The Smarties Prize

The Smarties Prize, The Nestle Smarties Prize since 1994, has been awarded by the Youth Libraries Group to the most outstanding book published in the UK. There are three age categories, 0-5, 6-8 and 9-11. A panel of 5 adult judges draws up a shortlist, and the winners are then chosen by young judges selected from schools all over the country. These judges have themselves won the Nestlé Smarties Prize competition to provide the most imaginative reviews of the shortlisted titles.

2002: Ages 0-5 Jazzy in the Jungle, Lucy Cousins
    Ages 6-8 That Pesky Rat, Lauren Child
    Ages 9-11 Mortal Engines, Phillip Reeve
2001: Ages 0-5 Chimp and Zee, Catherine and Laurence Anholt
    Ages 6-8 The Shrimp, Emily Smith
    Ages 9-11 Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson
2000: Ages 0-5 Max, Bob Graham
    Ages 6-8 Lizzie Zipmouth, Jacqueline Wilson
    Ages 9-11 The Wind Singer, William Nicholson
1999: Ages 0-5 The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson & Axel Sheffler
    Ages 6-8 Snow White and the Seven Aliens, Laurence Anholt
    Ages 9-11 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J K Rowling
1998: Ages 0-5 Cowboy Baby, Sue Heap
    Ages 6-8 The Last Gold Diggers, Harry Horse
    Ages 9-11 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J K Rowling
1997: Ages 0-5 Ginger, Charlotte Voake
    Ages 6-8 The Owl Tree, Jenny Nimmo and Anthony Lewis
    Ages 9-11 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J K Rowling
1996: Ages 0-5 Oops!, Colin McNaughton
    Ages 6-8 The Butterfly Lion, Michael Morpurgo
    Ages 9-11 The Firework Maker's Daughter, Philip Pullman--BookMuse features Pullmann's I Was a Rat
1995: Ages 0-5 The Last Noo-Noo, Jill Murphy
    Ages 6-8 The Tinners, Jill Paton Walsh
    Ages 9-11 Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
1994: Ages 0-5 So Much, Trish Cooke
    Ages 6-8 Dimanche Diller, Henrietta Branford (Illus) and Lesley Harker
    Ages 9-11 The Exiles at Home, Hilary McKay