Kids book gets Whitbread prize

Top kid's author Geraldine McCaughrean has won the Whitbread Children's Book Award for the third time.

Her book, Not The End of the World, won the children's section and will now compete against the winners in the other categories for the overall prize.

Not The End of the World is a re-telling of the Noah's ark story, through the eyes of his daughter Timna.

She said: "I am delighted and amazed. It is every bit as wonderful as the first time I won in 1987."

Click here to find out more about the Whitbread book awards

Geraldine has also won the children's section for her books A Little Lower Than the Angels in 1987 and Gold Dust in 1994.

She told Newsround Online: "I can't believe I've won it three times, it shows it wasn't a fluke the first time! I can't possibly pick a favourite of my three books which won, they are like my children.

Next book

"I don't think I'll win the overall Whitbread - at least I won't have to make a speech! I think the author Andrea Levy will win."

Geraldine also told Newsround Online that she was just putting the finishing touches to her next book, which is set in Antarctica and should be in the shops in September 2005.