:Marie Louise Jensen was born in Henley-On-Thames of an English father and Danish mother. Her early years were plagued by teachers telling her to get her head out of a book and learn useless things like maths...
- Mapmaker's Monsters by Rob Stevens
- Numbers by Rachel Ward
- 2008
- Tumtum and NutmegTumtum and NutmegTumtum and Nutmeg is the first of a series of children's books by author Emily Bearn. The book is about Mr and Mrs Nutmouse who live in Nutmouse Hall, situated within the broom cupboard of Rose Cottage. It was first published in January 2008...
by Emily Bearn - TIM Defender of the EarthTIM Defender of the EarthTIM, Defender of the Earth is a young adult science fiction novel by Sam Enthoven, written in the spirit of classic monster movies such as Godzilla and Gamera.It was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.-Plot summary:...
by Sam EnthovenSam EnthovenSam Enthoven is a children's author who was born in 1974 and lives in North London. He is a graduate of the University of Manchester. He worked for ten years as a bookseller before writing The Black Tattoo. His second book is TIM Defender of the Earth, and his newest book, "Crawlers", has been... - Shadow ForestShadow ForestShadow Forest is a children's novel by Matt Haig, published in 2007. It won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award, was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal.- Audiobook :...
by Matt HaigMatt HaigMatt Haig is a British novelist and journalist.-Biography:Haig was born in Sheffield. As a journalist, he collaborated with The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Independent, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Face.... - Blue Sky Freedom by Gabrielle Halberstam
- Between Two SeasBetween two seasBetween Two Seas is a children's novel by Marie-Louise Jensen, published in 2008. It was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. It is about a young girl, Marianne Shaw, who sets out on a journey to Denmark in search of her father, after her mother dies in England.-Plot summary:The...
by Marie-Louise JensenMarie-Louise JensenMarie-Louise Jensen is an English children's author.-Biography:Marie Louise Jensen was born in Henley-On-Thames of an English father and Danish mother. Her early years were plagued by teachers telling her to get her head out of a book and learn useless things like maths... - Ancient Appetites by Oisín McGannOisín McGannOisín McGann is an Irish author and illustrator. He writes in a range of genres for children and teenagers, mainly science fiction and fantasy, and has illustrated many of his own short story books for younger readers....
- Stone Goblins by David Melling
- Ways to Live ForeverWays to Live ForeverWays to Live Forever is a children's novel by Sally Nicholls, first published in 2008. The author's debut novel, it was written when Nicholls was 23 years old....
by Sally NichollsSally Nicholls- Life :Nicholls was born and grew up in Stockton-on-Tees. She attended Great Ayton Friends' School until its closure and subsequently Egglescliffe School until 2001.On finishing school, Nicholls chose to travel around the world... - Broken SoupBroken SoupBroken Soup is a children's novel by Jenny Valentine, published in 2008.It was shortlisted for the 2008 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and the 2008 Costa Book Children's Book Award, and longlisted for the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize...
by Jenny ValentineJenny ValentineJenny Valentine is a British children's novelist, best known for her award-winning novel Finding Violet Park.-Book history:Her first novel, Finding Violet Park, was published in 2007. It won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. The book's success caused...
- Tumtum and Nutmeg
- 2007
- DarksideDarkside (novel)Darkside is a children's novel by Tom Becker, about a boy called Jonathan who discovers a world hidden in London; a world run by Jack the Ripper's family. Only the worst of the worst live here, and all too quickly Johnathan gets mixed up in a world full of murders, thieves and, of course, a...
by Tom BeckerTom BeckerTom Becker is a British children's author. He studied history at Jesus College, Oxford. He won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize for his first novel, Darkside, at the age of 25.-Bibliography:* Darkside... - Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times by L. Brittney
- The Werewolf TeacherJake CakeJake Cake is a fictional character in a series of books for children written by Michael Broad. There are 6 books in the series so far. The Werewolf Teacher was shortlisted for the 2007 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.- Books :*The Robot Dinner Lady...
by Michael BroadMichael BroadMichael Broad is a children's author, including his latest series Monsterbook. Jake Cake and The Werewolf Teacher was shortlisted for the 2007 Waterstones Children's Book Prize.-Monsterbook series:* Pongdollop and the School Stink... - Sebastian DarkeSebastian DarkeSebastian Darke is the eponymous hero of a series of children's novels written by British author Philip Caveney, the name deriving from a real person living in London.-The novels:...
by Philip CaveneyPhilip CaveneyPhilip Caveney is a British children's author, best known for the Sebastian Darke and Alec Devlin novels. He previously wrote a number of thrillers for adults.-Sebastian Darke:The Sebastian Darke books are a fantasy series for children... - A Swift Pure CryA Swift Pure CryA Swift Pure Cry is a 2006 novel by Siobhan Dowd about a teenager named Shell who lives in County Cork, Ireland. It won the 2007 Branford Boase Award and the Eilís Dillon Award.-Characters:...
by Siobhan DowdSiobhan DowdSiobhan Dowd was a British writer and activist.-Biography:Siobhan Dowd was born in London to Irish parents... - Bunker 10 by J. A. Henderson
- The Black Book of SecretsThe Black Book of SecretsThe Black Book of Secrets is a novel written by F. E Higgins, who also wrote The Bone Magician and The Eyeball Collector.- Plot :A young boy, named Ludlow Fitch, lives in the City, and survives by picking pockets...
by F. E. Higgins - The Case of the Missing Cats by Gareth P. JonesGareth P. JonesGareth P. Jones is a British children's writer, and author of the Dragon Detective Agency series of books. He is most famous for his book The Thornthwaite Inheritance. All six of his books are detective stories for children...
- The Thing with Finn by Tom Kelly
- Smugglers by Christopher Russell
- Darkside
- 2006
- The Boy in the Striped PyjamasThe Boy in the Striped PyjamasThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a 2006 novel from the point of view of an innocent young boy, written by Irish novelist John Boyne. Unlike the months of planning Boyne devoted to his other books, he said that he wrote the entire first draft of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in two and a half...
by John BoyneJohn BoyneJohn Boyne is an Irish novelist.- Biography :He was educated at Terenure College, before heading to trinity college, dublin, and studied Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, where he won the Curtis Brown prize. But it was during his time at Trinity that he began to get published... - Shakespeare's Secret by Elise BroachElise BroachElise Broach is an author from Easton, Connecticut. Among Broach's publications are the acclaimed novels Shakespeare's Secret, Desert Crossing and Masterpiece...
- The Quantum ProphecyThe Quantum ProphecyThe Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll is the title of the first novel in The New Heroes series of books for young adults, published by HarperCollins in the United Kingdom....
by Michael CarrollMichael Carroll (author)Michael Carroll is an Irish writer of novels and short stories for adults and children. He is best known for his series of superhero novels The New Heroes and his romantic fiction under the name Jaye Carroll.-Biography:... - Gregor and the Rats of UnderlandGregor the OverlanderGregor the Overlander is the first book of the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. It was published in 2003, and met with critical acclaim, including Kirkus Reviews Editors' Choice and New York Public Library's 100 Books for Reading and Sharing selection. It was featured by National Public...
by Suzanne CollinsSuzanne CollinsSuzanne Collins is an American television writer and novelist.-Early life:Suzanne Collins is the daughter of an Air Force officer. She graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts and earned her M.F.A. from New York University in Dramatic Writing.... - Jack Slater, Monster Investigator by John DoughertyJohn Dougherty (author)John Dougherty is a Northern Irish author, born in the town of Larne in 1964. He now lives in Gloucestershire.He worked as a primary school teacher in London during the 1990s and early 2000s, and during this period began to write stories for children...
- Ralph the Magic Rabbit by Adam Frost
- The Diamond of Drury LaneThe Diamond of Drury LaneThe Diamond of Drury Lane is a children's historical novel by Julia Golding which won the Nestle Children's Book Prize Gold Award in 2006. The book is set on 1 January 1790.-Plot:...
by Julia GoldingJulia GoldingJulia Golding is a British novelist.Julia Golding grew up on the edge of Epping Forest. She originally read English at the University of Cambridge. She then joined the Foreign Office and worked in Poland... - The LotteryThe Lottery"The Lottery" is a short story by Shirley Jackson, first published in the June 26, 1948, issue of The New Yorker. Written the same month it was published, it is ranked today as "one of the most famous short stories in the history of American literature"....
by Beth GoobieBeth Goobie-Life:She graduated from University of Iowa, and the Mennonite Brethren Bible College. She worked in Edmonton in the child welfare system.Her work appeared in Fiddlehead, Malahat Review and Quarry.She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.-Awards:... - North Child by Edith PattouEdith PattouEdith Pattou is the author of several fantasy novels, including East, an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults. She is a graduate of the Francis W. Parker School, Scripps College , Claremont Graduate School and UCLA . She is married to Charles Emery, a professor of psychology at The Ohio State...
- Spymice by Heather Vogel Frederick
- The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
- 2005
- Nelly the Monster Sitter by Kes Gray
- SiberiaSiberiaSiberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
by Ann Halam - The Goose GirlThe Goose Girl (novel)The Goose Girl is a fantasy novel by Shannon Hale based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the same title. The book won the 2003 Josette Frank Award for youth fiction.-Plot summary:...
by Shannon HaleShannon HaleShannon Hale is an American author of young adult fantasy and adult fiction.-Biography:Shannon Hale is the author of ten novels, including the best-selling Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, the "Books of Bayern" series, two adult novels, and two graphic novels that she and her husband co-wrote... - The Merrybegot by Julie Hearn
- The Cry of the IcemarkThe Cry of the IcemarkThe Cry Of The Icemark is the first book in the Icemark Chronicles by English author Stuart Hill. The plot revolves around thirteen year old princess Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, as she must fight to save her small home, the Icemark, from the invading Polypontian Empire.The novel...
by Stuart HillStuart Hill (Author)Stuart Hill is a British author. He was born in Leicester, where he still lives. He has written three books in The Icemark Chronicles: The Cry of the Icemark, Blade of Fire and Last Battle of the Icemark. He studied English, Classics and Ancient History at Newcastle University.On July 25 2011 ... - The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull by Barry JonsbergBarry JonsbergBarry Jonsberg is an Australian author and teacher who was born in Liverpool. He earned two degrees in English and Psychology from Liverpool University and was a college lecturer in Crewe, Cheshire before moving to Australia in 1999....
- Urchin of the Riding Stars by M. I. McAllisterM. I. McAllisterMargaret I. McAllister is an English author of children's books, born in 1956. She grew up on the north-east coast of England. Her first book, A Friend for Rachel was published by the Oxford University Press in 1997...
- The Whispering RoadThe Whispering RoadThe Whispering Road is a children's book by Livi Michael, published in 2005. It won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award and the Stockton Children's Book of the Year Award, as well as being shortlisted for the Ottakar's Children's Book Prize....
by Livi MichaelLivi Michael-Personal life:Livi Michael,also known as, Olivia Michael, born March. 15, 1960 in Manchester, England, is a British fiction authoress who has published a total of 15 children and adult novels. She is the daughter of civil servant Ann Wood. Michael has been married twice, divorced from her first... - Airborn by Kenneth OppelKenneth OppelKenneth Oppel is a Canadian author. Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, he spent his childhood in Victoria, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has also lived in Newfoundland and Labrador, England and Ireland....
- Olivia Kidney by Ellen PotterEllen PotterEllen Potter is an American author of both children's and adult's books . She grew up in Upper West Side, New York and studied creative writing at Binghamton University and now lives in Candor in upstate New York. She has been a contributor to Cimarron Review, Epoch, The Hudson Review, and Seventeen...
- Jammy Dodgers on the Run by Bowering Sivers
- Time Wreccas by Val Tyler