Kate Saunders has won the 2014 Costa Children's Book Award for her novel Five Children on the Western Front published by Faber and Faber.
In Five Children on the Western Front, the Sand Fairy suddenly reappears after nine years and everything is different. Cyril is about to leave for war and the other children are nearly adults. It’s up to the Lamb and the youngest child, Edie, to try and help the Psammead get home. The siblings are pleased to have something to take their minds off the war, but the Psammead has lost his magic, and his past has caught up with him. Before this last adventure ends, everything will have changed, and the two younger children will have seen the Great War from every possible viewpoint – factory-workers, soldiers and sailors, nurses and the people left at home – and the war's impact will be felt right at the heart of their family.
Kate Saunders has written numerous books for adults and children. Her children's books have won awards and received rave reviews, and include Beswitched and The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop.
The shortlist for the 2014 Costa Children's Book Award was selected from a total of 146 entries:
(David Fickling Books/Random House Children’s Publishers)
(HarperCollins Children’s Books)
(Indigo)Five Children on the Western Front