Smarties Update ... May 2003.

Following objections by a number of authors to Nestle adding a branded teenage prize to their Smarties Book Awards, Booktrust have now stepped in and the awards will be renamed 'The Booktrust Teenage Prize'. Melvin Burgess commented, "We are all happy with that, everyone feels very warm towards booktrust."

The shortlist will be announced at the end of June.

Smarties Still Smarting?

Melvin Burgess

The suggestion of a new teenage book award from Nestle, to sit alongside their existing Smarties Book Prize has come under fire from top children's writers including Melvin Burgess and Gillian Cross.

Melvin has led a group of authors objecting to Nestle's aggressive marketing of baby milk products in the Third World - the new prize was to be branded The Nestle Teenage Book Prize.

Book Trust who administer the awards on behalf of Nestle deny that the award is to be withdrawn, however they do admit that it cannot proceed without the support of the authors it intends to honour.