David Higham authors on shortlist for Red House Children's Book Awards 2005

The shortlists for the Red House Children's Book Awards 2005 have been announced and three David Higham authors are on the shortlist.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A GHOSTIE by Cressida Cowell (Puffin) is in contention in the Books for Younger Children category along with GRUFFALO'S CHILD by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Macmillan), OPEN WIDE by Tom Barber and Lynne Chapman (CHRYSALIS) and BABY BRAINS by Simon James (Walker).

In the Books for Younger Readers, CLARICE BEAN SPELLS TROUBLE by Lauren Child (Orchard) is shortlisted alongside BEST FRIENDS by Jacqueline Wilson (Doubleday) and THE LEGEND OF SPUD MURPHY by Eoin Colfer (Puffin).

In the Books for Older Readers category, the shortlisted titles are ERAGON by Christopher Paolini (Doubleday), THE RECRUIT by Robert Muchamore (Hodder) and THE STAR OF KAZAM by Eva Ibbotson (Macmillan).

The awards were launched 25 years ago by librarian and author Pat Thompson and are coordinated by the Federation of Children's Book Groups. They are the only awards chosen by children, 25,000 of whom took part in last year's judging process. The awards have been sponsored for the last three years by Red House and previous winners include Quentin Blake, Roald Dahl, Jacqueline Wilson and Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 11th June 2005 at the Kensington Roof Gardens.