Pirate Diary
Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter is an account of the pirate life cast as the journal of a young cabin boy, written by Richard Platt and illustrated by Chris Riddell. It was published by Walker in 2001, two years after "Castle Diary", also by Platt and Riddell. Platt continued the "Diary" series with illustrator David Parkins. "Pirate Diary" won the annual Kate Greenaway Medal from the professional librarians, recognising the year's best-illustrated children's book published in the U.K. (Riddell), and the Blue Peter Book Award, Best Book with Facts. It was also silver  runner up for the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in ages category 6–8 years. The Greenaway press release celebrated "Pirate Diary" as an "exciting information book for children from 8 to 14" and the first "information book" to win the illustration Medal since 1975, and called it "a fictionalised account" (quoting CILIP). "[W]hen he spoke with author Richard Platt the harsh necessities of historical accuracy came into play. 'Everything I got excited about got shot down. No parrots, eye-patches or wooden legs. Thank god there were weapons and amputations!'" (quoting Riddell). Diary series. The Diary series comprises four 64-page  picture books that publisher Walker Books labels "Non-Fiction". Author Platt calls them fictional first-person journals (see diary) and calls "Castle Diary" "my first attempt at fiction". "Castle Diary" was a highly commended runner up for the Greenaway Medal, recognising Riddell's illustration. Platt won the Blue Peter Award, Best Book with Facts, and Riddell won the Greenaway Medal for illustration. Walker re-issued all four books March 2011 in a matching set with anonymous subtitles, classified as "Non-Fiction", and recommended for readers age 7 and up.