
Some of my work has won major prizes; more has been shortlisted for awards.
Most recently, Don't Flush reached the short list of the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize. Don't Flush was also shortlisted for the School Library Information Book Award, and its predecessor, Plague, Pox and Pestilence reached the Royal Society shortlist in 2012.
The website A Sailor's Life For Me has been widely honoured. It was picked by the American Association for State and Local History for an Award of Merit; the children's media evaluation foundation Parent's Choice recommended the website in June 2012: this follows a 2011 Bronze Muse Award from the American Association of Museums.
Double Crossing was shortlisted for the 2012 Salford Children's Book Award.
However, Pirate Diary (Walker Books) has been my most successful book so far, picking up a Blue Peter award for the "best book with facts" and a Smarties Silver prize. 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.
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.
When I was reading the book I couldn't stop.
Erin, aged 12, reader, on Double Crossing
A historical gem.
Lancashire Evening Post on Olympics Through Time
Richard
Platt's words are spot-on… Witty and informative the book is a must-have.
Read Me on Would you believe… in 1500, Platform Shoes Were Outlawed
When are you going to write a real book, Darling?
My mum
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 Castle Diary
Richard
Platt is an excellent writer... a very good series that I am sure will become
firm favourites. I have no hesitation in recommending them as either a class
or school resource.
Godfrey Hall in The School Librarian on the OUP Would You Believe? series
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