Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Explained
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 candy. It was one of the most respected and prestigious prizes for children's literature.
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). 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"
The prize was discontinued in 2008 by what was described as a "mutual" decision from BookTrust and Nestlé, with "no hostility". 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." Additionally, they said that it was a "natural time to conclude" and that they were "confident that increased importance has been placed on children's books."
Winners
There were 65 winning books in 23 years 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!Year!Category!Author!Title!Publisher!Result!Ref.| 1990 | Overall | | Midnight Blue | Lion | Winner | [2] |
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| 0–5 years | | Six-Dinner Sid | Simon & Schuster | Winner | |
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| 6–8 years | , illus. by Quentin Blake | Esio Trot | Jonathan Cape | Winner | |
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| 9–11 years | | Midnight Blue | Lion | Winner | |
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| 1991 | Overall | and Helen Oxenbury | Farmer Duck | Walker Books | Winner | |
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| 0–5 years | and Helen Oxenbury | Farmer Duck | Walker Books | Winner | |
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| 6–8 years | | Josie Smith and Eileen | Collins | Winner | [3] |
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| 9–11 years | | Krindlekrax | Jonathan Cape | Winner | |
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| 1992 | Overall | | | Oxford University Press | Winner | |
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| 0–5 years | | Nice Work, Little Wolf | Hamish Hamilton | Winner | |
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| 6–8 years | | | Orchard Books | Winner | |
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| 9–11 years | | | Oxford University Press | Winner | |
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| 1993 | Overall | | War Game | Pavilion | Winner | |
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| 0–5 years | | Hue Boy | Gollancz | Winner | |
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| 6–8 years | | War Game | Pavilion | Winner | |
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| 9–11 years | | Listen to the Dark | Heinemann | Winner | |
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| 1994 | Overall | | | Gollancz | Winner | |
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| 0–5 years | , illus. by Helen Oxenbury | So Much | Walker Books | Winner | |
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| 6–8 years | , illus. by Lesley Harker | Dimanche Diller | Young Lions | Winner | |
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| 9–11 years | | | Gollancz | Winner | |
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| 1995 | Overall | | Double Act | Doubleday | Winner | |
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| 0–5 years | | | Walker Books | Winner | |
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| 6–8 years | | Thomas and the Tinners | Macdonald Young Books | Winner | |
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| 9–11 years | | Weather Eye | Penguin | Winner | |
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| Double Act | Doubleday | Winner | |
| 1996 | 0–5 years | | Oops! | Andersen Press | Gold | |
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| and Brita Granström | | Watts Books | Silver | |
| Clown | Jonathan Cape | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | , illus. by Christian Birmingham | | Collins Children's Books | Gold | [4] |
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| , illus. by Tony Ross | Harry the Poisonous Centipede | Collins Children's Books | Silver | |
| , illus. by John Eastwood | All Because of Jackson | Doubleday | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | , illus. by Nick Harris | | Corgi Yearling | Gold | |
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| Johnny and the Bomb | Doubleday | Silver | |
| Plundering Paradise | Oxford University Press | Bronze | |
| 1997 | 0–5 years | | Ginger | Walker Books | Gold | |
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| Leon and Bob | Walker Books | Silver | |
| , illus. by David Axtell | Fruits | Macmillan | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | , illus. by Anthony Lewis | | Walker Books | Gold | |
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| | Andersen Press | Silver | |
| , illus. by Satoshi Kitamura | We Animals Would Like a Word With You | Bodley Head | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | Bloomsbury Publishing | Gold | [5] [6] |
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| Clockwork or All Wound Up | Corgi Yearling | Silver | |
| Fire, Bed, and Bone | Walker Books | Bronze | |
| 1998 | 0–5 years | | Cowboy Baby | Walker Books | Gold | |
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| Come On Daisy | Orchard Books | Silver | |
| Secret in the Mist | David & Charles | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | | Last of the Gold Diggers | Puffin Books | Gold | |
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| | Mammoth Books | Silver | |
| | Jonathan Cape | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Bloomsbury Publishing | Gold | |
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| Aquila | Puffin Books | Silver | |
| | Doubleday | Bronze | |
| 1999 | 0–5 years | , illus. by Axel Scheffler | | Macmillan | Gold | [7] |
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| Buffy - An Adventure Story | Walker Books | Silver | |
| I Wish I Were a Dog | Methuen | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | , illus. by Arthur Robins | Snow White and the Seven Aliens | Orchard Books | Gold | |
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| , illus. by Tim Archbold | Astrid, the Au Pair from Outer Space | Corgi | Silver | |
| Clarice Bean That's Me | Orchard Books | Bronze | [8] [9] |
| 9–11 years | | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Bloomsbury Publishing | Gold | |
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| Kit's Wilderness | Hodder Children's Books | Silver | |
| Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging | Piccadilly Press | Bronze | | |
2000s
Prize winners, 2000-2007!Year!Category!Author!Title!Publisher!Result!Ref.| 2000 | 0–5 years | | Max | Walker Books | Gold | [10] |
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| Me and My Cat? | Andersen | Silver | |
| Husherbye | Jonathan Cape | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | , illus. Nick Sharratt | Lizzie Zipmouth | Young Corgi | Gold | |
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| , illus. Peter Bailey | | Scholastic | Silver | [11] |
| Beware of the Storybook Wolves | Hodder | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | | Mammoth | Gold | |
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| | Puffin | Silver | |
| | Orion | Bronze | |
| Kids' Club Network Special Award | , illus. Nick Sharratt | Lizzie Zipmouth | Young Corgi | Gold | |
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| 2001 | 0–5 years | and Laurence Anholt | Chimp and Zee | Frances Lincoln | Gold | [12] |
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| Kipper's A to Z | Hodder | Silver | |
| Five Little Friends | Bloomsbury Publishing | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | , illus. Wendy Smith | | Young Corgi | Gold | |
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| Ug | Jonathan Cape | Silver | |
| What Planet Are You From Clarice Bean? | Orchard Books | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | Journey to the River Sea | MacMillan | Gold | |
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| | Scholastic | Silver | |
| | Oxford University Press | Bronze | |
| Kids' Club Network Special Award | | What Planet Are You From Clarice Bean? | Orchard Books | Gold | |
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| 2002 | 0–5 years | | Jazzy in the Jungle | Walker Books | Gold | |
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| Pizza Kittens | Walker Books | Silver | |
| Oscar and Arabella | Hodder | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | | That Pesky Rat | Orchard Books | Gold | |
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| , illus. Chris Riddell | Pirate Diary | Walker Books | Silver | |
| , illus. Michael Foreman | | Doubleday | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | Mortal Engines | Scholastic | Gold | [13] |
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| Cold Tom | Oxford University Press | Silver | |
| Stop the Train! | Oxford University Press | Bronze | |
| Kids' Club Network Special Award | | That Pesky Rat | Orchard Books | Gold | |
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| 2003 | 0–5 years | , illus. Russell Ayto | | | Gold | [14] |
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| , illus. Tony Ross | Tadpole's Promise | | Silver | |
| Two Frogs | | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | , illus. Dave McKean | Varjak Paw | | Gold | |
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| | | Silver | |
| | | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | | | Gold | |
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| Montmorency Series | | Silver | |
| | | Bronze | |
| Kids' Club Award | | | | Gold | |
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| 2004 | 0–5 years | | Biscuit Bear | Jonathan Cape | Gold | [15] |
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| My Big Brother Boris | Scholastic | Silver | [16] |
| Bartholomew and the Bug | Hodder | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | , illus. by Chris Riddell | Fergus Crane | Doubleday | Gold | |
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| Cloud Busting | Doubleday | Silver | |
| Smile! | Oxford University Press | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | Spilled Water | Bloomsbury Publishing | Gold | |
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| | MacMillan | Silver | |
| Keeper | Walker Books | Bronze | |
| 4Children Special Award | , illus. by Chris Riddell | Fergus Crane | Doubleday | Gold | |
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| 2005 | 0–5 years | | Lost and Found | HarperCollins | Gold | [17] [18] |
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| , illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher | | Simon & Schuster | Silver | |
| Wolves | MacMillan | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | | | HarperCollins | Gold | |
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| , illus. Quentin Blake | Sad Book | Walker Books | Silver | |
| and Chris Riddell | Corby Flood | Doubleday | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | I, Coriander | Orion | Gold | |
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| | Doubleday | Silver | |
| | Puffin | Bronze | |
| 2006 | 0–5 years | and Neal Layton | That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown | Orchard Books | Gold | [19] |
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| | MacMillan | Silver | |
| Wibbly Pig's Silly Big Bear | Hodder | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | | Mouse Noses on Toast | Faber and Faber | Gold | |
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| and Chris Riddell | Hugo Pepper | Doubleday | Silver | |
| | Jonathan Cape | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | | Egmont Press | Gold | [20] |
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| | HarperCollins | Silver | |
| | Puffin | Bronze | |
| 2007 | 0–5 years | and Nick Sharratt | When a Monster is Born | Orchard Books | Gold | |
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| Penguin | Walker Books | Silver | |
| Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie | Doubleday | Bronze | |
| 6–8 years | | Ottoline and the Yellow Cat | Macmillan Children's Books | Gold | |
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| Ivan the Terrible | Egmont Press | Silver | |
| Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears | Macmillan Children's Books | Bronze | |
| 9–11 years | | Shadow Forest | Bodley Head | Gold | |
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| Catcall | Orion | Silver | |
| Here Lies Arthur | Scholastic | Bronze | | |
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Agnew, Kate . Children at war from the First World War to the Gulf . Fox, Geoff . Continuum . 2004 . 0-8264-7759-3 . New York . 105–106.
- News: Eccleshare . Julia . 2015-02-26 . Pauline Fisk obituary . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 9 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182500/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/26/pauline-fisk . live .
- News: Stones . Rosemary . 2007-08-27 . Magdalen Nabb . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214925/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/aug/27/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries . live .
- News: 2008-07-22 . Michael Morpurgo . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 5 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211205202422/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jun/12/michael.morpurgo . live .
- Web site: Eccleshare . Julia . 1999-01-11 . Letter from London . 2023-06-04 . . en.
- Web site: Eccleshare . Julia . 2000-01-03 . PW: Letter From London . 2023-06-04 . . en . 9 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150909011921/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20000103/37846-pw-letter-from-london.html . live .
- News: Sharp . Rob . 2006-11-26 . Gruffalo, the monster we all love . en-GB . The Observer . 2023-06-04 . 0029-7712 . 13 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160313022333/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/nov/26/books.booksnews . live .
- News: Armitstead . Claire . 2017-06-09 . Children’s laureate Lauren Child on her new role, motherhood and creativity . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 4 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704114028/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jun/09/lauren-child-childrens-laureate-interview-charlie-and-lola-clarice-bean . live .
- Web site: Eccleshare . Julia . 2017-06-08 . Lauren Child Named U.K. Children’s Laureate . 2023-06-04 . . en . 28 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221128040316/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/73932-lauren-child-named-u-k-children-s-laureate.html . live .
- Web site: Nestlé Children’s Book Prize 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170326131127/http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes/13/ . 2017-03-26 . 2023-06-03 . Book Trust.
- News: Roberts . Neil . 2022-10-02 . Tony Mitton obituary . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 6 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206151514/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/02/tony-mitton-obituary . live .
- Web site: Eccleshare . Julia . 2002-01-07 . In the Winners' Circle . 2023-06-04 . . en . 27 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210227064051/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20020107/18870-in-the-winners-circle.html . live .
- News: 2002-12-05 . Fantasy novel wins children's votes . en-GB . . 2023-06-03 . 7 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307055830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2543873.stm . live .
- News: Pauli . Michelle . 3 December 2003 . Debut wins Smarties gold medal . . 7 June 2021 . 8 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210608153427/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/dec/03/nestleprize . live .
- News: Pauli . Michelle . 2004-12-08 . Magic triumphs at Smarties prize . en-GB . . 2023-06-03 . 0261-3077 . 11 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210211063804/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/dec/08/nestleprize . live .
- News: Pichon . Liz . 2011-11-09 . Liz Pichon's top 10 funny books with pictures . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 3 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803212038/https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2011/nov/09/liz-pichon-top-10-funny-books . live .
- News: Pauli . Michelle . 2005-12-14 . Dyslexic writer savours Nestle victory . en-GB . . 2023-06-03 . 0261-3077 . 15 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190515071922/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/dec/14/nestleprize . live .
- News: Ferguson . Donna . 2022-10-09 . Oliver Jeffers grew up in Belfast hating violence. Now he wants children to see how futile it is . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 13 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230413162214/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/09/author-oliver-jeffers-who-grew-up-in-belfast-during-the-troubles-teaches-peace-to-kids . live .
- News: Tanner . Nick . 2006-12-13 . Former diplomat's sparkling debut wins Nestle prize . en-GB . . 2023-06-03 . 0261-3077 . 1 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040110/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2006/dec/13/nestleprize . live .
- News: Pauli . Michelle . 2010-02-10 . Great Hamster Massacre wins Waterstone's children's books prize . en-GB . . 2023-06-04 . 0261-3077 . 27 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160927170258/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/10/great-hamster-massacre-waterstone-children-book-prize . live .
