Hamster Massacre wins over the critics...

The winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize has been announced today. Katie Davies, married to comedian Alan Davies, was honoured for her 'funny and touching story', 'The Great Hamster Massacre'. The book is based on her own childhood experiences, when her hamsters killed two of their litters in an event Davies merely describes as 'disappointing'. Other contenders were BAFTA winning writer Laura Summers and Suzanne LaFleur. Davies, who received £5,000, will publish her next book in a pet-related tetrology, 'The Great Rabbit Rescue', later this year.

Desperate times call for Desperate Measures...

The nine name shortlist for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize has been revealed. Yet, the list seems void of the unusual fun-loving fiction, and instead contains novels with themes of 'real-life drama'. Offerings include a Lucy Christopher work on a girl's dying father, a Suzanne LaFleur book on orphancy and the favourite, Laura Summers' 'Desparate Measures' about childhood disability. Summers, BAFTA nominated writer of television series' 'The Story of Tracy Beaker' and 'The New Worst Witch', will join the other member of the 'spectular shortlist' on February 10th, for the announcement of the £5,000 prize winnner.