Red House Children's Book Award. Winners. Shortlists. News.

About the Literary Award- The Red House Children's Book Award was founded in 1980 as The Children's Book Award by Pat Thomson, a member of the Federation of Children's Book Groups. It has been sponsored by Red House since 2001 when it became the Red House Children's Book Award. Prizes have been awarded prizes in three categories since 1992 the prize is judged entirely by children from shortlist to final overall winners. The Award is given in the following categories:

1 overall winner
3 category winners
o Books for Younger Children
o Books for Younger Readers
o Books for Older Readers
10 shortlisted books
50 longlisted books

A massive 1076 books were submitted for the 2007 Award with162,076 votes cast. The top 50 titles each year published as The Pick of the Year List.

2008 Red House Winners

Blue links to amazon.co.uk

Overall Winner and Older Readers: Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant)
Derek Landy

Stephanie’s uncle died suddenly and when she unexpectedly finds that she has inherited his wealth, she finds that her life moves in new directions, including becoming friends with Skulduggery Pleasant. This skeleton, who has come back to life, has unusual skills that become very important to her. Stephanie discovers that her uncle has been murdered and her own life is now under threat! Her life will never be the same again. This action-packed adventure has appeal with readers of both sexes.

Winner Younger Children's Category Penguin dunbar_polly
Polly Dunbar (right)

Ben is given Penguin as a present and wants him to talk. Will Penguin answer? No matter what lengths Ben goes to, Penguin remains silent. But when Ben is swallowed by a lion for being too noisy, events take an unexpected turn! Bright pen-and-ink and mixed media images against plain white backgrounds complement the story’s freshness and originality.

Winner Younger Readers Category Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Chris Riddell (left)

When a series of high society dog-nappings occur in Big City something must be done. Can Ottoline and her best friend, Mr. Munroe, a hairy creature from a bog in Norway, come up with a clever plan to solve the crimes? Enter the fantastical world of Ottoline, a Mistress of Disguise, who enjoys solving tricky problems and splashing in puddles. This exuberant mystery story, with lots of wonderfully detailed illustrations (and clues!) has broad appeal.

2008 Younger Children Other Shortlisted

* The Tear Thief
* Carol Ann Duffy (left) and Nicoletta Ceccoli
* Barefoot Books
* 9781846860447

Is the Tear Thief hiding on your street? Each evening in the twilight hours she appears. The Tear Thief collects tears from different streets and saves them in her silvery sack... tears caused by every emotion, each with its own special colour. Tears of rage are red, tears of self-pity, turquoise but some are more precious than others. The Tear Thief visits all kinds of children but what happens to the tears she collects? A magical tale beautifully told with enchanting illustrations.

* A Dog Called Rod
Tim Hopgood

Elsa lives on the top floor of a block of flats - and desperately wants a dog. Her dad says dogs are far too much trouble, but Elsa knows different. Rod, her charming, well-behaved and invisible dog is just perfect! Will she ever manage to persuade her dad that not all dogs are messy, noisy and expensive? This story with its lively illustrations, including the sparkly Rod, has proved a big hit with children across a broad age range.

* Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure
Kristina Stephenson (left)

Nothing scares Sir Charlie as he journeys past the monstrous trees in the deep dark forest, not eventhe terrible beasties or the wiggly woos. Curious to discover what lies at the top of a mysterious tower, Sir Charlie takes on a fiery dragon. But what awaits the brave hero as he reaches the top? This lively story with bold illustrations and hidden surprises was a popular choice.

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2008 Younger Readers Other Shortlised

* Perfumed Pirates of Perfidy (Charlie Small)
* Charlie Small

Imagine being over 400 years old but never aged a day since you were eight! Luckily Charlie kept a diary of his second attempt to find his way home, on board the Betty Mae, the ship of a fierce band of lady pirates. If Charlie’s drawings are anything to go by, Captain Cut-throat and her crew are a match for any pirate on the High Seas! All Charlie wants, of course, is to find his way home and when he sees a chance to escape he begins his most daring adventure yet...

* Mammoth Academy: In Trouble (Mammoth Academy)
* Neal Layton

HELP! Mammoth Academy is under attack! Those cave people started using rude graffiti and now it looks as though they may break in. Oscar, Arabella and Ormsby are trapped in the school but can they save the day? Arabella’s clever plan leads to events that are more than the cave people bargained for... Neal Layton’s laugh-out-loud text, combined with lively, humorous illustrations will have even the most reluctant reader turning the page and demanding more!

2008 Older Readers Other Shortlisted

* The London Eye Mystery
* Siobhan Dowd

The London Eye seems a safe place to take a visitor, but when Ted and his older sister, Kate, take their cousin, Salim, to ride on it. They see him board but when his pod returns, he is not there! Can Ted, whose brain ‘uses a different operating system’ figure out where their cousin has gone before it is too late? This page-turning detective novel was a hit with older readers.

* Teacher's Dead
* Benjamin Zephaniah

Jackson stood and watched his teacher die. Two classmates stabbed him and then calmly jogged away. Jackson is offered counselling but decides to work out his own therapy by talking to the widow, the mother of one of the boys and others. Where does the truth lie and why was his teacher murdered? Jackson’s quest for the truth demonstrates the danger of jumping to conclusions. An unputdownable read!.

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Red House Children's Award Winners 1981-2007

2007

Overall Winner - Younger Readers
You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum! by Andy Stanton - (Egmont)
Winner of Younger Children
Who's in the Loo? by Jeanne Willis & Adrian Reynolds - (Transworld)
Winner of Older Readers
Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie - (Simon and Schuster)

2006

Overall Winner - Older Readers
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians) by Rick Riordan - (Puffin)
Winner of Younger Children
Pigs Might Fly by Jonathan Emmett & Steve Cox - (Puffin)
Winner of Younger Readers
Spy Dog by Andrew Cole - (Puffin)

2005

Winner of Older Readers
The Recruit: Bk. 1 (CHERUB) by Robert Muchamore - (Hodder)

Overall Winner - Younger Children
Baby Brains: The Smartest Baby in the Whole World by Simon James - (Walker)
Winner of Younger Readers
Best Friends by Jacqueline Wilson - (Doubleday)

2004

Overall Winner - Older Readers
Private Peaceful by Micheal Morpurgo - (Collins)
Winner of Younger Children
Billy's Bucket by Kes Gray & Garry Parsons - (Bodley Head)
Winner of Younger Readers
The Mum Hunt by Gwyneth Rees - (Macmillan)

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2003

Overall Winner - Older Readers
Skeleton Key (Alex Rider 3) by Anthony Horowitz - (Walker)
Winner of Younger Children
Pants by Giles Andreae & Nick Sharratt - (David Fickling)
Winner of Younger Readers
Blitzed by Robert Swindells - (Doubleday)

2002

Overall Winner - Older Readers
Noughts and Crosses (Noughts & Crosses Trilogy) by Malorie Blackman - (Doubleday)
Winner of Younger Children
The Man Who Wore All His Clothes by Allan Ahlberg & Katharine McEwen - (Walker)
Winner of Younger Readers
Out of the Ashes by Michael Morpurgo - (Macmillan)

2001

Winner of Older Readers
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) by J.K. Rowling - (Bloomsbury)

Overall Winner - Younger Children
Eat Your Peas (Daisy Books) by Kes Gray & Nick Sharratt - (Bodley Head)
Winner of Younger Readers
Lizzie Zipmouthby Jacqueline Wilson - (Doubleday)

2000

Winner of Older Readers
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) by J.K. Rowling - (Bloomsbury)

Overall Winner - Younger Readers
Kensuke's Kingdomby Michael Morpurgo - (Mammoth)
Winner of Younger Children
Demon Teddy by Nicholas Allan - (Hutchinson)

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1999

Overall Winner - Older Readers
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS by J.K. Rowling - (Bloomsbury)
Winner of Younger Children
WHAT! by Kate Lum & Adrian Johnson - (Bloomsbury)
Winner of Younger Readers
LITTLE DAD by Pat Moon - (Mammoth)

1998

Overall Winner - Older Readers
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE by J.K. Rowling - (Bloomsbury)
Winner of Younger Children
THE LION WHO WANTED TO LOVE by Giles Andreae & David Wojtowycz - (Orchard)
Winner of Younger Readers
NIGHTMARE STAIRS by Robert Swindells - (Doubleday)

1997

Overall Winner - Younger Readers
THE HUNDRED-MILE-AN-HOUR DOG by Jeremy Strong - (Viking)
Winner of Younger Children
MR. BEAR TO THE RESCUE by Debi Gliori - (Orchard)
Winner of Older Readers
WHICH WAY IS HOME by Ian Strachan - (Methuen)

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1996

Overall Winner - Younger Readers
DOUBLE ACT by Jacqueline Wilson - (Doubleday)
Winner of Younger Children
SOLO by Paul Geraghty - (Hutchinson)
Winner of Older Readers
WRECK OF THE ZANZIBAR by Michael Morpurgo - (Heinemann)

1995

Overall Winner - Younger Readers
HARRIET'S HARE by Dick King-Smith - (Doubleday)
Winner of Younger Children
THE RASCALLY CAKE by Jeanne Willis & Korky Paul - (Andersen)
Winner of Older Readers
WALK TWO MOONS by Sharon Creech - (Macmillan)

1994

Overall Winner - Older Readers
BOY IN THE BUBBLE by Ian Strachan - (Methuen)
Winner of Younger Children
AMAZING ANTHONY ANT by Lorna & Graham Philpot - (Orion)
Winner of Younger Readers
THE FINDERS by Nigel Hinton - (Viking)

1993

Overall Winner - Younger Readers
THE SUITCASE KID by Jacqueline Wilson - (Doubleday)
Winner of Younger Children
SNOWY by Berlie Doherty - (Collins)
Winner of Older Readers
GULF by Robert Westall - (Methuen)

1992

Overall Winner - Older Readers
KISS THE DUST by Elizabeth Laird - (Methuen)
Winner of Younger Children
SHHH! by Sally Grindley & Peter Utton - (ABC)
Winner of Younger Readers
FIND THE WHITE HORSE by Dick King-Smith - (Viking)

For all books from 1991 back to the beginning of the Award there was only one overall winner. Categories were introduced in 1992.

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1991

Winner
THREADBEAR by Mick Inkpen - (Hodder)

1990

Winner
ROOM 13 by Robert Swindells - (Doubleday)

For all books from 1991 back to the beginning of the Award there was only one overall winner. Categories were introduced in 1992.

1989

Winner
MATILDA by Roald Dahl - (Cape)

1988

Winner
WINNIE THE WITCH by Valerie Thomas & Korky Paul - (OUP)

1987

Winner
THE JOLLY POSTMAN by Janet & Allan Ahlberg - (Heinemann)

1986

Winner
ARTHUR by Amanda Graham & Donna Gynell - (Spindlewood)

1985

Winner
BROTHER IN THE LAND by Robert Swindells - (OUP)

1984

Winner
THE SAGA OF ERIK THE VIKING by Terry Jones - (Pavilion)

1983

Winner
THE BFG by Roald Dahl - (Cape)

1982

Winner
FAIR'S FAIR by Leon Garfield -

(Macdonald)

1981

Winner
MISTER MAGNOLIA by Quentin Blake - (Cape)

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