Azel, an educated, heterosexual young man from Tangier, is unable to find work and becomes obsessed with his desire to escape from Morocco.

ECONOMIST: Leaving Tangier: Tahar Ben Jelloun | The

When he meets Miguel Lopez, a rich Spanish homosexual, Azel seizes the opportunity and leaves his family and his country behind to become Miguel's lover in Barcelona.

ECONOMIST: Leaving Tangier: Tahar Ben Jelloun | The

Other Smarties winners were Julia Donaldson and Azel Scheffler for The Gruffalo in the five and under category, and Snow White and the Seven Aliens by Laurence Anholt and Arthur Robins in the six to eight year-olds category.

BBC: Potter's award hat-trick