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.[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.
^The Children Special Award winners were selected by after school clubs.
References
^
abc"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).
1 Currently manufactured by
General Mills in the U.S. and Canada. Produced by
Cereal Partners under the Nestlé brand elsewhere. 2 Brand owned by
General Mills; U.S. and Canadian production rights controlled by Nestlé under license. 3 U.S. production rights owned by
The Hershey Company. 4 U.S. rights and production owned by the
Smarties Candy Company with a different product. 5 U.S. rights and specific trade dress owned by Nestlé; rights elsewhere owned by
Associated British Foods. 6 Produced by Cereal Partners, branded as Nestlé. 7 Produced by Cereal Partners and branded as Nestlé in the U.K. and Ireland. Produced by
Post Foods elsewhere. 8 Philippine production rights owned by
Alaska Milk Corporation. 9 Singaporean, Malaysian and Thai production rights owned by
Fraser and Neave. 10 Used only in Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. 11 Used only in the Philippines. 12 U.S. production rights owned by the
Ferrara Candy Company. 13NA rights and specific trade dress to all packaged coffee and other products under the Starbucks brand owned by Nestlé since 2019. 14 Brand owned by
Mars, sold by Nestlé in Canada. 15 Produced by
Froneri in the U.S. since 2020.
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.[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.
^The Children Special Award winners were selected by after school clubs.
References
^
abc"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).
1 Currently manufactured by
General Mills in the U.S. and Canada. Produced by
Cereal Partners under the Nestlé brand elsewhere. 2 Brand owned by
General Mills; U.S. and Canadian production rights controlled by Nestlé under license. 3 U.S. production rights owned by
The Hershey Company. 4 U.S. rights and production owned by the
Smarties Candy Company with a different product. 5 U.S. rights and specific trade dress owned by Nestlé; rights elsewhere owned by
Associated British Foods. 6 Produced by Cereal Partners, branded as Nestlé. 7 Produced by Cereal Partners and branded as Nestlé in the U.K. and Ireland. Produced by
Post Foods elsewhere. 8 Philippine production rights owned by
Alaska Milk Corporation. 9 Singaporean, Malaysian and Thai production rights owned by
Fraser and Neave. 10 Used only in Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. 11 Used only in the Philippines. 12 U.S. production rights owned by the
Ferrara Candy Company. 13NA rights and specific trade dress to all packaged coffee and other products under the Starbucks brand owned by Nestlé since 2019. 14 Brand owned by
Mars, sold by Nestlé in Canada. 15 Produced by
Froneri in the U.S. since 2020.