An Award for 'Millions'

Frank Cottrell Boyce's Millions [Macmillan Children's Books] has won the 2005 Carnegie Medal.

The 2005 Kate Greenaway Medal (for illustration) was awarded to Chris Riddell for Jonathan Swift's Gulliver [Walker Books] (text by Martin Jenkins).

View the shortlists for both awards here (Carnegie) and here (KG).

Millions is Cottrell Boyce's first novel. He is a screen writer whose credits include Hilary and Jackie, Coronation Street and 24 Hour Party People. The movie-version of Millions, directed by Danny Boyle was released last year. It tells the story of two young brothers who find a bag stuffed with money - over 200 thousand pounds, which, in the story, is a currency that's about to be phased out. The boys therefore have only 17 days to spend their windfall.

Gulliver comprises 144 pages - much more than the average picture book - and features Tony Blair in caricature. Riddell is The Observer's political cartoonist.

Click here for an article written by him about political cartoonists who illustrate children's books.