The Nestlé Children's Book Prize is one of the UK's longest running prizes.  The Prize celebrates the very best in children's literature, and over the years, around half a million school children have been involved in choosing the winning authors.

The Nestlé Children's Book Prize has helped launch the careers of many of today's top children's writers, including JK Rowling and Lauren Child, who have each won the prize three times.

How the Prize works
UK publishers are asked to submit books that have been published by British authors within the last 12 months.  The books are then separated into age categories: 5 and under, 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 years. 

A panel of adult judges determine the three shortlisted books for each category and classes of school children, who have entered a competition to become young judges decide the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category and the results are announced at an Awards Ceremony at the British Library in mid December.

The adult panel of judges 2007:
Julia Eccleshare (The Guardian Children's Book Editor, Chair)
Keith Gray (author)
Jane Ray (illustrator)
Sarah Prendiville (Children's Book Buyer, Amazon)
Joel Rickett (journalist specializing in the book industry)

The Prize
The Prize value totals £13,500 with £2,500 going to the Gold winner, £1,500 to the Silver winner and £500 to the Bronze winner in each category.

Key dates for 2007
Publisher's submission deadline: 25 June 2007
Shortlist announcement: 11 October 2007
Winners announcement: December

Free point of sale materials
A2 posters and bookmarks are available free of charge to promote the shortlist. To order your free pack (2 posters plus 50 bookmarks) please contact Megan Farr on 020 8875 4821 or megan@booktrust.org.uk

The Young Judges' competition
School children from the UK are invited to become young judges of the prize. There are two rounds, each involving activities that can be incorporated into class planning.

Round 1: The first round is open to all children aged 11 and under. They are asked to conduct a simple activity that is adapted to each different age group (5 and under, 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 years) and encourages creativity. 

Round 2: 150 classes are then chosen to become young judges, 50 in each of the three age groups. The children are then sent the three shortlisted books relating to their age, the children select their favourite book and create a project relating to it. 

All the projects are then judged by an expert panel. One winner is selected from each category to attend the award ceremony in London. All the young judges decide the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category.

Deadlines:
Round 1: 28 September 2007
Round 2: 21 November 2007

Further information
For more information about the prize contact:
Megan Farr, Young People's Coordinator, Booktrust
Tel: 020 8875 4821
Email: megan@booktrust.org.uk

For information about Nestlé contact:
Kate van Praagh, Nestlé UK
Tel:0208 667 5611
Email: Kate.vanPraagh@UK.nestle.com

For press information contact:
Penny Clifton/Julia Coles, Spreckley Partners Ltd
Tel: 020 7388 9988
Email: clifton@spreckley.co.uk/coles@spreckley.co.uk

> download 2006 winners press release