Branford Boase Award facts for kids

The Branford Boase Award is a special British award. It is given out every year to a great book for kids or young adults. This award is for authors who are publishing their very first novel. It celebrates "the most promising book for readers aged seven and up by a new writer." What makes this award extra special is that both the author and their editor win it together! This is quite unusual for book awards.

History of the Award

The Branford Boase Award was created to remember two amazing people: Wendy Boase and Henrietta Branford. Wendy was an Editorial Director at Walker Books, and Henrietta was a talented writer. They worked together on many books. Sadly, both Wendy and Henrietta passed away in 1999 from cancer.

Friends of Wendy and Henrietta wanted to celebrate their lives and their love for new writers. So, Julia Eccleshare and Anne Marley, who both worked with books, came up with the idea for this award. It helps new writers get noticed, just like Wendy and Henrietta always tried to do.

The Branford Boase Award also works alongside another competition, the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition. This one is for young writers under 19 years old.

Winners of the Branford Boase Award receive a special hand-crafted box with the award's logo. They also get £1,000! The prize money and the official website are currently supported by the famous children's author Jacqueline Wilson. The award is given to both the author and their editor. This is because the editor plays a very important part in helping a new author's first book get published.

Award Winners

Here is a list of the amazing authors and their editors who have won the Branford Boase Award since it started: