LONDON, 2014-10-13— /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s, the UK’s third largest supermarket and a major player in children’s book retailing, has today announced the winners of their inaugural Children’s Book Awards.
- Three winners revealed, each to receive £1,000 prize
- Six runners up also shortlisted by judges
- All nine books will be £3 when they launch in stores today
The winning author of each category will receive a prize of £1,000 and all winning titles and shortlisted books will be promoted at £3 when they launch in Sainsbury’s stores today marking the key trading period leading up to Christmas 2014.
| Category | Winner | Runners Up |
| Baby and Toddler | That’s Not My Piglet: Fiona Watt (Usborne) | Alphaprints 123 (Priddy)
Flip Flap Safari (Nosey Crow) |
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| Picture Books | There’s a Lion in My Cornflakes: Michelle Robinson (Bloomsbury) | Train! (Little Tiger)
Hector and the Big Bad Knight (Scholastic) |
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| Fiction for age 5-9 years | Buckle and Squash and the Monstrous Moat Dragon: Sarah Courtault (Macmillan) | Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (Walker)
The Royal Babysitters (Bloomsbury) |
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Earlier this year, Sainsbury’s is invited all their current children’s book publishers to nominate up to two books for each of the three award categories: Baby and Toddler, Picture Books; and Fiction for age 5-9 years.
The judging panel, chaired by Louise Ward, Sainsbury’s children’s range book buyer comprised of acclaimed author Phil Earle, award winning illustrator Sarah McIntyre and Sainsbury’s children’s book buying team. The judges’ shortlisted three books per category before selecting each winner.
Phil Earle, children’s author and judge commented on the Awards saying: “There was such talent on show in the books submitted, I’ve no doubt the shortlisted titles, and indeed the winner, will delight our most discerning readers, children!”
Sarah McIntyre, illustrator and fellow judge added: “Picture books are my real passion, so I had a wonderful time reading my way through the entries. Awards such as this one highlight the fact that children’s books aren’t just about nostalgia, but that Britain is producing exciting new stories all the time. I’m very proud to be part of this!”
Louise Ward, Sainsbury’s children’s range book buyer comments: “We are very proud of our first ever Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards, the whole journey has been really exciting and all made possible because of our great publishers, authors and illustrators.”
Sainsbury’s sells children’s books in more than 300 supermarket stores across the UK. In 2011 Sainsbury’s re-launched its range of own-brand children’s books and in 2013 was awarded the title “Children’s Bookseller of the Year” at The Bookseller Industry Awards.