Red House Children's Book Award Announces Shortlist

By: BWW News Desk Oct. 21, 2013

The shortlist has been announced for the only national literary award voted for entirely by kids - the Red House Children's Book Award.

And this year, the nominees include a former Children's Laureate, a Hippospotamus, a Superworm and a young adult, sci-fi dystopian novel that will take readers on an unforgettable journey.

In total, ten books have been shortlisted and children up and down the country are now encouraged to vote for their favourite title. Winners for each category, as well as the overall best children's book published during the 2014 nomination period, will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre in London on Saturday 22nd February 2014.

Among the nominees for this year are previously shortlisted author Eoin Colfer, winner of the 2010 Younger Children Category Jeanne Willis and former Children's Laureate and author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson. Their books are available from the Red House section on the Book People website, so youngsters who haven't yet read them can add to their collection.

Seni Glaister, CEO of the Book People, said: "The shortlist has been announced and now it's all in the hands of the nation's children. This award has a real reputation for discovering great writing talent and one look at the list of previous winners will tell you they pick the future bestsellers."

Among those who have previously won the Red House Children's Book Award - which was founded in 1980 - are Malorie Blackman, Michael Morpurgo, Patrick Ness, Anthony Horowitz and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Voting is open until mid-January 2014 and children can cast their vote, as well as discovering more about the nominated authors, by visiting www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Books for Younger Children

Superworm - Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Scholastic)
Walter and The No Need To Worry Suit - Rachel Bright (HarperCollins)
How To Hide A Lion - Helen Stephens (Alison Green Books)
Hippospotamus - Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross (Andersen)

Books for Younger Readers

The Land of Neverbelieve - Norman Messenger (Walker)
Atticus Claw Breaks The Law - Jennifer Gray (Faber & Faber)
Claude In The Country - Alex T Smith (Hodder Children's Books)

Books for Older Readers

Killing Rachel - Anne Cassidy (Bloomsbury)
The 5th Wave - Rick Yancey (Penguin)
W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin - Eoin Colfer (Puffin)