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[lower-alpha 1]	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

• Children's literature portal

• Carnegie Medal
• Children's Book Council of Australia Awards
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
• Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award
• Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
• Kate Greenaway Medal
• Newbery Medal

Notes

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

References

1. "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. 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. "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. "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. Eccleshare, Julia (11 January 1999). "Letter from London". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
11. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.