Kelpies and Bloomsbury win Blue Peter prizes

Titles by independent publishers Bloomsbury and Kelpies are the winners of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2016.

The Nowhere Emporium by Scottish writer Ross MacKenzie, published by Kelpies, was given the best story award, whilst Adam Frost won the ‘best book with facts’ prize for The Epic Book of Epicness, published by Bloomsbury Children’s.

The winners of the awards, which are run in conjunction with reading charity Book Trust, were chosen by school children who voted for their favourite books from shortlists of three titles in each category.

The Nowhere Emporium is about an orphan who stumbles upon a mysterious shop that suddenly arrives in Glasgow. Before long, the 'shop from nowhere' and its owner, Mr Silver – draw Daniel into a world of magic and enchantment.

MacKenzie said: “It's always a great moment to receive any sort of award, but to win The Blue Peter Book Awards for Best Story is extra special. Firstly, because it's an award chosen by the readers. And secondly, it's special because Blue Peter was such a huge part of my childhood.”

The Blue Peter Book Award is the second children's prize MacKenzie has won in two days. Yesterday (2nd March) he was given a Scottish Book Trust Award, also for The Nowhere Emporium. 

Frost, whose book The Epic Book of Epicness reveals facts about everything from extreme weather to embarrassing toilet trouble, said: “I'm absolutely delighted to have won. I tried to fill my book with as many bizarre facts and funny pictures as possible. I loved writing it and am over the moon that kids are enjoying it.”

The www.thebookseller.com/news/bloomsbury-strikes-twice-blue-peter-shortlist-317874">shortlists for the awards, which also included books by Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Lara Williamson, were chosen by a panel of judges including TV presenter Angelica Bell and author www.thebookseller.com/news/funny-books-win-blue-peter-awards">Pamela Butchart, who won the prize for best story last year.

MacKenzie and Frost will be given their prizes tonight by children’s laureate Chris Riddell.