> http://www.thebookseller.com/news/49893-author-refuses-nestl-prize-cheque.html
Might I suggest considering the book if you are looking for a gift?
Jo-Anne
>
> 14.12.07 Joel Rickett <http://www.thebookseller.com/Joel-Rickett>
>
> Author Sean Taylor has refused to accept his prize money after winning 
> the Nestlé Children's Book Prize 2007. Taylor's picture book /When A 
> Monster is Born/, illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Orchard), took the 
> Gold Award in the under-fives category. But Taylor said he did not 
> feel able to accept his half of the £2,500 prize cash, citing 
> "questions surrounding Nestlé's marketing of breast-milk substitutes".
>
> At Wednesday's ceremony, the author accepted the award--voted for by 
> thousands of schoolchildren across the UK--but refused the cheque. He 
> said: "/When a Monster is Born/ is a book that has something to do 
> with choices. Some of these choices seem to be life-giving and some of 
> them seem to take life away. I hope that I have made a life-giving 
> choice. I have decided to refuse this cheque and ask that it goes back 
> where it came from."
>
> Taylor has now released a letter to prize organiser Booktrust, in 
> which he says the decision was taken after consultations with campaign 
> group Baby Milk Action, Nestlé and "an authoritative third party with 
> experience in the field". He says that while "many of Nestlé's 
> controversial activities took place in the past and the company has 
> taken steps to improve its practice," there is still the risk that 
> "profit is put before infant health", and adds that "the actions of 
> some of [Nestle's] employees on the ground are inconsistent with 
> company policy . . . For these reasons I do not feel that Nestlé are 
> the most appropriate sponsors for this major children's book prize".
>
> Booktrust said it was "disappointed" at Taylor's decision, emphasising 
> that the 23 year-old prize "recognises high standards in children's 
> literature and stimulates a love of reading." It added that in light 
> of Taylor's refusal of the money, "we are surprised to have been 
> approached by his publishers [Orchard] for the Nestlé Gold Award 
> winner sticker artwork to advertise Nestlé's public endorsement of his 
> winning book".
>
> In a statement Nestlé said it "firmly believes that breast-feeding is 
> the best way to feed a baby and we are strongly committed to the 
> protection and promotion of breast-feeding. We were very happy to 
> explain this position to Mr Taylor at a meeting in November, following 
> which he chose to remain on the shortlist and subsequently accepted 
> his award at the ceremony".
>
> The other winners were Matt Haig with /Shadow Fores/t (Bodley Head) 
> and Chris Riddell with /Ottoline and the Yellow Cat /(Macmillan 
> Children's Books).
>

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