Ottakar's children's Book Prize winner announced

Julia Golding, UN campaigner, former diplomat and first time children's author, has won the second Ottakar's Children's Book Prize with her atmospheric novel, The Diamond of Drury Lane. (Egmont Press).

Set in Georgian London the book tells of Cat Royal and her life in the world of the London theatre.

The shortlist also included:
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (Random House)
Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach (Walker)
The Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll (Harper Collins)
Gregor and the Rats of Underland by Suzanne Collins (Chicken House )
Jack Slater Monster Investigator by John Doghety (Random House)
Ralph the Magic Rabbit by Adam Frost (Macmillan)
The Lottery by Beth Goobie (Faber)
North Child by Edith Pattou (Usborne)
Spymice by Heather Vogel Frederick (Penguin)

The award was set up last year to celebrate exciting new or not yet established authors of children's books. It is unique in that booksellers and children select the shortlist and ultimate winner from books not yet published. The award was the idea of Wayne Winstone, Ottakar's Children's Book Director and presented yesterday evening at the Putney Branch of Ottakar's by Children's Laureate Jacqueline Wilson.