Several of my books have won major prizes; more have been shortlisted for awards.
Pirate Diary (Walker Books) has been the most successful, picking up a Blue Peter award for the "best book with facts" and a Smarties Silver prize. (Artist Chris Riddell also won a Kate Greenaway award for the illustrations.) The book's predecessor, Castle Diary, was shortlisted for the Smarties, for the Kurt Maschler prize, and for prizes awarded by History Today and the Times Education Supplement.
Incredible Cross Sections (Dorling Kindersley) was selected by the Guardian as one of the three greatest children's books of the 90s, and was also on the Smarties shortlist. It was picked for the Utah Children's Informational Book Award (!)
Eureka (Kingfisher) was picked as an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the US Science Teachers' Association and Book Council. It also made it to the Aventis shortlist. So too did Stephen Biesty's Incredible Body when the prize was sponsored by Rhone Poulenc.
A
compelling information book that tempts readers to flick through the pages
The Bookseller on Beijing Through Time
A
great read for children who enjoy swashbuckling adventures
Northern Echo on Pirate Diary
Unadulterated
fun to read
The Guardian on Pirate Diary
When
are you going to write a real book, Darling?
My mum
Meticulous
research has obviously gone into the preparation of this truly interesting
history book
Stars Herald American on Castle Diary
Never
has a book given such a feel for what life was like in the middle ages
The Children’s Bookseller on Castle Diary
Fiction
underpinned by facts in a rip-roaring yarn by Richard Platt
Sunday Times on Castle Diary
Richard
Platt's fact-filled captions answer all the ‘how does that work?’
questions.
The Guardian on Incredible Cross Sections
Richard
Platt's excellent text makes this a fabulous reference book as well as an
astonishing piece of visual intrigue.
The Guardian on Stephen Biesty's Incredible Body
an
excellent source of historical evidence and nautical information.
School Librarian on Eyewitness Shipwreck
Intriguing
text [makes] this meticulously-presented book a treasure trove of factual
content and visual imagery.
Booklist on Cross Section Man Of War
Platt's … text is clearly written and full of fascinating
facts about the ship and the men who sailed her.
School Library Journal on Cross-Section Man-of-War
The
writing is skilful, the plot gripping, and the characters often surprising
Junior Education on Pirate Diary
The
strength of the book is the way it conveys the global nature of inventions
Kirkus Reviews on Inventions Explained