The Waverton Good Read Award was created in 2003 by people living in Waverton, Chester, England. It was inspired by Le Prix de la Cadière d'Azur, a literary prize given by a village in Provence, France. The award considers adult books that are a writer's first novel, written by someone living in the United Kingdom, and published in the past twelve months. Villagers read and choose the books. The goal was to encourage reading in the village and support British writers. Two important founders were Gwen Goodhew, born on October 21, 1942, an expert in education who created the Wirral Able Child Centre and wrote books about teaching gifted children, and Wendy Smedley. This award is the first in Britain to be judged by regular readers, not by famous literary experts.
The Waverton Good Read Children's Award was first given in 2011 for books written for children.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019/20 shortlist and winner were announced on the same day. There was no Children's Award that year.