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