Which award did J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel win in the 1997 British Book Awards?

J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel won the Children’s Book of the Year award at the 1997 British Book Awards.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in the United Kingdom in 1997. The book introduced Harry, Hogwarts, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and the magical world that would become the basis of Rowling’s international series. Its early success was reinforced by major awards and strong sales.

The British Book Awards recognition is sometimes confused with other honors received by the novel. It also won the Smarties Book Prize in the 9–11 years category and the National Book Award for Children’s Book of the Year. These awards came from different organizations and should not be treated as interchangeable.

The American edition was published under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That title change can create another source of confusion, but the British Book Awards prize was awarded to the original British publication and its British title.