The winners of the 2008 Red House Children's Book Award were announced earlier today at the Hay Festival.  The overall winner is  Derek Landy's debut novel Skulduggery Pleasant . With elements of horror, comedy and mystery, this story about an undead detective and his assistant is a archteypal struggle of good against evil.  

Luke Slater's review

Winner in the Younger Children category is Polly Dunbar's  Penguin. A delightful picturebook about a young boy Ben and his uncommunicative toy penguin. This perfectly paced story has a satisfying twist to delight adult and child readers.

Sarah McIntyre's Review

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat written and illustrated by Chris Riddell  wins the Younger Readers award. Riddell's mystery starring Miss Ottoline Brown, Mistress of Disguise and her sidekick, Mr Munroe has all the makings of a future classic.

Darren Coult's review

Read any of the winning books? Leave a comment to let us know what you think.

OVERALL WINNER: Derek Landy Skulduggery Pleasant

"So you won't keep anything from me again?" He put his hand to his chest. "Cross my heart and hope to die." "Okay then. Though you don't actually have a heart," she said. "I know." "And technically, you've already died." "I know that too." "Just so we're clear."

Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror, it certainly wasn't fiction. Pursued by evil forces intent on recovering a mysterious key, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source -- the wisecracking skeleton of a dead wizard. When all hell breaks loose, it's lucky for Skulduggery that he's already dead. Though he's about to discover that being a skeleton doesn't stop you from being tortured, if the torturer is determined enough. And if there's anything Skulduggery hates, it's torture! Will evil win the day? Will Stephanie and Skulduggery stop bickering long enough to stop it? One thing's for sure: evil won't know what's hit it.

Buy this Book

YOUNGER READER CATEGORY WINNER: Chris Riddell, Ottoline and the Yellow Cat

This work introduces Miss Ottoline Brown, an exceptionally inquisitive Mistress of Disguise, and her partner in crime, Mr Munroe. No puzzle is ever too tricky for the two of them to solve ...Ottoline lives in a stylish apartment in Big City with a small hairy creature called Mr Munroe. Together they look after the Brown family's eclectic collections - and dabble in a spot of detective work. So they are the first to the scene of the crime when a string of high society dog-nappings and jewel thefts hits Big City. Ottoline (who luckily has a diploma from the Who-R-U Academy of Disguise) and Mr Munroe go undercover - and expose an ingenious scam masterminded by furry feline crook, the Yellow Cat. This is a quirky mystery - adventure which is perfectly packaged and highly collectable.

Buy this Book

YOUNGER CHILDREN CATEGORY: Polly Dunbar, Penguin

Ben is delighted when he rips open his present and finds a penguin inside. "Hello, Penguin!" says Ben. Penguin says nothing. Ben tickles Penguin; he pulls his funniest face; he puts on a happy hat, sings a silly song and does a dizzy dance. "Can't you talk?" says Ben. Penguin says nothing. It isn't until a passing lion intervenes that Penguin finally speaks...and when he does, Ben discovers something that was really worth the wait.

Buy this Book

ALSO SHORT LISTED

For Younger Children

Carol Ann Duffy The Tear Thief

Tim Hopgood A Dog Called Rod

Kristina Stephenson Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure

For Younger Readers

Charlie Small The Perfumed Pirates of Perfidy

Neal Layton Mammoth Academy in Trouble

For Older Readers

Siobhan Dowd The London Eye Mystery

Benjamin Zephaniah Teacher's Dead