Blue Peter Book Awards 2019

The vibrant history of colour and the loving tale of a refugee boy's new life in London took the top spots in 2019, with The Colours of History and The Boy at the Back of the Class voted for by over 500 children.

The judging panel was made up of writer Ewan Vinnicombe, Darren Chetty, Louise Pentland and Alex T Smith.

Although the judges chose the shortlist, the winning titles were selected by hundreds of children from 12 schools across the UK. They read the shortlisted books and voted for their favourite in each category...

Get updates on this year's Blue Peter Book Awards

For more information, you can also follow @BookTrust on Twitter and visit the official Blue Peter website.

Blue Peter Book Awards 2019 - Best Story

Winner: The Boy at the Back of the Class

By Onjali Rauf, Orion Children's Books

The Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story 2019 was The Boy at the Back of the Class. Onjali Rauf's first book tells the story of how one ordinary nine-year-old child and three classmates are full of empathy for Ahmet (the boy at the back of the class), who comes to their school as a refugee from Syria. Through their sensitivity, curiosity, ingenuity, bravery and innocent niceness, they make a massive impact on Ahmet's life, friends, class, school, community and wider world.

Discussing the award, Onjali said: 'What a wonderful, surreal and truly epic honour it is to win this wonderful award! I can hardly believe that my childhood dream of owning a Blue Peter badge one day has come true in the most unexpected way possible! I am utterly bowled over by the love and support The Boy at the Back of the Class has received not just from the marvellous Blue Peter Judges, but all the children who voted for its place as a winning title this year – thank you.'

Onjali Rauf on how to create a new world from the one you live in right now...

Shortlisted books

Catherine Fisher on how to write a fascinating fantasy story

Take Sophie Anderson's quirky quiz!

Longlisted books in this category

• The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd
• Song of the Dolphin Boy by Elizabeth Laird
• Iguana Boy Saves the World with a Triple Cheese Pizza by James Bishop and Rikin Parekh
• Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone
• Into the Jungle by Katherine Rundell and Kristjana S Williams
• Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy
• Knights and Bikes by Gabrielle Kent, Rex Crowle and Luke Newell 

Blue Peter Book Awards 2019 - Best Book with Facts

Winner: The Colours of History

By Clive Gifford, illustrated by Marc-Etienne Peintre, QED Publishing

The Blue Peter Book Award 2019 winner for Best Book with Facts was The Colours of History. Who would have thought a book about colour could be so interesting? Each brightly coloured page brings another shade of colour to life. Using pantone samples, this book teaches us about origins and uses for over 20 different colours to illustrate the history of colour. From red to green to purple, this is a book which covers everything.

Author Clive Gifford said: 'To be recognised by a show I watched and loved as a child (and still do as an adult) is a remarkable thing. I'm tickled pink! I want to thank all the children who voted for The Colours of History. And a big thank to BookTrust for the remarkable work they do. Awards like these are so important in getting across how books with facts can tell incredible and important stories and excite, inspire and entertain young minds as much as fiction.'

Illustrator Marc-Etienne Peintre commented: 'I was very lucky to get to work with Clive and the Quarto team on such an interesting subject. I am extremely honoured to have won this prize, and most of all, to know that the children the book is intended for have read and enjoyed The Colours of History.'

Top ten facts about colour and their role over the centuries

Shortlisted books

Favourite facts about the human body: from the crew of Professor Astro Cat

Try-at-home-science: Can you solve the case of the cunningly concealed carbon?

Longlisted books in this category

• The Beetle Collector's Handbook by M G Leonard and Carim Nahaboo
• Peace and Me by Ali Winter and Mickael El Fathi
• Absolutely Everything: A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention by Christopher Lloyd
• Alastair Humphrey's Great Adventurers by Alastair Humphreys and Kevin Ward
• The Bacteria Book by Steve Mould
• Flying Colours: A Guide to Flags Around the World by Robert G Fresson
• Ancient Warriors by Iris Volant and Joe Lillington