The Eleanor Farjeon Award

The CBC is proud to host the annual Eleanor Farjeon Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the world of children’s books by an individual or organisation. Librarians, authors, publishers, teachers, reviewers and others who have given exceptional service to our industry are eligible for nomination. CBC members nominate suitable candidates and then vote for the winner. The award ceremony itself is an enjoyable evening, with the winner’s acceptance speech being a particular highlight.

The award was established in memory of Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965). Though best known for her hymn "Morning Has Broken," later recorded by Cat Stevens, she is also beloved as the author of Elsie Piddock Skips in her Sleep, Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard, Nursery Rhymes of London Town, and The Little Bookroom, which won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Carnegie Medal. Her poetry still appears in anthologies, with such favourites as "Mrs Malone","Cats" and "It was Long Ago" often included; while "Kings & Queens" written in collaboration with her brother, Herbert Farjeon, is still a best-seller. While Eleanor Farjeon was the first recipient of the Regina Award of the American Catholic Library Association, she did turn down another honour - Dame of the British Empire - explaining that she "did not wish to become different from the milkman." At her death, the Children's Book Circle established the Eleanor Farjeon Award in her honour.

PREVIOUS WINNERS AND NOMINEES

2014 Nominees
Little Angel Theatre
Pegasus Theatre
Polka Theatre WINNER
The Story Museum
Tall Stories
Unicorn Theatre

Guest speaker at the Award Ceremony: Lyn Gardner

2013 Nominees
David Almond WINNER
John Burningham
David Fickling
Little Angel Theatre
National Literacy Trust

Guest speaker at the Award Ceremony: Nicolette Jones

2012 Nominees
Quentin Blake WINNER
Discover Story Centre
Nicolette Jones
Michael Morpurgo
Tales on Moon Lane

Guest speaker at the Award Ceremony: Shirley Hughes (EF winner in 1984)
Award accepted on Quentin Blake’s behalf by Emma Chichester Clark

2011 Nominees
Philippa Dickinson
Federation of Children’s Book Groups WINNER
Ferelith Hordon
John Newman
Volunteer Reading Help

Guest speaker at the Award Ceremony: Geraldine McCaughrean

2010 Nominees
David Almond
Booktrust
Michael Morpurgo
National Literacy Trust
Seven Stories WINNER
World Book Day

Guest speaker at the Award Ceremony: William Nicholson

2009 Nominees
Moira Arthur WINNER
Ros Bartlett (of FCBG)
IBBY
Anne Marley (of the Branford Boase Award)
Gill and John McLay
Unicorn Theatre
The Reading Agency

Guest speaker at the Award Ceremony: David Fickling

2008 Nominees
Chris Brown WINNER
Elizabeth Hammill and Mary Briggs (founders of Seven Stories)
Michael Morpurgo
David Wood

Guest speaker at the Award Ceremony: Meg Rosoff

2007 Nominees
Eileen Armstrong (of the School Libraries Association)
Jane Nissen WINNER
The Polka Theatre
Seven Stories
Jo Williams and Marianne Adey (of the Red House Book Awards)

2006 Nominees
Wendy Cooling WINNER
Unicorn Theatre
(others unknown)

2005 Nominees
Sharon Berry
Malorie Blackman WINNER
Dick Bruna
Kimberley Reynolds