The Blue Peter Book Awards were a set of

literary awards A literary award or literary prize is an award presented in recognition of a particularly lauded Literature, literary piece or body of work. It is normally presented to an author. Organizations Most literary awards come with a corresponding award c ...

for

children's books A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''chi ...

conferred by the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

programme ''

Blue Peter ''Blue Peter'' is a British children's television entertainment programme created by John Hunter Blair. It is the longest-running children's TV show in the world, having been broadcast since October 1958. It was broadcast primarily from BBC ...

''. They were inaugurated in 2000 for books published in 1999 and 2000. The awards were managed by reading charity, BookTrust, from 2006 until the final award in 2022. From 2013 until the final award, there were two award categories: Best Story and Best Book with Facts. The awards were discontinued in 2022, one month after the end of the

Costa Book Awards The Costa Book Awards were a set of annual literary awards recognising English-language books by writers based in United Kingdom, UK and Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Originally named the Whitbread Book Awards from 1971 to 2005 after its first ...

, which included a category for

children's book Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to conventional literary genres, modern children's literature is classified by the intended age of the reade ...

, leaving only three widely recognized awards for children's literature (the

Kate Greenaway Medal The Carnegie Medal for Illustration (until 2022 the Kate Greenaway Medal) is a British award that annually recognises "distinguished illustration in a book for children". It is conferred upon the illustrator by the Chartered Institute of Librar ...

, the Carnegie Medal, and the

Waterstones Children's Book Prize The Waterstones 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 the ...

Winners

;

Shortlists

;2020 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories'' by Amanda Li, illus. Amy Blackwell designed by Kim Hankinson and Jack Clucas (Buster Books) ** ''Fanatical About Frogs'' by Owen Davey (Flying Eye) ** ''How To Be An Astronaut and Other Space Jobs'' by Dr Sheila Kanani & Sol Linero (Nosy Crow) * Best Story ** ''Wildspark'' by Vashti Hardy (Scholastic) ** ''Owen and the Soldier'' by Lisa Thompson, illus. Mike Lowery (Barrington Stoke) ** ''Vote for Effie'' by Laura Wood (Scholastic) ;2019 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''The Colours of History'' by Clive Gifford, illus. Marc-Etienne Peintre (QED Publishing) ** ''Professor Astro Cat’s Human Body Odyssey'' by Dr Dominic Walliman, illus. Ben Newman (Flying Eye Books) ** ''The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home'' by Mike Barfield, illus. Lauren Humphrey (Laurence King) * Best Story ** ''The Boy at the Back of the Class'' by Onjali Q Raúf (Orion Children's Books) ** ''The Clockwork Crow'' by

Catherine Fisher Catherine Fisher (born 1957) is a poet and novelist for children and Young Adults. Best known for her internationally bestselling novel '' Incarceron'' and its sequel, '' Sapphique,'' she has published over 40 novels and 5 volumes of poetry. She ...

(Firefly) ** '' The House With Chicken Legs'' by Sophie Anderson (Usborne) ;2018 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Real-Life Mysteries'' by Susan Martineau, illus. Vicky Barker (b small) ** ''Beyond the Sky: You and the Universe'' by

Dara Ó Briain Dara Ó Briain ( , ; born 4 February 1972) is an Irish comedian and television presenter based in the United Kingdom. He is noted for performing stand-up comedy shows all over the world and for hosting topical panel shows such as ''Mock the Wee ...

, illus. Dan Bramall (Scholastic) ** ''Corpse Talk: Ground-Breaking Scientists'' by Adam Murphy and Lisa Murphy (David Fickling Books) * Best Story ** ''The Wizards of Once'' by Cressida Cowell (Hodder Children's Books) ** ''The Island at the End of Everything'' by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Chicken House) ** ''Wed Wabbit'' by Lissa Evans (David Fickling Books) ;2017 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Destination: Space'' by Christoph Englert, illus. Tom Clohosy Cole (Wide Eyed Editions) ** ''Football School: Where Football Explains the World'' by

Alex Bellos Alexander Bellos (born 1969) is a British writer, broadcaster and mathematics communicator.Alex Bellos He is the author of books about Brazil and mathematics, as well as having a column in ''The Guardian'' newspaper. Education and early life ...

and Ben Lyttleton, illus. Spike Gerrell (Walker Books) ** ''Survivors'' by David Long (Faber and Faber) * Best Story: ** ''Lost Tales'' by Adam Murphy (David Fickling Books) ** ''Podkin One Ear'' by Kieran Larwood, illus. David Wyatt (Faber and Faber) ** ''Time Travelling with a Hamster'' by Ross Welford (Harper Collins ) ;2016 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''The Epic Book of Epicness'' by Adam Frost ** ''The Silly Book of Weird and Wacky Words'' by Andy Seed, illus. by Scott Garrett ** ''FactFeed'' by Penny Arlon * Best Story: ** ''The Astounding Broccoli Boy'' by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, illus. by Steven Lenton ** ''The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair'' by Lara Williamson ** ''The Nowhere Emporium'' by Ross MacKenzie ;2015 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Animalium'' by Jenny Broom, illus. Katie Scott (Big Picture Press) ** ''The Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff'' by Andy Seed, illus. Scott Garrett (Bloomsbury) ** ''Corpse Talk: Season 1'' by Adam Murphy (David Fickling Books) * Best Story ** ''The Boy in the Tower'' by Polly Ho-Yen (DoubleDay) ** ''Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death'' by Chris Riddell (Walker) ** ''The Spy Who Loved School Dinners'' by Pamela Butchart, illus. Thomas Flintham (Nosy Crow) ;2014 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Marvellous Maths'' by Jonathan Litton, illus. Thomas Flintham (Templar Publishing) ** ''The World in Infographics: Animal Kingdom'' by Jon Richards illus. Ed Simkins (Wayland) ** ''Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders: World War II'' by

Tony Robinson Sir Anthony Robinson (born 15 August 1946) is an English actor, author, broadcaster, and political activist. He played Baldrick in the BBC television sitcom ''Blackadder'' and has presented many historical documentaries, including the Channel ...

, illus. Del Thorpe (Macmillan) * Favourite Story ** ''Whale Boy'' by Nicola Davies (Random House) ** ''Oliver and the Seawigs'' by

Philip Reeve Philip Reeve (born 28 February 1966) is an English author and illustrator of children's books, primarily known for the 2001 book '' Mortal Engines'' and its sequels (the 2001 to 2006 '' Mortal Engines Quartet''). His 2007 novel, '' Here Lies Ar ...

, illus. Sarah McIntyre (Oxford University Press) ** ''Rooftoppers'' by

Katherine Rundell Katherine Rundell (born 10 July 1987) is an English author and academic. She is the author of ''Impossible Creatures'', named Waterstones Book of the Year for 2023. She is also the author of ''Rooftoppers'', which in 2015 won both the overall ...

(Faber & Faber) ;2013 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''House of Horrors'' ( Horrible Science series) by Nick Arnold, illus. Tony De Saulles (Scholastic) ** ''Fantastic Mr Dahl'' by

Michael Rosen Michael Wayne Rosen (born 7 May 1946) is an English children's author, poet, presenter, political columnist, broadcaster, activist, and academic, who is a professor of children's literature in the Department of Educational Studies at Goldsmiths ...

(Puffin) ** ''Walter Tull's Scrapbook'' by Michaela Morgan (Frances Lincoln Children's Books) – about

Walter Tull Walter Daniel John Tull (28 April 1888 – 25 March 1918) was an English professional footballer and British Army officer of Afro-Caribbean descent. He played as an inside forward and half back for Clapton, Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton ...

* Favourite Story ** ''Tom Gates: Genius Ideas (Mostly)'' by Liz Pichon (Scholastic) ** ''Hero on a Bicycle'' by

Shirley Hughes Winifred Shirley Hughes (16 July 1927 – 25 February 2022) was an English author and illustrator. She wrote more than fifty books, which have sold more than 11.5 million copies, and illustrated more than two hundred.

(Walker) ** '' The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas'' by

David Almond David Almond (born 15 May 1951) is a British author who has written many novels for children's literature, children and young adult fiction, young adults from 1998, each one receiving critical acclaim. He is one of thirty children's writers, and ...

, illus.

Oliver Jeffers Oliver Brendan Jeffers (born 1977) is an Australian-born Northern Irish people, Northern Irish artist, illustrator and writer. He went to the integrated secondary school Hazelwood College, then graduated from the University of Ulster in 2001 ...

(Walker ) ;2012 * Best Book with Facts: ** ''The Official Countdown to the London 2012 Games'' by Simon Hart (Carlton Books) ** ''Discover the Extreme World'' by Camilla de la Bedoyere, Clive Gifford, John Farndon, Steve Parker, Stewart Ross and Philip Steele (Miles Kelly) * Favourite Story ** ''The Considine Curse'' by Gareth P. Jones (Bloomsbury) ** ''A Year without Autumn'' by Liz Kessler (Orion Children's Books) ;2011 * Most Fun Story with Pictures: ** ''Lunatics and Luck'' (Raven Mysteries, 3) by Marcus Sedgwick, illus. Pete Williamson (Orion Children's Books) ** ''Alienography'' by Chris Riddell (Macmillan) ** ''Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree'' by Andy Stanton, illus. David Tazzyman (Egmont) * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Do Igloos Have Loos'' by Mitchell Symons (Doubleday) ** ''How the World Works'' by Christian Dorion, illus. Beverley Young, pop-ups designed by Andy Mansfield (Templar Publishing) ** ''What You Need To Know Now: The World in Facts, Stats, and Graphics'' by Joe Fullman, Ian Graham, Sally Regan and Isabel Thomas, illus. Sheila Collins, Mik Gates, Jim Green, Katie Knutton, Phillip Letsu and Hoa Luc (Dorling Kindersley) * Favourite Story ** ''Dead Man's Cove'' (Laura Marlin Mystery, 1) by

Lauren St John Lauren St John (born December 1966) is an author born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. She is best known for her children's novels including '' The White Giraffe'' and ''Dead Man's Cove'' which won her a Blue Peter Book Award in 2011. Life and care ...

(Orion Children's Books) ** ''

A Web of Air ''A Web of Air'' is a young adult post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by British writer Philip Reeve. It is the second book in the ''Fever Crumb'' series, a prequel series to the ''Mortal Engines Quartet''. It was published on 5 April 2010. ...

'' (Mortal Engines prequel) by

(Scholastic Children's Books) ** ''Tall Story'' by

Candy Gourlay Candy Gourlay (née Quimpo) is a Filipino journalist and author based in the United Kingdom whose debut novel ''Tall Story'' (2010) was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal (literary award), Carnegie Medal. Biography Gourlay was born and raised i ...

(David Fickling Books) ;2010 * Most Fun Story with Pictures: ** ''Peter the Penguin Pioneer'' by Daren King (Quercus) ** ''Spells'' by

Emily Gravett Emily Gravett (born 1972) is an English author and illustrator of children's literature, children's picture books. For her debut book ''Wolves (book), Wolves'' published in 2005 and ''Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears'' published three years late ...

(Macmillan) ** ''Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things'' by Guy Bass (Stripes) * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Usborne Lift-the-flap Picture Atlas'' by Alex Frith and Kate Leake (Usborne) ** ''Tail-End Charlie'' by

Mick Manning Mick Manning (born 1959) is a British artist and creator of children's books. Biography Manning was raised in Haworth, near Keighley, Yorkshire, England. He first attended Bradford College, then studied graphic design at the University of ...

and Brita Granström (Frances Lincoln Children's Books) ** ''Why Eating Bogeys is Good for You'' by Mitchell Symons (Red Fox) * Book I couldn't Put Down ** ''Cosmic'' by

Frank Cottrell Boyce Frank Cottrell-Boyce (born 23 September 1959)"COTTRELL-BOYCE, Frank", ''Who's Who 2010'', A & C Black, 2010; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2009 ; online edn, Nov 200 Retrieved 2010-05-16. is a British people, British screenwriter, ...

(Macmillan) ** ''The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43'' by Harriet Goodwin (Stripes) ** '' Frozen in Time'' by Ali Sparkes (Oxford) ;2009 * Most Fun Story with Pictures: ** ''Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear'' by Andy Stanton and David Tazzyman (Egmont) ** ''Fleabag'' by Helen Stephens (Alison Green Books) ** ''Lost! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog'' by Jeremy Strong, illus. Rowan Clifford (Puffin Books) * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Archaeology Detectives'' by Simon Adams (Oxford University Press) ** ''100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet'' by Anna Claybourne (A & C Black) ** ''Planet in Peril'' ( Horrible Geography series) by Anita Ganeri, illus. Mike Phillips (Scholastic) * The Book I Couldn't Put Down: ** ''Abela'' by Berlie Doherty (Andersen Press) ** '' Shadow Forest'' by

Matt Haig Matt Haig (born 3 July 1975) is an English author and journalist. He has written both fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults, often in the speculative fiction genre. Early life Haig was born on 3 July 1975 in Sheffield. He grew ...

(Corgi) ** ''Foul Play'' by Tom Palmer (Puffin) ;2008 Prize didn't run.BookTrust – Blue Peter Book Awards archive
/ref> ;2007 * Most Fun Story with Pictures: ** ''Melrose and Croc Together at Christmas'' by

Emma Chichester Clark Emma Chichester Clark (born 15 October 1955) is a British children's book illustrator and author. She has published over 60 books and is best known for her series of picture books about a child's toy called Blue Kangaroo.Joanna CareyCroc on ice ...

** ''Charlie Cook's Favourite Books'' by

Julia Donaldson Julia Catherine Donaldson (; born 16 September 1948) is an English writer and playwright, and the 2011–2013 Children's Laureate. She is best known for her popular rhyming stories for children, especially those illustrated by Axel Scheffler, ...

and Axel Scheffler ** ''You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum'' by Andy Stanton and David Tazzyman * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Why is Snot Green?'' by Glenn Murphy ** ''The Worst Children's Jobs in History'' by

** ''A Little Guide to Wild Flowers'' by Charlotte Voake * The Book I Couldn't Put Down: ** '' Framed'' by

** ''The Bad Spy's Guide'' by Pete Johnson ** ''The Outlaw Varjak Paw'' by S. F. Said, illus.

Dave McKean David McKean (born 29 December 1963) is an England, English artist. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art, and sculpture. McKean has illustrated works by authors such as S. F. Said, S.F. Said, ...

;2006 * Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud: ** ''Traction Man is Here'' by Mini Grey ** ''

Lost and Found A lost and found (American English) or lost property (British English), or lost articles (also Canadian English) is an office in a public building or area where people can go to retrieve Lost, mislaid, and abandoned property, lost articles th ...

'' by

(HarperCollins) ** ''Guess Who's Coming for Dinner'' by John Kelly and Cathy Tincknell * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Connor's Eco Den'' by Pippa Goodhart ** ''Poo'' by Nicola Davies and Neal Layton ** ''Spud Goes Green'' by Giles Thaxton (Egmont) * Book I Couldn't Put Down: ** ''GRK and the Pelotti Gang'' by Joshua Doder ** '' Blood Fever'' by

Charlie Higson Charles Murray Higson (born 3 July 1958) is an English actor, comedian, author and former singer. He has also written and produced for television and is the author of the young adult post-apocalyptic book series ''The Enemy'', as well as the fi ...

(Puffin) ** ''The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips'' by

Michael Morpurgo Sir Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo ('' né'' Bridge; 5 October 1943) is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as '' War Horse'' (1982). His work is noted for its "magical storytelli ...

;2005 * Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud: ** '' The Snail and the Whale'' by

, illus. Axel Scheffler (Macmillan) ** '' Biscuit Bear'' by Mini Grey (Red Fox) ** ''

Aristotle Aristotle (; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, a ...

'' by

Dick King-Smith Ronald Gordon King-Smith OBE (27 March 1922 – 4 January 2011), known by his pen name Dick King-Smith, was an English writer of children's books. He is best known for '' The Sheep-Pig'' (1983), which was adapted as the movie '' Babe'' (1995) ...

, illus.

Bob Graham Daniel Robert Graham (November 9, 1936 – April 16, 2024) was an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 38th List of governors of Florida, governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senate, United States senat ...

(Walker) ** ''Rapunzel: A Groovy Fairy Tale'', retelling of "

Rapunzel "Rapunzel" ( ; ; or ) is a German fairy tale most notably recorded by the Brothers Grimm and it was published in 1812 as part of '' Children's and Household Tales'' (KHM 12). The Grimms' story was developed from the French literary fairy tale ...

" by Lynn Roberts, illus. David Roberts (Chrysalis) * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Explorers Wanted! At the North Pole'' by Simon Chapman (Egmont) ** ''What's My Family Tree?'' by

, illus. Brita Granström (Watts) ** ''Art Fraud Detective'' by Anna Nilsen, illus. Andy Parker (Kingfisher) ** ''Rome in spectacular cross-section'' by Andrew Solway, illus. Stephen Biesty (Oxford University Press) * Book I Couldn't Put Down: ** '' Millions'' by

(Macmillan) ** '' SilverFin'' by

(Puffin) ** ''Thora'' by Gillian Johnson (Hodder) ** ''

Private Peaceful ''Private Peaceful'' is a novel for older children by British author Michael Morpurgo first published in 2003. It is about a fictional young soldier called Thomas "Tommo" Peaceful, who is looking back on his life so far and his going to war. ...

'' by

(Collins) ;2004 * Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud: ** ''The Woman Who Won Things'' by

Allan Ahlberg Janet Ahlberg (21 October 1944 – 15 November 1994; née Hall) and Allan Ahlberg (born 5 June 1938) were a British married couple who created many children's books, including picture books that regularly appear at the top of "most popular" li ...

, illus. Katharine McEwen (Walker Books) ** '' Man on the Moon'' by Simon Bartram (Templar) ** ''Quiet!'' by Paul Bright, illus. Guy Parker-Rees (Little Tiger Press) ** ''Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths'' by

Lucy Coats Lucy Coats (born April 1961) is an English writer of picture books, poetry, stories and novels for children of all ages. Her speciality is retelling myths and legend from many cultures. Biography Lucy Coats was born in Hampshire, England. She ...

, illus.

Anthony Lewis Joseph Anthony Lewis (March 27, 1927 – March 25, 2013) was an American public intellectual and journalist. He was a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and was a columnist for ''The New York Times''. He is credited with creating the field o ...

(Orion) ** ''The Smartest Giant in Town'' by

, illus. Axel Scheffler (Macmillan) * Best Book with Facts: ** ''Journey into the Arctic'' by Bryan and Cherry Alexander (OUP) ** ''Brilliant Brits: Shakespeare'' by Richard Brassey (Orion) ** ''Who is Emily Davison?'' by Claudia Fitzherbert (Short Books) ** '' The Ultimate Book Guide'' edited by Daniel Hahn (A & C Black) ** ''I Spy: Shapes in Art'' by Lucy Micklethwaite (Collins) * Book I Couldn't Put Down: ** ''Stealing Stacey'' by

Lynne Reid Banks Lynne Reid Banks (; 31 July 1929 – 4 April 2024) was a British author of books for children and adults, including ''The Indian in the Cupboard'', which has sold over 15 million copies and has been successfully adapted to film. Her first novel ...

(Collins) ** ''Fat Boy Swim'' by Catherine Forde (Egmont) ** '' The Garbage King'' by Elizabeth Laird (Macmillan) ** ''When Mum Threw Out the Telly'' by E. F. Smith (Orchard Books) ** '' Montmorency'' by Eleanor Updale (Scholastic)

References

{{reflist , refs= "Blue Peter Book Awards 2015"
Booktrust (booktrust.co.uk). Retrieved 2014-10-18. With list of past winners.

External links

''The Blue Peter Book Awards''
literaryawards.co.uk
Blue Peter website
* BBC
2007 Shortlists2006 Awards2005 Awards2004 Awards2004 Shortlists2003 Awards2002 Awards
(all dead, 2015-04-15) British children's literary awards Blue Peter BBC awards Awards established in 2000 Awards disestablished in 2022 2000 establishments in the United Kingdom 2022 disestablishments in the United Kingdom

Categories

Winners

Shortlists

See also

References

External links